MLB Player News

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Williams (elbow) remains limited to throwing off flat ground, adding that it will "be a while" before the right-hander gets back on the mound, MLB.com reports. "He is feeling better, it's just been a slow process," Martinez said.

Despite not heading into spring training with a guaranteed rotation spot, Williams was one of the Nationals' top pitchers over the first two months of the season, accruing a 2.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across his 11 starts. He was then diagnosed with a right flexor muscle strain in early June and has struggled to shake off the injury, as he's still not progressed to mound work two months later. Even if Williams is given the green light to throw bullpen sessions within the next few days, he'll still need several weeks to get fully stretched back out for starting duty. Williams doesn't look like he'll be a realistic option for the Washington rotation until September, and he might be brought back as a reliever if his rehab process remains slow over the next few weeks.

Mule (elbow) has turned in a 3.72 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:26 K:BB across 29 innings in nine starts with Single-A Myrtle Beach since returning from the 7-day injured list May 28.

Mule underwent Tommy John surgery in late March of last year but made a speedy recovery from the procedure, as he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 4. After four starts in Arizona, Mule joined Myrtle Beach but has struggled mightily with controlling his offerings. Control hadn't been a strong suit for Mule before he underwent Tommy John surgery, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Cubs soon abandoned the idea of developing the hard-throwing right-hander as a starter and moved him to the bullpen at Myrtle Beach.

Senzatela (elbow) is likely to begin a rehab assignment Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Senzatela threw a simulated game Sunday and totaled 28 pitches while throwing his entire arsenal. He'll now head to the Arizona Complex League and should soon be in line for his first game since last May.

The Padres list King (calf) as their scheduled starting pitcher for Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh.

King will return to the mound for the first time since July 27 after having his turn in the rotation skipped this past week while he contended with lingering left calf soreness, which stemmed from being struck by a comebacker. The right-hander was able to play catch Friday and Saturday without incident and looks like he'll be ready to start Wednesday after completing a bullpen session Monday. King has turned in quality starts in four of his last five outings while accruing a 1.76 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 35:7 K:BB over 30.2 innings.

Wheeler (11-5) got the win Sunday against the Mariners, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out nine over eight scoreless innings.

Wheeler was engaged in a pitcher's duel with Logan Gilbert for the first six innings before the Phillies eventually opened up the game with five runs in the eighth. Sunday was Wheeler's sixth scoreless outing of the year, as he only allowed a first inning double by Cal Raleigh and a base hit from Victor Robles in the third. He went on to finish the day by retiring the final 15 hitters he faced. Wheeler managed to not issue multiple walks for the first time since June 22 and his nine strikeouts were his most since he had nine against the Giants on May 28. The 34-year-old further strengthened his NL Cy Young case and now owns a 2.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 148:41 K:BB in 136.2 innings. He lines up to face the Diamondbacks on the road in his next start.

The Rockies outrighted Blach to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday after he cleared waivers.

Blach had the option of electing free agency, but he'll instead stick around in the Colorado organization, with whom he's spent the past two-plus seasons. Before being cast off the Rockies' 40-man roster July 27, Blach made 18 appearances (10 starts) for the big club, posting a 6.36 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 63.2 innings.

Mikolas (8-9) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings.

Mikolas kept the Cubs off the board through three innings but would go on to allow two runs in the fourth and was charged with an additional two in the fifth after failing to get an out in the frame. Mikolas has now allowed at least seven hits in five of his last seven starts and Sunday tied his shortest outing of the season. The 35-year-old owns a 5.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 86:22 K:BB in 128.1 innings. He lines up for another start against the Royals on the road this weekend.

Steele (3-5) got the win over the Cardinals on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six in 6.2 innings.

Steele and the Cubs went down 2-0 in the third after Masyn Winn opened up the scoring with a two-run blast to left. That was the only damage Steele would permit, and he was dominant otherwise, retiring 12 straight batters between the third and seventh innings. Steele has now given up a home run in back-to-back outings, but Sunday was his first start surpassing six innings since July 11. The 28-year-old lefty owns a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 104:29 K:BB in 108 innings and lines up for a matchup against the reeling White Sox his next time on the mound.

Waldron (7-9) got the win over the Rockies on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings.

The lone run that came against Waldron was a solo home run by Brenton Doyle in the fourth. His two hits allowed tied a season best and his seven strikeouts were the most he's had since he punched out eight June 24. Waldron led with his knuckleball, throwing it just under 44 percent of the time and getting five whiffs on the pitch. He was pulled at just 80 pitches, but providing length has certainly been a strength of Waldron's for much of the season. He now owns a 3.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 116:36 K:BB in 128.1 innings and lines up to face the Marlins on the road over the weekend.

Quantrill (7-8) took the loss Sunday against the Padres, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings.

The Padres worked a run off of Quantrill in the second after they led off the inning with a single and a double that scored Xander Bogaerts from first. Quantrill would later surrender two more runs in the fifth, both off of solo homers from Kyle Higashioka and Jurickson Profar. Quantrill has now failed to go at least five innings in consecutive starts and in three of his last five. He only has one win since June 11 and has been exhibiting some control issues of late, walking multiple batters in five of his last six outings. Quantrill now owns a 4.56 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 92:48 K:BB in 122.1 innings and lines up to face Atlanta in his next start over the weekend.