MLB Player News

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Wheeler (back) isn't certain to make his next start Sunday against the Athletics, though an MRI on the right-hander's back revealed no structural damage, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. "We're going to be very cautious with him... We'll know [Thursday]," Thomson said, when asked about Wheeler's status for Sunday.

Wheeler was pulled after five innings in his start during Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers due to left lower-back tightness. Though Thomson admitted that Wheeler is still feeling sore, the 34-year-old looks to have avoided a significant injury. Even so, with the All-Star break looming, the Phillies could have Wheeler skip his next turn so that he can benefit from some extended time to heal up from the back issue. The team should provide more clarity on its plans for Wheeler after reassessing his condition Thursday.

Williamson (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session July 23, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Williamson is poised to throw off of a mound for the first time since he received injections last month to combat a lesion in his left shoulder. The left-hander is hoping to be ready to pitch for the Reds in September, but he'll have many hurdles to clear to make that a reality.

The Dodgers optioned Miller to the minors Wednesday.

The team didn't specifically relay that Miller will be headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City, as the right-hander could instead be headed to the Dodgers' facility in Arizona to work on some mechanical adjustments. His demotion comes after he was lit up for nine earned runs in four innings in Tuesday's loss to the Phillies, bringing his ERA up to 9.87 over his four starts since he returned to the rotation June 19 following a two-plus-month stay on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers will need a replacement in the rotation for Miller in Sunday's game in Detroit, but the right-hander might be a candidate to rejoin the big club shortly after the All-Star break. The possibility exists, however, that the Dodgers will have Miller spend some extended time in the minors to iron out the kinks, as the team should get some reinforcements to its rotation after the break that may lessen the need to bring back the struggling right-hander. Tyler Glasnow (back) and Walker Buehler (hip) could both be ready to return from the IL immediately after the break, while Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be ready to come off the 60-day IL by the end of July or the first week of August.

Lodolo came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 12-6 win over the Rockies, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out four.

The Reds staked Lodolo to a 5-0 lead after two innings, but the southpaw struggled with his command and served up a pair of homers to Brenton Doyle and Michael Toglia in the fourth inning before getting the hook after 69 pitches (36 strikes). Lodolo has failed to complete five innings in back-to-back outings, but that comes on the heels of four straight quality starts. He'll try to get back on track in his final trip to the mound before the All-Star break, as he lines up for a home start against the Marlins this weekend.

Quantrill (6-7) took the loss Tuesday as the Rockies fell 12-6 to the Reds, giving up five runs on four hits and a walk over two innings. He struck out four.

Three of the four hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including homers by Tyler Stephenson and Will Benson in the second inning. Quantrill has been taken deep five times in his last two road starts, so even being away from Coors Field isn't offering much of a respite for him. Over his last five outings he's saddled with a 6.94 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 23.1 innings. Quantrill will try to turn things around in his last start before the All-Star break, which is scheduled to come on the road against the Mets this weekend.

Snell (groin) didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. He tossed five scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing one hit and three walks.

Making his return from a stint on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain, Snell carried a 9.51 ERA through his first six starts of the season but finally showcased a glimpse of the form he displayed throughout last year's Cy Young-winning campaign with the Padres. Snell was on a limited pitch count after making his first start in over a month, but he still managed to cover a season-high five innings on an efficient 73 pitches. His fastball topped out at 97.7 miles per hour, which was also a season high. Snell will look to push forward with one more solid start before the All-Star break; he's tentatively set to pitch over the weekend against the Twins.

Gallen (6-5) took the loss Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over 5.1 innings.

Gallen needed 53 pitches just to get through the first two innings, which is the most for him in a start this year. Atlanta pushed two runs across on him in the second, though one came off an error. Gallen then tossed three scoreless frames before coming back out for the sixth, and faltered there, allowing two men on before Adam Duvall crushed a curveball 441 feet to left to put Atlanta up 5-0 and end Gallen's night at 105 pitches. The home run was just the third Gallen's given up in his last seven starts (excluding his May 30 start when he exited the game after one batter). The 28-year-old owns a 3.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 75:20 K:BB in 73 innings and lines up for one final start before the All-Star break against Toronto this weekend.

Sale (12-3) got the win Tuesday over the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine over 5.1 innings.

Sale mowed down the Diamondbacks for his league-leading 12th win of the season. For reference, he entered this season with just 11 wins total dating back to the end of the 2019 campaign. Sale kept the Diamondbacks scoreless through five frames before a single and a triple in the sixth scored their first run and knocked Sale out of the game. A second run wound up being charged to the lefty before the inning ended. Sale has now allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts and has piled up a 54:12 K:BB in 37.1 innings over that span. He now owns a 2.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 136:22 K:BB in 105 innings this year and is in line to make one final start before the All-Star break this weekend against the Padres.

Quintana (4-5) picked up the win in Tuesday's 7-5 victory over the Nationals, allowing only one hit and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

The veteran southpaw will be checking the calendar to see when he can face Washington again -- in back-to-back starts against the Mets' NL East foe, Quintana has spun 14 innings without giving up a run. The stingy performances have lowered his ERA on the season to 3.91, the first time it's been below 4.00 since late April. Quintana lines up for one more outing before the All-Star break during a home series against the Rockies this weekend.

Irvin (7-7) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up six runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings as the Nationals fell 7-5 to the Mets. He struck out two.

The right-hander dominated the Mets on July 4, but the Nats' NL East rivals got some revenge in the rematch, with a three-run homer by Brandon Nimmo in the second inning and a two-run blast by Francisco Lindor in the sixth accounting for most of the damage off Irvin. He hadn't served up multiple homers in a start since May 22, while the six runs allowed tied his season high. Irvin will take a 3.13 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 96:26 K:BB through 112 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road in Milwaukee this weekend.