MLB Player News

Lyles (hamstring) will return from the 10-day injured list to start Saturday in Milwaukee, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Lyles has missed just over two weeks with left hamstring tightness. He recorded a solid 3.64 ERA in 12 starts before suffering the injury.

Martinez is expected to take over "most of the closer duties" for the Cardinals, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

President of baseball operations John Mozeliak was asked Sunday on MLB Network Radio if John Gant would step into the closer role in place of Jordan Hicks (elbow). "Oh I would think so, yeah," Mozeliak said. "He's finished games for us in the past and we have a lot of confidence in him." A fair number of people interpreted that as Gant being named the replacement closer, but not so fast. It's manager Mike Shildt's call, and it seems Shildt prefers Martinez, who had a successful run as the team's closer last September (5-for-5 in saves). Gant has had a good season but was rocked for four runs over one-third of an inning in his most recent appearance.

Velasquez is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Velasquez re-entered the rotation over the weekend and didn't disappoint, holding this same Marlins squad to one run on one hit (a solo home run) while striking out five and issuing no walks in five innings. That performance will afford him another turn through the rotation, though Velasquez will need to keep reining in long balls and free passes if he's to permanently stick as the Phillies' fifth starter. His 2.1 HR/9 and 10.3 BB% on the season represent his worst and second-worst marks of his career.

Manager Dave Roberts said that Urias will be available to "back up" Ross Stripling in the latter's start Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Urias entered the rotation last week to afford the team's other five starters an additional day of rest amid a busy period in the Dodgers' schedule. Though he dazzled with three shutout frames in the spot start, Urias will transition back to a relief role this week, even with the loss of Rich Hill (forearm) having since opened up a fifth spot in the rotation. In part due to the organization's desire to limit Urias' workload this season, Stripling will instead be summoned to replace Hill, though Stripling will face some restrictions himself after pitching no more than two innings in any of his relief outings over the past two months. Both Stripling and Urias could thus be deployed in a de facto piggyback arrangement Tuesday.

Stripling is expected to make an abbreviated start in his return to the rotation Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

No specific limitations are in place for Stripling, but since he hasn't started since April 25 nor exceeded two innings in any of his relief appearances since that time, his arm isn't properly conditioned to handle a normal starter's workload. After making a spot start last week, Julio Urias has been moved back to the bullpen and should be available to cover multiple innings behind Stripling in what could be a piggyback arrangement. Stripling should gradually raise his pitch count in his subsequent starts in place of Rich Hill (forearm), who is facing an extended absence.

Gonsolin is expected to make an abbreviated start Wednesday, when he'll be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make his MLB debut against the Diamondbacks, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Since Gonsolin's last minor-league appearance came June 20, he'll be available on normal rest when he joins the Dodgers, but the right-hander has already been handling limited workloads all season while working out of the Triple-A rotation. Over his eight starts with the affiliate, Gonsolin hasn't exceeded five innings or 77 pitches, so similar restrictions will likely remain in place Wednesday. Julio Urias could end up piggybacking Gonsolin if he goes unused in relief Tuesday behind new rotation member Ross Stripling, who is also expected to face a limited workload.

Keller gave up one run in 7.1 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, striking out six while allowing six hits and no walks.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Keller receive a promotion shortly after the 10-day period following his June 18 demotion ends. His performance Monday was encouraging as he didn't issue a walk. Keller, who has relied on fastball usage for 64.3 percent of his pitches in three MLB starts, may look to vary his repertoire upon his return to the majors. His fantasy stock has likely trended lower following a 10.25 ERA with Pittsburgh, but his pedigree and minor-league success suggest he might be a good buy-low candidate.

Lyles (hamstring) is expected to re-join the rotation during the team's weekend series in Milwaukee, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

He pitched well in a rehab tilt Sunday, limiting Triple-A Pawtucket to one run on two hits in 5.1 innings. The righty threw 84 pitches, striking out seven while walking three. Prior to going on the IL, Lyle had registered a 6.93 ERA in his last three starts. Because he's allowed seven earned runs in nine innings to the Brewers in two starts this season, fantasy owners may want to consider keeping him benched this weekend in Milwaukee.

Soroka (forearm) will begin throwing again Tuesday, after which Atlanta will make a determination whether he'll be ready for his next scheduled start Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "You feel good about it and all of that, but until he launches a ball, we're not going to know for sure," manager Brian Snitker said Monday.

The right-hander exited his last start early after taking a comebacker off the forearm, but Soroka escaped with nothing but a bruise and wasn't seen wearing any sort of compression sleeve or padding on the area Monday. Even if Soroka checks out OK on Tuesday, however, the club may elect to play it safe and push his next start back to Saturday or Sunday, using Friday's start as a chance to audition another young pitcher for the open rotation spot created when Mike Foltynewicz was sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Denaburg allowed three hits and two walks over four scoreless innings for the GCL Nationals on Monday. He struck out five.

The Nats' first-round pick in 2018, Denaburg didn't pitch at all after signing last year and was held back to start this season due to concerns over biceps tendinitis in his last year of high school, but the time off didn't seem to hurt the 19-year-old at all as he dazzled in his professional debut. The organization won't rush him, but if he continues overmatching Gulf Coast League hitters, a bump up to a full-season rookie league before the end of the season wouldn't be a surprise.