MLB Player News

Hendricks (4-6) took the loss Friday, allowing seven runs on eight hits over four innings against Atlanta. He struck out three without issuing a walk.

Hendricks had been pitching well, posting a 3.26 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his last three starts coming into Friday, but he ran into the buzzsaw that is the Atlanta lineup. The NL East leaders hit three home runs in the game -- two against Hendricks -- to tie the 2019 Twins for the most home runs through 107 games in MLB history, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Hendricks has shown this season that he still has some of his old magic, but the right-hander will remain susceptible to the occasional blowup given his lack of whiffs.

Fried (3-1) earned the win Friday, allowing three hits over six scoreless innings against the Cubs. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.

Making his first start in the majors since May 5, Fried showed no ill effects from the forearm injury that cost him three months. In fact, he appeared close to peak form, as the lefty got 16 called strikes and nine swinging strikes on 72 pitches. Expect him to add to his workload over his next couple starts, with the team looking to build Fried up gradually after the long layoff. He lines up for a road start in Pittsburgh next week.

Wacha (shoulder) will make a rehab start for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The expectation is that Wacha will throw between 50-60 pitches in his first live action since July 1. Wacha has been ramping up slowly after a brief shutdown period following his placement on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He figures to require at least one more rehab outing beyond Saturday before slotting back into the Padres' rotation.

Musgrove was diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder capsule Friday and placed on the 15-day injured list. He will be shut down for at least three weeks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Shoulder soreness kept Musgrove from making his scheduled start Wednesday against Colorado, and the issue has now been identified as something that will keep him on the shelf for a considerable amount of time. The Padres haven't yet ruled out Musgrove for the rest of the season, but they might need the incentive of a late playoff push to put him back on the mound in 2023.

Falter said he will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Saturday against the Brewers, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The transaction likely won't be made official until shortly before Saturday's game, but Falter is currently with the big club and preparing to make his first MLB start since May and his first with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old southpaw held a 5.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 40.1 innings this season with the Phillies before he was dealt to the Pirates on Tuesday. He'll be facing a Brewers offense that ranks last in the National League with a .692 OPS and has struggled against left-handers all season (.683 OPS).

The Dodgers optioned Sheehan to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.

In a corresponding move, the Dodgers will likely activate the newly acquired Ryan Yarbrough, who is expected to serve as a bulk reliever Saturday versus the Paders. Sheehan essentially piggybacked Julio Urias in Thursday's win over the Athletics after the southpaw was limited to five innings due to a split fingernail. After replacing Urias, Sheehan went the rest of the way to pick up a four-inning save, so he wouldn't have been an option to pitch for the next few days. It wouldn't be surprising to see the 23-year-old righty back in the big leagues later this season.

Fried (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday ahead of his start against the Cubs.

Fried has been on the shelf since May 9 with a left forearm strain. He built up to 79 pitches in his most recent rehab outing, so Fried should be able to go deep enough to qualify for the win in this one if he is pitching well. The 6-foot-4 lefty gave up five earned runs and struck out 13 over 12 innings across four rehab appearances in July.

Liberatore (1-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Twins. He struck out one.

Most of the damage against Liberatore came in the second inning when the Twins tagged him for four runs on a pair of homers. The 23-year-old left-hander's ERA is now up to 6.93 with a 1.78 WHIP and 23:18 K:BB across nine starts (37.2 innings) this season. Liberatore still offers some upside and figures to remain in the Cardinals' rotation following the trades of Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery. However, he's too risky to even be a streaming option in most fantasy formats.

Cavalli has begun lifting weights and working on his flexibility as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery in March, Damon Brooks Jr. of The Washington Post reports. "I've been doing a little bit of bench presses, biceps and triceps extensions and curls, just developing that muscle back and adding strength," Cavalli said this week.

The right-hander only recently regained full range of motion in his arm, and he remains on track to get back on a mound in 2024. The rebuilding Nationals will have little incentive to rush Cavalli back into action, but he figures to join the big-league rotation at some point in the first half next season. The 24-year-old got hit hard in his first career MLB start in August 2022, but he posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB through 97 innings for Triple-A Rochester last year and is still viewed as a future pillar of the pitching staff alongside Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore.

Carrasco (3-6) took the loss Thursday, allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk over six innings against the Royals.

Carrasco allowed one run in the first inning but really began to struggle with his command in the third, when he gave up a leadoff single, threw a wild pitch and then surrendered a homer to Bobby Witt. He would give up another three runs in the seventh after allowing back-to-back singles to open the frame, followed by a three-run shot from Drew Waters. The 36-year-old right-hander has now allowed six runs in back-to-back starts and at least four runs in four straight. He also failed to record a strikeout Thursday for the first time this season.