MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Gonsolin (forearm) will throw two innings against live hitters Thursday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

The road back has been a slow journey for Gonsolin after he landed on the 15-day injured list at the end of August. He's thrown a handful of bullpen sessions over the past week and could still make a return before the end of the regular season, but it will almost certainly be in a bullpen role.

Smyly (shoulder) will likely make his next start Tuesday or Wednesday against the Phillies, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Smyly was scratched from Wednesday's start against Miami due to left shoulder fatigue and won't take the mound during the Cubs' weekend series in Pittsburgh. However, the southpaw isn't believed to be dealing with a significant injury and should be able to return to action after missing just one turn through the rotation.

The Phillies activated Wheeler (forearm) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Blue Jays.

Though he's back in action after just under a month-long stay on the shelf, Wheeler is expected to be on a more limited pitch count than usual since he didn't complete a rehab start prior to being activated. Per Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, interim manager Rob Thomson indicated over the weekend that Noah Syndergaard will piggyback Wheeler on Wednesday, so the Phillies' ace could struggle to work deep enough into the start to factor into any decision.

Pepiot (3-0) earned the win over the Diamondbacks in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four batters over three innings.

Michael Grove got the start for Los Angeles and gave the team five innings before Pepiot took over in the sixth. The latter was very effective in his three frames, allowing two of the first three batters he faced to reach base before retiring the next eight. Pepiot served as the 29th man for the doubleheader, so he could return to the minors soon despite the strong outing.

The Brewers optioned Alexander to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Milwaukee is scheduled to return starter Eric Lauer (elbow) from the injured list to take the hill for Friday's game in Cincinnati, so Alexander will end up losing his spot in the rotation and on the 28-man active roster. After being promoted from Nashville on Aug. 22, Alexander made six appearances (four starts) and turned in a 5.87 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 23 innings.

Lopez didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander put together one of his better starts of the second half, but a lack of run support kept Lopez out of the win column. He tossed 68 of 105 pitches for strikes en route to his second straight quality start but only his fifth in 12 outings since the All-Star break, a stretch during which he's stumbled to a 5.57 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB through 63 innings.

Anderson (15-4) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, giving up three unearned runs on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The veteran lefty was victimized by some bad defense in his return from the paternity list, as a Trea Turner throwing error in the second inning led to Arizona's first run, while three more Los Angeles miscues in the sixth -- including two by Anderson himself -- tacked two more runs on the board. He was still able to extend his quality start streak to four, however, and he has nine in 11 outings since the All-Star break -- a stretch during which Anderson boasts a stellar 1.92 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with a 44:17 K:BB through 70.1 innings.

Grove didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, giving up five runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out seven.

The rookie right-hander was hit hard as five of the nine hits off him went for extra bases, including homers by Daulton Varsho in the third inning and Christian Walker in the fifth. However, the Dodgers got him off the hook for his first big-league loss with a five-run rally in the eighth. Since becoming Los Angeles' de facto sixth starter at the end of August and spotting in and out of the rotation, he's posted a 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings over three starts.

Wainwright (11-10) took the loss during Tuesday's 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Padres, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout in six innings.

Wainwright fell behind immediately after permitting two runs on three baserunners in the first inning and let in additional runs in the fourth and fifth to take only his second loss in his last 11 starts. The 41-year-old has opened September slow by allowing 13 runs compared to eight strikeouts in 21 innings across four starts. He carries a 3.38 ERA into his next start, currently scheduled for Sunday against the Dodgers.

Clevinger (6-7) earned the win during Tuesday's 5-0 victory over St. Louis, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5.2 scoreless innings.

Clevinger wore down as the start progressed -- he permitted multiple baserunners in each of his final two frames -- but was able to avoid any big blows and post his first scoreless start in 14 turns. A healthy 12 swinging strikes led to only three strikeouts as the 31-year-old has failed to eclipse four whiffs in any of his last nine starts. Clevinger sports a 4.23 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 104.1 innings across 21 games and 20 starts. He's projected to pitch again this week Sunday in Colorado.