MLB Player News

Kershaw (back) completed a 48-to-50-pitch bullpen session Sunday and will throw two simulated innings Wednesday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Kershaw's bullpen session went off without a hitch Sunday so he'll progress his rehab to a short simulated outing Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. If the simulated work goes well, Kershaw will likely begin a minor-league rehab assignment shortly thereafter. The Dodgers ace is making great progress and could conceivably rejoin the rotation before the end of the month.

Senzatela isn't listed as a starter for any of the Rockies' first five games of the upcoming week, suggesting that he may move to the bullpen, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The Rockies will recall Chad Bettis from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Monday's series opener against the Braves while Kyle Freeland (groin) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list to start Tuesday, so there won't be room on the starting staff for Senzatela unless manager Bud Black decides to expand the rotation to six men. Senzatela fared well his last time out Aug. 9 against the Indians, giving up two runs over five innings and striking out five, but he's struggled on the whole since the beginning of June, submitting a 6.55 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 45.1 innings.

Freeland (groin) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday against the Braves, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Freeland will only miss the minimum amount of time due to the groin strain, with the Rockies determining that a minor-league rehab assignment wouldn't be necessary after the left-hander completed a 35-pitch bullpen session Saturday without incident. With Colorado planning to call up Chad Bettis from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Monday and Freeland on tap to return Tuesday, the team is expected to move rookie Antonio Senzatela to the bullpen, assuming manager Bud Black opts to stick with a five-man rotation during the upcoming week.

Lively is a candidate to start Tuesday for the Phillies, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Lively would take Vince Velasquez's (finger) spot in the rotation if the Phillies opt to go with him over Mark Leiter. Lively was 1-4 with a 3.80 ERA and a 17:13 K:BB in 42.2 innings with the Phillies earlier this season.

Ryu gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five in five innings Saturday against the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.

After back-to-back seven-inning starts in which Ryu did not allow a run and struck out at least seven, he came back to earth a little, despite facing a pretty weak Padres lineup. He was able to avoid a big inning, but the Padres tagged him for a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Ryu struggled with efficiency, needing 108 pitches (68 strikes) to get through five frames. His next start will come next weekend in Detroit.

Corbin struck out eight over 6.2 scoreless innings against the Cubs on Saturday to pick up his ninth win. He gave up five hits and walked one.

He has now struck out 18 over his last 12.2 innings and has 133 strikeouts in 135.1 innings on the season. His 4.52 ERA and 1.53 WHIP aren't doing anyone any favors, but the strikeouts and wins have helped keep him relevant. This was a tricky matchup for Corbin, but he aptly navigated it. He will face another tough test in his next start in Houston.

Matz (2-6) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over 5.2 innings to take the loss Saturday against the Phillies.

Matz had fired four shutout innings before giving up a pair of runs in the fifth, but overall he kept the Mets in the game with his solid outing. Despite throwing well against the Phillies, this was the first time in seven starts that he's allowed fewer than three runs, and his ERA is now 5.54. Unless he starts to put together a few strong outings, he's a difficult player to trust in fantasy lineups. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Yankees.

Nola (9-7) allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight across seven innings to earn the win Saturday against the Mets.

Nola's only mistake was allowing a solo homer in the fourth inning, but the offense provided him a pair of runs in the fifth frame, leading to his ninth victory of the campaign. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last 10 starts, and during that time he's lowered his ERA from 4.76 to 3.02; the 24-year-old seems to be emerging into an ace before our eyes. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Giants.

Martinez (9-9) struck out seven with one walk and three runs allowed during a six-inning effort in a win against Atlanta on Saturday.

It was the second straight decision that went Martinez's way, and the fourth straight start in which he struck out at least seven batters. Martinez has only walked one batter in his last two starts, a good sign that he has started to get a better grasp on his control issues that saw him walk 11 batters in 29 innings in July.

Nicolino (1-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings to earn the victory Saturday against the Rockies.

Nicolino struggled with control, but left the contest with a two-run lead, helping him earn his first victory of the season. He was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans for this start, and although he's already had two strong outings on the season, he presents a significant amount of risk to fantasy managers. He'll make his next start Friday against the Mets.