MLB Player News

Wood (4-4) took the loss Friday after surrendering five earned runs on five hits and two walks over four-plus innings versus the Nationals. He tallied only one strikeout.

Wood gave up homers to Lane Thomas and CJ Abrams within the first two innings and then was pulled from the game after yielding a leadoff single to Abrams in the bottom of the fifth. The 32-year-old left-hander has been inconsistent all year and is now showing an overall 4.99 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through 11 starts and four relief appearances. He'll aim to rebound against the Athletics in his next turn through the Giants' rotation.

Irvin (3-5) allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk over 6.2 innings Friday in a win over the Giants. He struck out nine.

The nine strikeouts were a career high for the 26-year-old right-hander, who hadn't missed many bats across his first 13 major-league starts. Irvin gave up a solo homer to J.D. Davis in the top of the first inning and a two-run shot to Joc Pederson in the top of the third, but he otherwise looked sharp. He lines up to face the Rockies at Nationals Park next time out.

Wacha (shoulder) has resumed playing catch, but Padres manager Bob Melvin said the hurler is unlikely to return from the 15-day injured list before the end of July, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Wacha is expected to throw on flat ground a few more times before getting on a mound, and he may need a rehab assignment after that since he hasn't pitched in a game since July 1. The right-hander had his turn skipped in the rotation prior to that July 1 start due to the same shoulder issue that resulted in his placement on the IL, so he's thrown from a mound just once over the past month. Melvin mentioned the Padres' intention to extend the pitcher's return timeframe in order to ensure that they "get a healthy Michael Wacha."

Garrett (5-3) surrendered six earned runs on seven hits and no walks over three innings Friday in a loss to the Rockies. He struck out five.

Garrett served up homers in each frame -- to C.J. Cron in the first, Jurickson Profar in the second and Elias Diaz in the third -- and he also surrendered a double to Alan Trejo. Pulled from the game before the top of the fourth, Garrett wound up with his shortest start of the season. The 25-year-old southpaw will carry a 4.32 ERA and 1.19 WHIP into his next outing at home against the Tigers.

Kershaw (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game Monday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Kershaw threw a successful 40-pitch bullpen session Friday and is now ready to take the next step in his recovery from the left shoulder inflammation that sent him to the IL in early July. He could return to the Los Angeles rotation sometime in early August.

Fried (forearm) allowed three earned runs over 3.1 innings in his third rehab start Friday at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Fried surrendered six hits -- including two homers -- but he tallied five strikeouts without issuing a walk and ran his pitch count up to 65. On the shelf since early May because of a left forearm strain, the 29-year-old could potentially return to Atlanta's starting rotation next week in Boston. He had registered a sharp 2.08 ERA and 25:6 K:BB through 26 innings (five starts) for the NL East leaders prior to this lengthy IL stint.

Steele (10-3) earned the win Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over 6.1 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals. He struck out nine.

Steele bounced back with a season-high nine strikeouts and submitted his 12th quality start of the year Friday after giving up a season-high six runs to Boston last time out. The left-hander's command has really stood out in 2023, as he's walked one or fewer batters in 14 of his 18 starts and holds a 96:21 K:BB through 103.2 innings. Steele will look to make it back-to-back wins during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for a rematch against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Flaherty (7-6) took the loss Friday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk over six innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.

Aside from a four-run third inning Flaherty was sharp, but during that tumultuous frame, the right-hander allowed two home runs and an RBI double -- all to left-handed hitters. Coming into the contest, Flaherty had surrendered just three runs over his previous three outings (18.2 innings) and posted a 16:7 K:BB during that stretch. He'd also given up just one home run over his past 10 appearances, and Friday's outing was the first time this season he allowed multiple long balls in the same game. Flaherty started just 32 games from 2020-2022, so it's encouraging to see him pitching on a regular basis in 2023, but he's been a hit-or-miss fantasy option thus far.

Rogers (right lat tear) is still not throwing as of Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Rogers has a partial tear in his non-throwing shoulder, which has been the reason he hasn't been able to resume a throwing program over the past five weeks. He has been attempting to keep his left arm strong during this shutdown period, but Rogers will likely require multiple rehab starts when he is cleared, since his last rehab start was June 5.

Cueto will get the start Saturday against the Rockies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The veteran most recently pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen July 16 in Baltimore, so he should be stretched out enough to qualify for the win if he pitches well Saturday. However, Cueto has 14 strikeouts in 29 minor-league innings and one strikeout in four innings in the big leagues, so he will be attempting to get by on weak contact and he has limited fantasy upside due to his lack of strikeouts. Cueto could transition back to a long-relief role when Eury Perez is brought back from Triple-A, perhaps as early as next week.