MLB Player News

Heaney (shoulder) will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday to begin a rehab assignment, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Heaney has been sidelined by a shoulder injury since mid-April but is now in the final stages of his rehab program. The left-hander may require one or two additional rehab outings before returning to the major-league rotation, so he could be back with the Dodgers in mid-June.

Houser did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over five innings against San Diego. He struck out five.

Houser bounced back with his third one-run outing over his last four games after giving up eight runs to the Cardinals in his last start. The right-hander continues to struggle with his command and has walked multiple batters seven times this season, including at least three walks five times. Across 10 starts, Houser sports a 3.51 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP with 41 strikeouts through 51.1 innings.

Megill (biceps) will have another throwing session Friday, and if his arm feels good the following day the Mets will clear him to begin a rehab assignment, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

The right-hander is expected to head to Single-A Brooklyn initially, but as yet there's no indication how long the rehab assignment might last. Megill last pitched May 11, surrendering eight runs in only 1.1 innings, but until that outing the 26-year-old boasted a 2.43 ERA and 0.90 WHIP to begin the season.

DeGrom (shoulder) remained behind in New York for the Mets' current road trip, but he could begin throwing off a mound before the team returns home June 14, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

The right-hander is currently still throwing off flat ground as the Mets proceed very cautiously with his recovery from a stress reaction in his right scapula. There had originally been plans for deGrom to accompany the team on its 11-day west coast swing, but pitching coach Jeremy Hefner determined he wouldn't be able to give the 33-year-old's rehab the attention it deserved during the trip. "The right decision is, it's better for [deGrom] to get his work done there," manager Buck Showalter said Thursday. "Just a lot better equipped and manpower and the things that are going on that he needs to get done." Showalter indicated Thursday that deGrom could be ready to do mound work before the Mets got back to Queens, but his eventual return to the big-league rotation remains far off.

Ashcraft (2-0) earned the victory, striking out five in seven innings while allowing a run on four hits and a walk in an 8-1 win Thursday over Washington.

Ashcraft was a groundball machine Tuesday, getting 14 groundouts as he dominated the Nationals' lineup. Josh Bell's seventh-inning solo homer was the only blemish for the 24-year-old. He has stifled opposing lineups over his first three starts and has a 1.53 ERA to show for it. After striking out more than a batter an inning across three minor-league seasons, the rookie has fanned only nine batters in his first 17.2 major-league frames. His next start will likely come in the middle of next week against Arizona.

Alcantara (6-2) earned the win Thursday, striking out eight over seven shutout innings while allowing three hits and two walks in a 3-0 victory over San Francisco.

The Giants had runners on first and second base with one out in the first inning but Alcantara pitched out of the jam. He never again was under duress, as he dominated over his final six frames. During his last five starts, he has pitched seven innings or more and allowed one earned run or fewer each time, compiling a 0.69 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 40:6 K:BB in 39 innings. His next start will likely come in the middle of next week against Washington.

Wood (3-5) picked up the loss, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five in 5.1 innings of a 3-0 defeat Thursday in Miami.

Wood allowed a run-scoring single in the second and then retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced. He was removed with one out in the sixth following a single by Jorge Soler, who would later score. Opposing batters are 14-for-29 against Wood the third time through the lineup and, as a result, the lefty is averaging less than five innings per start. His next opportunity will likely be in the middle of next week against Colorado.

Kershaw (pelvis) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw has made steady progress of late, most recently throwing roughly 30 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday. According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Kershaw is expected to throw four innings in his rehab appearance and then rejoin the Dodgers' rotation. That would put him in line to start at some point during next weekend's series against the Giants.

Flaherty (shoulder) is expected to report to Double-A Springfield next week to start a rehab assignment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The right-hander has pitched against live hitters multiple times over the past week, and he's now poised to begin a rehab assignment. Flaherty threw about 40-to-50 pitches in his last session and should continue ramping up his workload from there. Given he's been sidelined for the first two months of the season with a right shoulder injury, the 26-year-old will likely require multiple starts in the minors before making his 2022 debut for St. Louis.

Smyly (oblique) said Thursday that he doesn't have a timetable for his return but could miss about a month, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Smyly landed on the 15-day injured list due to a right oblique strain Wednesday, and he appears to be in line for more than a minimal IL stint. However, the southpaw said that his recovery timetable will depend on how he feels as he builds up his workload. Smyly will rest and receive treatment during his first few days on the shelf before he resumes throwing, per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times.