MLB Player News

Contreras pitched four innings Monday, allowing two runs on two hits and no walks while striking out two batters and taking a no-decision against Cincinnati.

Contreras surrendered a run in each of the first and third innings but allowed only two total baserunners across four frames. A 50-minute rain delay halted play in the bottom of the fourth, and the Pirates opted to not have the rookie right-hander warm back up and return. Contreras consequently failed to complete five innings for the third straight start, though this was an improvement over his previous outing, when he gave up six runs over 4.2 frames. Aside from a few blow-ups, he's shown promise this season, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 86:37 K:BB over 92 innings.

Muller will start Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Muller joined Atlanta's taxi squad Monday and will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett a day later to make a late-season start in the majors. The southpaw gave up nine runs in 7.2 innings over two starts for Atlanta earlier in the season, but it's possible that he also makes a start next week in Miami if he performs relatively well Tuesday.

Muller joined Atlanta's taxi squad Monday and is expected to be formally recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Tuesday in Washington, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta looks set to temporarily expand their rotation to six men with a week and a half left in the regular season, paving the way for Muller to rejoin the big club for the third time this season. The 24-year-old southpaw hasn't been especially effective over his prior two spot starts with Atlanta this season, but he's been one of the International League's more dominant arms in 2022, compiling a 3.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 159:40 K:BB in 134.2 innings. With a strong showing Tuesday, Muller could earn himself another spot start early next week in Miami.

Dunn (shoulder) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Dunn looked like a potential shutdown candidate when he landed on the 15-day injured list Sept. 15 with right shoulder tightness, but his latest shoulder issue apparently isn't severe as the one that kept him shelved for the first three months of the 2022 campaign. According to Nightengale, Dunn is expected to toss around 50-to-55 pitches Tuesday, with that sort of workload implying that the Reds intend to bring him back as a starter once he's activated from the IL. If all goes well Tuesday, Dunn could be a candidate to take over Chase Anderson's spot in the Cincinnati rotation Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs.

Brubaker (arm) threw a live bullpen session Monday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The newly acquired Miguel Andujar stepped in to take swings against Brubaker, who completed his first live work since landing on the 15-day injured list Sept. 18 with right arm inflammation. Brubaker looks like he'll have a chance to return before the Pirates' season comes to a close Oct. 5, but he probably won't have enough time to build back up to a traditional starter's workload.

Overton came on in relief during Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Brewers and struck out one while allowing five earned runs on four hits and three walks.

Overton, who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday after having not pitched for the Reds since May 17 due to a stress reaction in his lower back, essentially piggybacked starter Graham Ashcraft (biceps), who covered four innings in his own return from the IL. Prior to landing on the shelf, Overton had produced a 1.82 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 24.2 innings over his four starts with the big club, but the underlying numbers (4.72 xFIP, 3.4 K-BB%) offered little hope that he would be able to maintain that level of run prevention. Regression came hard Saturday for Overton, who may work out of the bullpen for the remaining week and a half of the season if the Reds avoid losing any more starting pitchers to injuries.

Ashby covered 1.2 innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Reds, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks.

In his return from the 15-day injured list last Tuesday, Ashby made a two-inning start against the Mets, but he shifted to a relief role for the Brewers' series finale with the Reds. Ashby ended up following starter Freddy Peralta, who was capped at two innings following his own return from the IL on Sunday. Since both Peralta and Eric Lauer both came off the IL over the weekend and were limited in their respective starts, the Brewers could need Ashby to piggyback one of the two pitchers during their upcoming outings against the Marlins this weekend.

Elder is scheduled to start Monday's game in Washington.

With Spencer Strider (oblique) landing on the injured list last week, Elder looks poised to finish the regular season as a member of Atlanta's rotation. The rookie right-hander fared well in his most recent start Sept. 21 against Washington, striking out six in a no-decision while allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks across 5.2 frames.

Gibson yielded five runs on seven hits and two walks over five frames against Atlanta on Sunday. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision.

Surprisingly, Gibson was in line for the victory when he left the game, but Atlanta would ultimately win in extras. He's been tagged with 24 runs over his last five starts, raising his season ERA from 4.08 to 4.84 during that span. The 34-year-old righty allowed two runs in the first inning Sunday and later coughed up a two-run shot to Dansby Swanson in the fourth. Gibson is lined up to make his final start of the regular season in Washington.

Wainwright (11-11) took the loss during Sunday's 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout in three innings.

Wainwright didn't have his stuff working Sunday as he faced 19 batters and tossed 77 pitches through three innings, permitting at least two baserunners and one run in each frame. The 41-year-old has slowed notably through five September starts with a 6.38 ERA and just nine strikeouts through 24 innings compared to a 3.51 mark and 6.7 K/9 average for the season. He's tentatively scheduled to take the mound again next vs. Pittsburgh.