MLB Player News

Eflin (kneecap) threw about 20 pitches during a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Eflin has been sidelined by knee issues since late June, but he recently resumed throwing on flat ground and has now returned to mound work. If he feels good over the next couple days, the 28-year-old will throw another bullpen session this weekend. Eflin isn't expected to have enough time to build up as a starter and will likely rejoin the Phillies as a reliever, assuming he's able to return this year.

Soroka (Achilles) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Soroka threw 75 pitches in his last rehab start, but he was not particularly sharp, so he will throw at least once more for Gwinnett. If all goes well Friday, his next start could come with Atlanta.

The Dodgers will activate Kershaw (back) from the 15-day injured list to have him start Thursday's game against the Mets, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.

Kershaw has missed nearly a month with his back injury, but his absence will come to an end before the week comes to a close. The Dodgers probably will not overextend Kershaw in his first game back, but he threw 70 pitches in a simulated game over the weekend, so he should face only a slight limitation, if any.

The Dodgers optioned Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Grove will head back to Oklahoma City after he made what proved to be a spot start for the Dodgers on Monday, when he was summoned on short notice to fill in for Tony Gonsolin (forearm). The rookie, who took a no-decision against the Marlins after allowing two earned runs and striking out four over 4.2 innings, is likely to be replaced in the rotation by Clayton Kershaw (back), who looks on track to come off the 15-day injured list as early as Thursday. The Dodgers could expand their rotation to six men to provide more rest to their other pitchers in September, but Ryan Pepiot appears to be a likelier bet than Grove to rejoin the big club if a sixth starter is needed.

Carrasco (oblique) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list during this weekend's series with the Nationals after he felt fine following a 55-pitch simulated game Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Carrasco has been on the shelf since Aug. 16 with the left oblique strain, and due to the brevity of his stint on the IL, the Mets apparently aren't planning on having him make a rehab start prior to his activation. If Carrasco is plugged back into the rotation Saturday or Sunday, he could be capped at around 70-to-90 pitches, but he shouldn't face any major workload restrictions in any starts that follow. Should the Mets elect to keep a five-man rotation intact upon Carrasco's return, David Peterson would likely be the odd man out and could move to the bullpen or get optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Gray will make his next start Friday against the Mets at Citi Field, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Unless he's needed in an emergency out of the bullpen over the next three games, Gray will be returning to the mound Friday on 11 days' rest. The Nationals' decision to skip Gray's turn through the rotation was a matter of workload management, and it's possible that the Nationals deploy a six-man rotation in the final five weeks of the season or pass him over for a start on at least one or two more occasions in an effort to keep his innings in check. When he's available to make starts, Gray isn't expected to face any major restrictions, though the Nationals likely won't have him push far past 100 pitches in those outings.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Cavalli is headed to the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Washington may wait until Wednesday before making the transaction official, but Martinez said that Cavalli will be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks after experiencing discomfort in his shoulder while playing catch following his MLB debut Saturday against the Reds. Though the skipper wasn't willing to admit that Cavalli's season is over since an MRI revealed no damage to his rotator cuff or labrum, the rookie right-hander's impending two-week shutdown means he's unlikely to have enough time to build back up for a starting role if he does make it back from the IL in late September or early October. The Nationals haven't announced a replacement in the rotation for Cavalli, but Cory Abbott was scratched from his scheduled start at Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday and seems likely to join the big club when Cavalli's next turn comes up Thursday against the Athletics, per Dougherty.

Grove did not factor in the decision against Miami on Monday, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four batters.

Grove started in place of Tony Gonsolin, who went on the injured list Monday with a strained right forearm. Grove did well to keep the Dodgers in the game, and he fell one out shy of completing five innings. The rookie hurler threw 42 of 66 pitches for strikes and notched a career-high four strikeouts. In three outings with the Dodgers this season, Grove has posted a 4.82 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB over 9.1 innings

The Brewers promoted Gasser from Double-A Biloxi to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.

Gasser has already received a pair of promotions since being acquired from the Padres on Aug. 1 as part of the Josh Hader deal. After finishing his time in the San Diego organization at High-A Fort Wayne, Gasser began his tenure with Milwaukee at Biloxi, where he dazzled over his four starts (2.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB in 20.1 innings). Gasser will get a tougher test over the final few weeks of the minor-league season while he heads to the International League, but a strong showing at Nashville down the stretch could put him in position for an early-season call-up to Milwaukee in 2023.

Rodon (12-7) took the loss against San Diego on Monday, pitching four innings and allowing five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two batters.

Rodon got into an early hole, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in the first inning. He bounced back with two straight scoreless frames but gave up two more runs in the fourth and was subsequently pulled. The left-hander tied a season high with four walks in the contest and managed only two punchouts after reaching double-digit strikeouts in each of his prior two starts. Rodon entered Monday on a roll, having posted a 1.44 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 41:2 K:BB over his previous five starts.