MLB Player News

Ross (back) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic reports.

Ross suffered a setback with his back injury earlier this month but is ready to test things from the bump again. A return before the end of the first half for the righty was ruled out Monday by Brewers manager Pat Murphy, as Ross will need multiple throwing sessions from the mound and eventually a rehab assignment.

The Cardinals promoted Mathews from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Monday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Mathews is one of the biggest risers among pitching prospects this season, having dominated at both Single-A Palm Beach and Peoria, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 110:20 K:BB over 74.1 innings in 13 starts between the two stops. His 110 punchouts lead all minor leaguers. Mathews was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and didn't pitch in pro ball last season after throwing 124.2 innings in the spring as a senior at Stanford. He has elevated his standing in 2024 by showing a velocity spike.

Kelly (shoulder) said Friday that he's eyeing the Diamondbacks' mid-August road trip as a target for his return from the 60-day injured list, Jake Oliver of SI.com reports. "Originally we thought it was kind of All-Star break but with how the progression lines up, it's probably a little bit later than that," Kelly said, when asked about his return timeline. "In my mind, I'm hoping I'm on that Tampa, Miami, and Boston trip. I've wanted to go on that trip all year and that seems to be around the right time that I'm back in there but obviously, things can change as we go along."

The three-city road trip that Kelly alluded to begins Aug. 16 in Tampa and wraps up Aug. 25, so the right-hander has shifted his focus toward returning roughly a month after the All-Star break. Placed on the IL on April 23 with a right shoulder strain, Kelly has had a slow recovery thus far from what he said is the first soft-tissue injury he's dealt with during his 15-year professional career. On a positive note, Kelly reiterated that he's continuing to throw, but he remains limited to playing catch off flat ground from 75 feet and hasn't stepped back on the mound since landing on the shelf. With Kelly suggesting that his return is still likely another two months away, fantasy managers in redraft leagues with limited IL spots who have been stashing him during his prolonged absence may be best served cutting bait at this point.

Lowe won his fourth straight start Sunday for Single-A Lake Elsinore, tossing five innings and striking out six while giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks.

Lowe didn't make any appearances for Lake Elsinore after April 26 last season while he was shut down with shoulder inflammation, but he returned to full health for spring training and has thus far avoided the injured list in 2024. Through his 12 starts at Single-A covering 49 innings, Lowe has turned in a 2.94 ERA while striking out 64 batters and walking 21.

Gallen (hamstring) is slated to throw a live batting practice session Monday, MLB.com reports.

Gallen threw 52 pitches in a previous simulated game this past Tuesday, so he'll likely increase his workload a bit in Monday's throwing session. If all goes well, the right-hander will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list during the Diamondbacks' series against Oakland that begins Friday. Gallen has been on the shelf since May 30 with a right hamstring strain.

Webb (6-6) took the loss Sunday against St. Louis, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out eight.

Webb struggled early, yielding two doubles and two singles as part of a three-run first inning before surrendering another run in the second frame. While Webb settled in afterward, the damage was already done, as the Giants failed to generate a hit until the seventh inning. The 27-year-old has completed at least six innings in nine consecutive starts and matched his season high in strikeouts Sunday. He's one of five players with 100 innings pitched this season and owns a 3.16 ERA and a 91:23 K:BB. Webb is scheduled for a home start against the Dodgers next weekend.

Gray (9-4) picked up the win Sunday against San Francisco, allowing one run on one hit with no walks across seven innings. He struck out eight.

Gray took a perfect game into the seventh inning before Patrick Bailey launched a solo home run with two outs. Although the Cardinals' bullpen gave up two more runs, Gray was able to claim his ninth win of 2024, his most wins in a season since 2019. The 34-year-old has completed at least seven innings in three consecutive starts and owns a 2.95 ERA along with an 11.1 K/9 across 83.1 innings. He's on track to face the Reds during a four-game series late next week.

Freeland didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Washington, allowing one hit and one walk with four strikeouts across six scoreless innings.

Though Freeland was pulled after 69 pitches, he still managed to collect his first quality start of the season and showed no rust after a two-month stint on the injured list. While the Rockies led 1-0 when Freeland exited, the southpaw didn't wind up with the win after the Nationals scored two runs in the top of the ninth and took the victory. Freeland's excellence Sunday was a breath of fresh air for the 31-year-old, who allowed 23 runs in four starts before hitting the IL with an elbow strain. He's on track to start during a three-game road series against the White Sox next weekend.

Irvin didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts across six innings.

Irvin tied his career high in strikeouts Sunday, matching his K total from a May 28 start against Atlanta. The lone run against the 27-year-old came on a solo home run by Michael Toglia in the second inning -- the game's lone run until the Nationals' two-run ninth inning. Irvin has logged a quality start in five of his last six starts and holds a 2.06 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 35.0 innings during that stretch. He's expected to make his next start against the Rays in Tampa Bay.

Assad (4-3) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while failing to record a strikeout over 4.1 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Mets.

Assad has failed to complete five innings in four of his last nine starts. The Mets did most of their damage in the third inning, as Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo hit back-to-back home runs to account for three of the four runs on Assad's line. The right-hander is now at a 3.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 79:33 K:BB through 83 innings across 16 starts this year. He's projected for a road game in Milwaukee in his next start.