MLB Player News

Eflin (illness) is hoping to return from the COVID-19 injured list and start Tuesday against the Padres, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Eflin has been sidelined by the virus since May 8 but is reportedly feeling better. He threw 4.1 innings in his last turn through the rotation, so he should be able to handle a relatively normal workload. Through five starts this season, Eflin has maintained a 4.50 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with an 18:5 K:BB.

Falter was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Falter was relatively effective as a spot starter against the Mariners on Wednesday, as he allowed a run on five hits and no walks while striking out four in 4.2 innings. However, the southpaw will head back to the minors after Zack Wheeler (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday. Falter will be a candidate to rejoin the major-league club as a spot starter or relief option at some point.

Wheeler (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday.

Wheeler had been on the COVID-19 IL since Sunday after testing positive for the virus, but he'll return to the Phillies to start Thursday's matchup against the Dodgers. The 31-year-old hasn't made a start since May 4, but he's struck out 14 in 13.2 scoreless innings over his last two outings.

Pepiot was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Pepiot made his major-league debut Wednesday against the Pirates and allowed a hit and five walks while striking out three in three scoreless innings. While the right-hander will lose his spot on the major-league roster, he's still a strong candidate to start during one of the two games in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks.

Lodolo (back) was playing catch ahead of Thursday's game at Pittsburgh, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo was expected to be activated from the injured list and rejoin the rotation last weekend, but his return ended up being pushed back. It's unclear where exactly the 24-year-old currently stands in his recovery, but it's still good news to at least see him playing catch. Lodolo doesn't have an official timeline for his return.

Matz (3-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven in 6.2 innings during Thursday's 3-2 defeat against Baltimore.

After allowing a second-inning solo homer to Jorge Mateo, Matz cruised through the Baltimore lineup over the next four innings, at one point retiring 11 straight. He retired the first two batters in the seventh but then gave up a solo shot to Anthony Benboom and a single to Chris Owings and was removed. The veteran lefty allowed only one home run in his first five starts but has been tagged five times over his last two starts, spanning 8.2 innings. His next start will likely come early next week against the Mets.

Liberatore held Triple-A Norfolk to one run on four hits and four walks over six innings Thursday, striking out five and lowering his ERA to 3.83.

Through seven starts, Liberatore owns a terrific 46:12 K:BB in 40 innings; his four walks in this one were uncharacteristic and perhaps a result of trying to be extra fine in a high-profile matchup against the game's top pitching prospect, Grayson Rodriguez. Both starters gave up only one run, but Liberatore outlasted Rodriguez, who came out after five innings. A lanky lefty with a clean delivery and good movement on his pitches, Liberatore is on the doorstep of the majors, and depending on the health of the Cardinals' rotation as the year wears on, he could even have the opportunity to seize a spot permanently.

Wainwright (illness) rejoined the Cardinals on Thursday and completed a bullpen session, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright remains on the COVID-19 injured list nearly a week after testing positive for the virus, but he's now cleared all protocols after isolating from the team. The Cardinals haven't yet announced a starter for Sunday's series finale against the Giants, but the right-hander looks on track to start that game, provided he feels fine coming out of Thursday's throwing session. It's possible that Wainwright faces more limitations with his pitch count Sunday than usual, however.

Williams struck out two and worked around two hits and a walk over 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Nationals.

The appearance was Williams' second out of the bullpen since he lasted only two innings in an April 23 spot start against the Diamondbacks. Due to the heavy workload he handled Wednesday, Williams likely won't be available in relief in Thursday's series finale in Washington.

Matz is listed as the starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Orioles, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The southpaw was initially slated to start Friday against the Giants, but he'll apparently be pushed up to start a day earlier since Jordan Hicks (undisclosed) will no longer start. Matz should still be fully rested since he last pitched Saturday in San Francisco. Over his last three starts, he's posted a 9.00 ERA and 13:5 K:BB in 12 innings.