MLB Player News

Velasquez (finger) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Low-A Clearwater on Tuesday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Velasquez, who has been on the injured list since Aug. 2 due to a blister on his right middle finger, was cleared to head out on the rehab assignment after he threw a live bullpen session Sunday without discomfort. Even though the back end of the rotation remains unsettled while Zach Eflin (kneecap) remains on the IL, the Phillies aren't expect to revisit using Velasquez in a starting role upon his return.

Steele will make his second turn through the Chicago rotation Monday in Cincinnati.

After spending most of the past month at Triple-A Iowa getting stretched out for starting duty, Steele was summoned to the Cubs to make his first MLB start in a doubleheader versus Milwaukee on Aug. 10. He limited the Brewers to three runs on five hits and a walk over five frames, but he struck out only one batter and surrendered two home runs. Steele was already expected to stick around with the Cubs as part of a six-man rotation, but his starting role became even more secure after Chicago released Jake Arrieta and after Adbert Alzolay (hamstring) was moved to the IL. Look for the Cubs to give Steele a evaluation as a starter over the final six weeks of the season as the rebuilding club looks to see if he's a long-term piece in the rotation.

Carrasco (0-1) allowed six earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three across two innings, taking the loss to the Dodgers on Sunday.

Carrasco allowed three home runs in two innings. He has struggled in his four appearances this season and has given up 10 runs in his last three innings. The deepest he's been able to pitch is 4.1 innings. The 34-year-old has a 10.32 ERA and 1.85 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 11.1 innings this season.

Wood (10-3) earned the win Sunday against the Rockies after tossing 6.2 innings of two-run ball, giving up six hits and a walk while striking out six.

Wood ended a woeful stretch of three outings in which he gave up at least four runs while pitching six or fewer innings each time, and he posted his first quality start since July 7, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball against the Cardinals. The southpaw is looking to rediscover the form he showed at the beginning of the season, when he posted a 1.93 ERA through his first seven starts.

Gray (7-9) took the loss Sunday against the Giants after allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning five across 4.1 innings.

Gray couldn't escape the fifth inning for the second straight outing and has given up at least three runs in three appearances in a row. He has taken a loss in each of those outings and owns a 4.95 ERA across three starts this month.

Eflin (kneecap) completed a 28-pitch live batting practice session Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

After throwing a pair of bullpen sessions earlier in the week, Eflin took the next step forward in his recovery from right patella tendinitis by facing hitters. The Phillies will presumably check back in with Eflin on Monday before deciding whether to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment or to keep him around the big club and have him build up his pitch count through simulated games. Whenever he's reinstated, Eflin will likely bump Matt Moore from the Philadelphia rotation.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Sunday that he expects Mikolas (forearm) to return from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week to make his next start with St. Louis, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.

St. Louis hasn't finalized the rotation for its six-game week beyond naming Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty as the starters for the first two games of the series with Milwaukee on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, but Mikolas could be a candidate to take the hill for Thursday's finale with the Brewers. He would be available to start on his normal four days' rest after he covered seven innings while giving up three earned runs and striking out eight Saturday at Triple-A Memphis in what marked the fifth outing of his rehab assignment. If St. Louis elects to give Mikolas an extra day or two to recover from the 86-pitch rehab start, he would draw a more favorable matchup during St. Louis' series with Pittsburgh next weekend.

Nola (7-7) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four in 4.1 innings to take the loss against the Reds on Sunday.

Nola's outing got off to a rough start when he gave up a leadoff home run to Jonathan India, and he ultimately allowed runs in three of the first five innings. As a result, the right-hander was tagged with the loss after he had settled for no-decisions in each of his last three starts. Nola now has a 1-2 record since the All-Star break, and he's recorded a 4.32 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 33.1 innings during that time. He tentatively lines up to take the mound on the road against San Diego on Saturday.

Gallen (1-7) allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out five across five innings, taking the loss to the Padres on Sunday.

All of Gallen's runs allowed came via the long ball, including two solo home runs by Fernando Tatis. Gallen has struggled with preventing homers, surrendering eight over his last five starts. The 25-year-old has a 5.03 ERA, nearly double the ERA of his previous two seasons. His only win this year came on April 25. However, he is still consistently striking opponents out at a 10.7 K/9 rate through 73.1 innings this season.

Lauer allowed one run on three hits and struck out six across four innings in a no-decision versus Pittsburgh on Sunday.

After missing a week and a half while on the COVID-19 injured list, Lauer's return to action was fairly short. He threw 49 of 72 pitches for strikes before Brent Suter relieved him. Lauer continues to have the upper hand over the Pirates, as he's allowed just three runs in 18.1 innings in four appearances versus the Brewers' NL Central rivals. The southpaw owns a 3.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 73:26 K:BB across 73.1 innings overall. He's projected to make his next start versus Washington next weekend.