MLB Player News

Kershaw didn't factor into the decision Thursday against San Francisco, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Kershaw made his first start since October 2023 after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and threw 72 pitches. Kershaw had to shake off a bit of rust, allowing a pair of baserunners in the first inning, but he kept the Giants off the scoreboard until the third frame. Both runs attributed to Kershaw came in that inning, as the left-hander surrendered three consecutive hits, including an RBI triple to Tyler Fitzgerald. Kershaw is on track to face the Padres in San Diego next week and should continue building up to a more traditional workload.

Corbin (2-10) took the loss against San Diego on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven batters over seven innings.

The veteran lefty completed seven frames for just the second time this season and tied a campaign-high with seven punchouts, but he had the misfortune of being the opposing starter in Dylan Cease's first career no-hitter. In spite of that, Corbin continued a solid beginning to the second half of the season, as he's yielded four runs and posted a 13:3 K:BB over 13 innings across two post-break starts. His next start is tentatively lined up to come next week in Arizona.

Mazur will be recalled from Triple-A El Paso to start Friday's game in Baltimore, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Mazur was sent down to the minors prior to the All-Star break following a stretch in which he posted a 9.36 ERA and 2.04 WHIP across 25 innings covering six starts. He will be getting another opportunity as the Padres struggle to find arms while awaiting the returns of Joe Musgrove (elbow) and Yu Darvish (elbow/personal) from the injured list and restricted list, respectively.

Megill will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to start Saturday against Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

An injury to Christian Scott (elbow) opened up a spot in the Mets' six-man rotation, and rather than returning to a traditional five-man setup, the team will call upon Megill to fill the gap. The 28-year-old righty owns a 5.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 39 innings in the majors this season, though he was able to get through five frames while only giving up one unearned run and two hits during his latest Triple-A outing.

Cease (10-8) pitched a no-hitter, striking out nine batters and walking three without giving up a run, to earn the win against the Nationals on Thursday.

The no-hitter was the first of Cease's career, though he came within one out of accomplishing the feat in September of 2022 before current teammate Luis Arraez broke up the bid. The right-hander needed 114 pitches to finish off the historic effort Thursday, and he was nearly pulled after seven frames before talking manager Mike Shildt into remaining in the contest, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Remarkably, this was Cease's sixth outing of at least six frames and one or zero hits this season, and he's met those marks in each of his past three starts, allowing a combined two hits and no runs while posting a 30:7 K:BB over 22 frames during that span. Thursday's no-hitter was the second in Padres history; the other was tossed by Joe Musgrove in April of 2021.

Ross (back) made a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Nashville and gave up three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings.

Ross tossed 80 pitches (50 strikes) in Wednesday's outing and looks ready to return from the 60-day injured list from a workload standpoint, but it's unclear if the Brewers will turn to him to fill the vacant spot in their rotation. Before landing on the IL on May 21 with a low back strain, Ross turned in unremarkable ratios (4.50 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) over his nine starts, and his recent results at Nashville haven't inspired much confidence. He began a rehab assignment earlier this month and has now made four minor-league starts in total, but he's labored in both of his past two outings, striking out six while allowing 11 earned runs on 14 hits and five walks over 8.1 innings. Milwaukee will require a fifth starter again Tuesday versus Atlanta, but Ross' poor form of late could prompt the team to opt for a bullpen game rather than activating the right-hander.

Hall (knee/forearm) struck out one batter and gave up two earned runs on three hits and two walks over 2.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Nashville.

Hall resumed his rehab assignment with Nashville after he had been shut down for just under two weeks while he recovered from a bruised left forearm, an injury he sustained when he was struck by a line drive in his previous rehab outing July 9. As expected, Hall looks like he'll be built back up for a starting role, as he tossed 49 pitches (26 strikes) in his return to Nashville. He'll likely need at least two more outings in the minors to get fully stretched out before the Brewers potentially bring him back from the 60-day injured list and clear a spot for him in the rotation.

The Giants will call Birdsong up from Single-A San Jose to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Birdsong was sent to the minors even after striking out 12 while limiting the Rockies to two runs in six innings at Coors Field this past weekend. He'll make a second straight start against Colorado on Saturday, this time at Oracle Park. Birdsong is likely to be sent back to the minors again no matter how he fares Saturday, presuming Alex Cobb (hip) gets through his final rehab start with no issues and is able to return from the 60-day injured list next week.

The Giants are planning to move Hicks to the bullpen and could do so as soon as this weekend, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Hicks made his last start on 11 days' rest but still struggled, yielding four runs on three hits and five walks with seven strikeouts over 3.2 innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. He needed 92 pitches to cover his 3.2 frames and admitted again after the outing that his body feels "a little worn down." Hicks could get one more start Sunday, but if that happens he's expected to throw only three innings or so. The right-hander's conversion from reliever to starter began with a bang as he posted a 2.33 ERA and 48:19 K:BB over 58 innings in his first 11 starts. Since then, though, he's managed just a 6.42 ERA and 42:22 K:BB across 40.2 frames covering nine starts. Hicks' 98.2 innings are already his career high by 21 frames. He will move to short relief soon, but the Giants plan to put Hicks back in the rotation in 2025.

The Dodgers activated Kershaw (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Thursday for his start against the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw will make his season debut Thursday after completing a comeback from offseason shoulder surgery. The 36-year-old made three rehab starts, allowing three runs with a 12:2 K:BB over 10 innings. He went four innings and threw 67 pitches his last time out, so he won't go deep into Thursday's start, and there's a good chance his workload will be relatively limited for the remainder of this season. Kershaw was still highly effective in 2023 even with diminished stuff, collecting a 2.46 ERA and 137:40 K:BB over 131.2 frames covering 24 starts.