MLB Player News

Wheeler (back) played catch in the outfield Sunday and is expected to make his next start for the Phillies on July 22 or 23 versus the Twins in Minnesota, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

A bout with back spasms caused Wheeler to miss out on a start in the Phillies' final game before the All-Star break Sunday versus the Athletics, and it'll also prevent from making his second appearance in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday. However, the back issue wasn't significant enough to force Wheeler to the injured list, and if he continues to remain free of setbacks in his throwing sessions over the next week, he should be ready to take the hill July 22 or 23 without any restrictions. With a 10-4 record, 2.70 ERA and 0.99 WHIP through 116.2 innings over his 16 outings on the season, Wheeler had been a leading candidate to start for the National League in the All-Star Game, but those duties will now fall to Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes.

Irvin (7-8) allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Brewers.

After a nine-start stretch in which he allowed more than two runs just once, Irvin has been tagged for 13 runs (12 earned) across his last two outings. The right-hander's ERA ticked up to 3.49 with a 1.11 WHIP and 99:29 K:BB through 116 innings over 20 starts this season. He's shown significant improvement in his second big-league campaign, but it'll be important to keep an eye on how he holds up during the second half.

Rea (9-3) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over 5.2 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Nationals.

Rea was lit up for seven runs over five innings in his last start, so the Brewers opted to have him work behind an opener Sunday. The plan was a success, as he turned in a strong performance, with the seven strikeouts being one shy of his season high. The 34-year-old has put up decent numbers this year with a 3.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 76:31 K:BB over 105 innings across 19 appearances (16 starts). Rea should remain in the Brewers' rotation following the All-Star break, though it's unclear if he'll resume working as a traditional starter or end up pitching behind an opener more often in the second half.

Mikolas (7-8) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out two without walking a batter over 5.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Cubs.

Four of the eight hits Mikolas allowed were homers, including two by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Prior to Sunday, Mikolas had allowed just one homer over his last six starts, though this was the fourth time this season he's given up multiple long balls. The veteran right-hander concludes the first half with a 5.13 ERA, which would be his worst in six seasons as a Cardinal, while adding a 1.22 WHIP and 77:18 K:BB through 112.1 innings over 20 starts.

Taillon (7-4) allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 5.2 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Cardinals.

Taillon came an out shy of his seventh straight quality start, but he was still able to capture his third win in a row. He's also given up a home run in six straight starts, as Alec Burleson tagged him for a solo shot in the sixth inning. Taillon is now at a 3.10 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 75:18 K:BB through 93 innings over 16 starts this season.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday that he feels good about Montgomery's (knee) chances of returning from the 15-day injured list for the first turn through the rotation coming out of the All-Star break, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Montgomery threw a two-inning, 40-pitch simulated bullpen session Friday and apparently responded favorably. Though he won't have the opportunity to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment during the upcoming week due to the All-Star break, the southpaw should be able to push up his pitch count with another simulated game in Arizona. Lovullo didn't specify whether Montgomery was likely to start in the Diamondbacks' first series of the second half next weekend in Arizona or the following series in Kansas City, but the club already opened up a spot in the rotation for the 31-year-old when they optioned Slade Cecconi to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Musgrove (elbow) is slated to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

The bullpen session will be Musgrove's first since he went on the injured list June 1 with a right elbow issue. The right-hander was diagnosed with a bone spur and a bone bruise shortly thereafter and received platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections to address the injury. Musgrove has been playing catch since late June and threw off a mound July 10, though not as part of a full bullpen session. He's expected to accompany the Padres on their three-city road trip following the All-Star break and should continue to toss bullpen sessions during that time with the aim of gradually increasing the intensity of his throwing. He'll likely need a series of minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated off the 60-day IL, and he probably won't be ready to return to the big-league club's rotation until at least early August.

The Rockies reinstated Marquez (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Mets.

He'll pick up his first start of the season and his first in the big leagues since April 26, 2023, now that he's completed his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Marquez wrapped up his seven-start minor-league rehab assignment on a high note Tuesday, when he struck out eight and allowed three runs on four hits and no walks over five innings for Double-A Hartford. Marquez will likely be capped at around 75 to 90 pitches in his 2024 Rockies debut, but he shouldn't face any major workload restrictions in his subsequent outings. During his last full season in the big leagues in 2022, Marquez turned in a 4.95 ERA and 1.37 WHIP while striking out 150 batters in 181.2 innings, so fantasy managers outside of deep leagues are probably best off taking a wait-and-see approach with the right-hander rather than immediately scooping him up off the waiver wire.

Kershaw (shoulder) tossed three scoreless and hitless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, allowing one walk and striking out five batters.

Kershaw was impressive in the outing, allowing just one baserunner while throwing 38 pitches before tossing another 12 pitches in the bullpen after the start, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. The veteran lefty made his second minor-league rehab appearance, and his first since June 19. Kershaw also went three innings in his initial rehab outing but experienced soreness in a subsequent bullpen session and was temporarily shut down from throwing. Per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he received positive reports on Kershaw's outing, and the 36-year-old is set to cover 4-to-5 innings in another rehab appearance with Oklahoma City on Friday. If that goes well, Kershaw could return from the 60-day injured list the following week.

Rea is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Rob Zastryzny in Sunday's game against the Nationals, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Rea was roughed up for a season-high seven earned runs in his previous start Tuesday versus the Pirates, so manager Pat Murphy will have the right-hander work behind an opening pitcher for Rea's final turn through the rotation before the All-Star break with the hope of netting better results. Zastryzny is unlikely to cover more than an inning or two before giving way to Rea.