MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Kershaw (shoulder) is on track to return from the 15-day injured list next week, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

Kershaw faced live hitters in another successful simulated game Thursday at Dodger Stadium as he continues to take positive steps forward in his recovery from a bout of left shoulder inflammation. The veteran southpaw hasn't pitched in a major-league game since June 27, but it sounds like he'll be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment. The final box to check is a weekend bullpen session.

Hill is scheduled to make his Padres debut Sunday against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hill was acquired from the Pirates -- along with Ji-Man Choi -- on Tuesday in exchange for Jackson Wolf, Estuar Suero and Alfonso Rivas. The veteran left-hander had posted a rather underwhelming 4.76 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 104:47 K:BB through 119 innings (22 starts) this season with Pittsburgh, but he can still work deep in games and miss a few bats at age 43.

Woodruff (shoulder) is scheduled to return to the Brewers' rotation Sunday against the Pirates, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff posted an encouraging 3.09 ERA and 11:2 K:BB over 11.2 innings during his three-start minor league rehab assignment between High-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville. He got up to 72 pitches Tuesday in his final outing on the farm and might be able to approach 85-to-90 pitches in his return to Milwaukee. The 30-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since mid-April because of a Grade 2 subscapular strain.

Flexen is scheduled to start Friday's series opener with the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Despite walking six batters and giving up four hits -- including two home runs -- while failing to escape the fourth inning in his first start with Colorado last week against Oakland, the veteran right-hander will get another turn through the rotation. Even though the Rockies aren't teeming with appealing alternatives in the rotation, Flexen may still have a short leash with the big club if he fails to show any notable improvement this weekend. He'll at least have the benefit of working in a more pitcher-friendly venue in St. Louis after his Rockies debut came at Coors Field.

Garrett came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-8 extra-innings win over the Phillies, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out five.

He was briefly on the hook for the loss, getting lifted after he walked Bryson Stott to lead off the sixth inning and watching him come around to score a go-ahead run for the Phillies, but the two bullpens made sure neither starter was involved in the decision. Garrett has completed six innings just once in his last seven seven starts, posting a 5.24 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 32:5 K:BB through 34.1 innings over that stretch, and fatigue could be catching up to the 25-year-old southpaw in his first full season in a big-league rotation. He'll try to get on track in his next outing, likely to come early next week in Cincinnati.

Miley did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four innings against Washington. He struck out five.

Miley pitched well in his return from the injured list, with the only damage against him coming in the third inning when he allowed a leadoff double to Alex Call to open the frame, followed by an RBI single to Jake Alu. The left-hander then struck out three batters in the fourth inning before being relieved by Hoby Miner to open the fifth. Miley has allowed just one run over his last 10 innings of work to go along with a 13:5 K:BB.

Wheeler came away with a no-decision Wednesday in the Phillies' 9-8 extra-innings loss to the Marlins, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander blanked Miami for five frames before fading in the sixth and serving up back-to-back homers to Josh Bell and Jazz Chisholm, but Wheeler still left the mound with his team up 5-2. A disastrous group effort by the Philly bullpen ensured he wouldn't collect his ninth win of the season, however. Wheeler has reeled off five straight quality starts, posting a 2.76 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and dazzling 37:3 K:BB through 32.2 innings over that stretch, but he's gone only 1-1 thanks to inconsistent run and bullpen support. He'll try to get back in the win column in his next outing, likely to come at home early next week against the Nationals.

Gore did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Brewers. He struck out five.

Gore left a four-seamer over the middle of the plate in the top of the second, which Tyrone Taylor launched into the stands to give the Brewers their first run of the game. However, the lefty settled in after that mistake, going 1-2-3 over the next two frames before allowing just one more run on a Christian Yelich double in the sixth. It marked Gore's first quality start since June 3, and he's now allowed three or fewer runs in three consecutive outings. On the downside, he's also issued at least two walks in four straight and in eight of his last nine.

Bido (2-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on three hits and one walk over three innings against Detroit. He struck out three

After striking out Zach McKinstry to open the game, Bido served up a hanging changeup to Riley Greene in the next at-bat, which the center fielder crushed over the right-field wall to put the Tigers up 1-0. The right-hander would then hold Detroit scoreless over the next two innings before hitting a wall in the fourth, walking Kerry Carpenter to open the frame and then beaning Matt Vierling in the following at-bat. Bido was tagged for four runs in the contest for only the second time this season, and the performance led to his first loss since June 19.

Chirinos (1-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk over five innings against the Angels while striking out five.

After striking out Shohei Ohtani to open the bottom of the fourth, Chirinos allowed a single and a walk to the next two batters, which would eventually lead to the Angels' first run coming home. The right-hander was then relieved by Michael Tonkin in the sixth after allowing back-to-back to singles to open the frame, but not before racking up a season-high five strikeouts on the afternoon. It marked Chirinos' first win with his new club, though he's now given three or more runs in each of his last three starts.