MLB Player News

Gutierrez will shift to a bullpen role, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gutierrez's first six appearances of the season came as a starter, but he posted an 8.65 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 26 innings while posting an 0-5 record. The right-hander will presumably serve as a middle reliever out of the bullpen, while Connor Overton will remain in the rotation. Gutierrez will be an option to serve as a spot starter at some point if needed.

The Dodgers hope Kershaw (pelvis) will be able to return following a minimal stay on the 15-day IL, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw landed on the injured list with right SI joint inflammation Friday, but initial reports indicate the team doesn't seem overly concerned about his injury. However, the Dodgers will likely exercise caution with his recovery process since they've been insistent early in the year that their goal is to have the southpaw healthy enough to pitch in October. While Kershaw's IL stint adds to a growing list of absences over the last few years, it doesn't appear as though he's dealing with a long-term concern. Walker Buehler will take his place as Friday's starter against the Phillies, but the Dodgers haven't indicated who will take Kershaw's rotation spot.

Urena signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Urena was designated for assignment by Milwaukee in early May, and he elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Nashville. However, he'll settle for a minor-league deal with Colorado. The right-hander will work out at the Rockies' extended spring training facility in Arizona before presumably reporting to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Buehler will start Friday against the Phillies in place of Clayton Kershaw (hip), who was placed on the 15-day injured list, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old was scheduled to start on five days rest Saturday but will have his outing moved up a day due to Kershaw's injury. Buehler has a 1.96 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 32:9 K:BB through 36.2 innings this season, though his 21.8 percent strikeout rate would be a career low.

Kershaw was placed on the 15-day injured list with right SI joint inflammation Friday.

Kershaw was initially slated to start Friday's game against the Phillies, but he's dealing with a pelvic issue that will force him to spend time on the injured list. Walker Buehler, who was scheduled to start Saturday, will be bumped up to start Friday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Kershaw was off to a dominant start in 2022, posting a 1.80 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 30 innings over his first five starts of the year. It's not yet clear when Kershaw will be able to return, but the team believes his injury is a short-term issue, Hoornstra reports.

Overton (1-0) earned the win after allowing zero runs on three hits and four walks across 6.1 innings during Thursday's 4-0 victory over the Pirates. He struck out one.

Despite a season high in walks, Overton was able to put together his best overall performance of the season. Across three starts with the Reds, the right-hander sports a 1.59 ERA across 17.0 innings. Overton's next start is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday's contest in Cleveland.

Brubaker (0-3) allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three across five innings to take the loss Thursday against the Reds.

Brubaker allowed an RBI single and a solo home run to Tyler Stephenson to account for his earned runs. He was fairly effective otherwise, but his recent uptick in strikeouts faded as he managed only eight swinging strikes on 77 pitches. After starting the season poorly, Brubaker has stabilized to work five innings in each of his last three starts while allowing seven earned runs and maintaining a 16:5 K:BB.

Wheeler tossed 5.1 innings against the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out seven. He did not factor in the decision.

Wheeler hadn't pitched in over a week due to a stint on the COVID-19 list, but he looked good early on in his return to the mound Thursday. The right-hander served up a solo homer to Cody Bellinger in the third inning but otherwise kept Los Angeles off the scoreboard until the sixth, when the Dodgers chased him by reaching base three straight times with one out. Wheeler ended up with a no-decision when the Dodgers mounted a late-inning comeback, though the Phillies ultimately prevailed. The veteran hurler will carry a 4.26 ERA into his next start, which is expected to come at home against San Diego next week.

Anderson pitched six innings against Philadelphia on Thursday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out five. He did not factor in the decision.

The left-hander came into Thursday having allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first five appearances this season, but he allowed four runs through the first two frames against Philadelphia. Single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth added to an ugly final line for Anderson, though a late-game comeback by the Dodgers took him off the hook for a loss. He's been filling the rotation spot left by Andrew Heaney (shoulder), and though the latter recently resumed throwing, Anderson is likely to get at least one more turn in the rotation. That is lined up to come at home against Arizona early next week.

Walker (1-0) allowed three hits and one walk while striking out one across seven shutout innings to earn the win Thursday against the Nationals.

Walker bounced back after getting crushed by the Phillies in his last outing to tally his first win of the season. He induced only six swinging strikes across 85 pitches, but he limited the Nationals to one extra-base hit to stay out of trouble throughout the start. Walker has now allowed no earned runs in three of his four appearances this season -- the first was cut short by a shoulder issue -- and he now owns a 3.00 ERA across 18 innings. Enthusiasm about his surface stats should be tempered, as he's maintained only an 8:5 K:BB in that span.