MLB Player News

Kershaw (shoulder) completed a bullpen session Sunday and appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday versus the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw checked out fine following a simulated game this past Thursday, and assuming his shoulder responds well to the bullpen session, his next time on the mound will come this week with the Dodgers. As Vassegh notes, Kershaw typically throws his bullpen sessions three days before his starts, making Thursday his likeliest date for a return to the Dodgers rotation. Kershaw has resided on the IL since July 3 due to an inflamed left shoulder.

Miller, who was placed on Single-A Jupiter's 7-day injured list June 26 with an unspecified injury, has made two rehab starts in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

After tossing a shutout inning for the FCL club in his first rehab outing July 26, Miller upped his workload to 2.2 innings Wednesday. He was sharp in his latest start, striking out three while allowing no runs on one hit and one walk. Before landing on Jupiter's IL, Miller had posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 40.2 innings with the Florida State League affiliate.

Reds manager David Bell said Sunday that Dunn (shoulder) will work out of the bullpen once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Dunn has yet to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as he works his way back from a right rotator cuff injury, but the Reds have already identified Sept. 11 as a tentative target date for his reinstatement. Though the Reds are sorely lacking in rotation depth, the 27-year-old won't have sufficient time to get stretched out for a starting role and will instead prepare for a relief gig to expedite his return to the big leagues. Dunn is expected to face hitters in live batting practice as soon as Tuesday and could be cleared to report to a minor-league affiliate the following week, per MLB.com.

Gutierrez (elbow) moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday, striking out two and walking two over two no-hit scoreless innings.

Gutierrez began his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on July 28 but was cleared to join the Reds' top affiliate after a pair of one-inning scoreless appearances. The Reds are tentatively targeting Aug. 25 for Gutierrez's return from the 60-day injured list, with manager David Bell telling Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer that the right-hander will work out of the bullpen once activated.

Grove was placed on the 15-day injured list with right lat tightness Sunday.

Grove served as an opener Saturday against the Padres and struck out four in 1.1 scoreless innings, but he's apparently now dealing with an injury and will miss time. It's unclear whether he'll need to miss more than the minimum of 15 days, but left-hander Bryan Hudson was called up Sunday to take his place on the active roster.

Alcantara (4-10) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Rangers.

Alcantara had allowed just one run over his previous two starts combined, but the Rangers were able to tag him for a season-high three home runs. The right-hander didn't get any help from his offense, which managed just six hits and two walks Sunday. Alcantara is now at a 4.28 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 125:38 K:BB through 149.1 innings through 23 starts this season. He's projected for a home start versus the Yankees his next time out.

Gomber (9-8) allowed six hits and three walks while striking out two over six scoreless innings to earn the win Sunday over the Cardinals.

Gomber has six quality starts over his last seven outings, and he was able to snap a three-start winless streak. He's not racking up many strikeouts over those seven starts, but he's also mostly displayed better control with a 26:6 K:BB. The southpaw trimmed his ERA to 5.40 with a 1.44 WHIP and 79:35 K:BB through 120 innings over 23 starts this season. Gomber is projected for a road start versus the Dodgers in his next outing.

Stripling allowed a run on three hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Saturday.

Stripling has often worked behind an opener this season, but he was on the mound from the start Saturday. Over his last eight appearances, he has not allowed more than three runs in any outing, pitching to a solid 3.34 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 29:1 K:BB over 35 innings in that span. It's a vast improvement on his season-long marks (5.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), though that control is almost certainly too good to last in the long run. He's tentatively projected to make his next appearance at home versus the Rangers.

The Nationals reinstated Williams (personal) from the bereavement list Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Williams ended up having his turn in the rotation skipped this week after he spent six days on the bereavement list upon being deactivated Monday. Though Joan Adon submitted an excellent spot start in his stead Saturday, Williams will regain his spot in the rotation and take the hill for Monday's series opener in Philadelphia, per Andrew Golden of The Washington Post.

Woodruff (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start against the Pirates on Sunday.

The 30-year-old has been sidelined by a Grade 2 subscapular strain since early April but will rejoin Milwaukee's rotation for Sunday's series finale versus Pittsburgh. Woodruff threw 72 pitches during his final rehab outing with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, so he'll likely face some workload limitations in his first start or two back in the big leagues.