MLB Player News

Kershaw will start the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

After Dodgers and Giants players agreed to postpone Wednesday's game, the two teams will wrap up their series Thursday with a twin bill. Kershaw was initially slated to start Wednesday, so he'll simply pick up an extra day of rest coming off his most extensive workload of the season. He tossed 96 pitches his last time out Aug. 20 against the Mariners, striking out 11 over seven innings while allowing one run on four hits and a walk.

Soroka (Achilles) thinks he could be ready to pitch by Opening Day next season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander noted that Adam Wainwright was able to return and pitch in the playoffs roughly five months after surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon back in 2015, but Wainwright's injury was to his landing leg and not the leg he pushes off with, which presents an extra wrinkle in Soroka's recovery. The 23-year-old also said he plans to use his rehab period to make some mechanical tweaks to his delivery. He'll be in a cast or boot for four months post-surgery, so he likely won't have a clear timetable for his return to the mound until that gets removed, but Soroka would still have about three more months after that to get into shape for the projected start of spring training in 2021.

Corbin allowed two runs on seven hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out three across six-plus innings Wednesday against the Phillies. He did not factor into the decision.

Corbin served up a third-inning solo shot to Rhys Hoskins before running into some more trouble to begin the seventh after Didi Gregorius lined a triple that rolled to the left field wall. Corbin would not face another hitter but was charged with a second run after Gregorius was singled home by the very next batter. The 31-year-old southpaw has four quality starts in six outings but has been inconsistent with his ability to limit hits and record punchouts. He'll try to get into the win column in a rematch against the Phillies on Monday.

Nola (3-2) allowed two runs on five hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out eight across seven innings as he earned the win over the Nationals on Wednesday.

Nola allowed a second-inning home run to Juan Soto and later ran into some trouble in the fourth after walking the first two batters, allowing Howie Kendrick to drive in Asdrubal Cabrera from second. Nola was able to escape with minimal damage and finish with a win after the Phillies put up two runs of in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. Nola now sports a 3.00 ERA and an impressive 48:9 K:BB across 36 innings as he is scheduled next to take the mound Monday against the Nationals again.

Gray (2-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. He allowed one run on three hits and three walks while fanning five across six innings.

Gray was coming off four straight outings allowing three or more earned runs, so this clearly was a bounce-back performance for the hard-throwing right-hander. Gray relied more on his slider (30 pitches) than his fastball (28) in this game and the plan seems to have worked, though now he needs to show more consistency to leave his early season struggles behind. Gray has a 6.58 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in five starts this month.

Ray (1-4) walked six batters over four innings and took the loss Wednesday against the Rockies. He allowed two runs and two hits while striking out eight.

It was another uneven performance for Ray, who needed 99 pitches to get 12 outs. He has yet to pitch six innings in any of his six starts and walked six for the third time. Ray scrapped mechanical changes implemented during the offseason, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, and throttled back on his fastball, all in an effort to find more consistent command. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday on the road against the Dodgers, if the Diamondbacks don't move the left-hander before the trade deadline.

Gonsolin is in San Francisco with the Dodgers as part of the team's taxi squad, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Gonsolin's inclusion on the five-man squad is a no-brainer considering his contributions to the big-league team this year. The right-hander has started three games, hurling 14.2 scoreless inning while compiling a 12:2 K:BB. He figures to travel with the team on its upcoming trip to Texas following the series in San Francisco and would be first in line for a spot start if the need arises. Gonsolin last pitched in an intrasquad game at the team's alternate training site Monday, so he should be stretched out. It remains to be seen, however, when the Dodgers will give him his next start. Although they have used a six-man rotation at times this season, their upcoming schedule includes two consecutive Mondays off, potentially providing starters with an extra day of rest.

Martinez (illness) will face hitters again Thursday at the Cardinals' alternate training site in Springfield, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander threw what manager Mike Shildt described as a "low-intensity" live batting practice session Monday in Springfield, and he'll repeat the practice Thursday, likely with a higher pitch count. Martinez will return as to the active roster as a starter, so he may need at least one more session beyond Thursday's to have his arm built up sufficiently.

Anderson (1-0) earned the win in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees after allowing one run on one hits with six strikeouts and two walks over six innings.

The 22-year-old was electric in his big-league debut and started things off with five no-hit frames, but Luke Voit hit a solo homer during the sixth inning to break things up. Anderson appeared fully stretched out and reached 90 pitches, and he's next set to take the mound early next week in Boston.

Williams (1-5) took the loss Wednesday against the White Sox after giving up eight runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks over six innings.

The right-hander entered Wednesday with three homers allowed through his first five starts of the season, but Chicago doubled up that total. Williams has a 5.34 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB through 30.1 innings, and he'll look to get back on track Monday at Milwaukee.