MLB Player News

Walker dropped to 3-2 on the season in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Walker was given an early 2-0 lead, but the Orioles chipped away with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a solo home run by Anthony Santander in the fourth. Santander then broke the tie with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Walker was pulled with one out to go in the frame at 92 pitches. Walker has pitched into the sixth inning in his past two starts but has not recorded a quality start or a win since May 11. On the season, he now owns a 5.33 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 40:18 K:BB in 49 innings and tentatively lines up to start next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Kelly (shoulder) is expected to be held out through the All-Star break, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports Saturday.

Manager Torey Lovullo noted that Kelly hasn't thrown beyond 75 feet yet and is being brought along slowly. The 35-year-old has been sidelined since late April and didn't start a throwing program until June 4. If he does end up sitting through the All-Star break, Kelly wouldn't be back until July 19 at the earliest.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Musgrove (elbow) is getting closer to picking up a ball and starting a throwing program, per MLB.com.

Musgrove was diagnosed with a bone spur in his right elbow in early June and consequently received PRP and cortisone injections. While Shildt said Friday that the veteran pitcher could resume throwing soon, he didn't give specifics on a timeline. Given that Musgrove dealt with a similar injury in May, the Padres are unlikely to rush him back, and he's probably at least a month away from a return.

Darvish (groin) threw a bullpen session Friday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Darvish simulated three innings in the session, tossing 60 pitches. The veteran hurler said before throwing the bullpen that he expects the session to be sufficient ramp-up to allow him to return to the Padres' rotation without a rehab assignment. Per Acee, Darvish could start a game during San Diego's homestand against Milwaukee that begins next Thursday.

Wicks was diagnosed Saturday with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Manager Craig Counsell didn't offer much of a timeline for Wicks' recovery, mentioning only that Wicks was "going to miss some time." However, a Grade 2 sprain likely indicates that Wicks will be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days, leaving his rotation spot to Kyle Hendricks for the foreseeable future. Wicks sustained the injury Friday during his first start since April after spending a month on the 15-day injured list due to a forearm injury. The Cubs placed him on the IL prior to Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Senga (shoulder/triceps) threw a two-inning bullpen session Saturday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Senga was able to throw more than 30 pitches in the session and he's expected to throw a shorter one next week. The right-hander has been slowly working his way back from a posterior right capsule strain and then a subsequent triceps injury, and he's yet to make his season debut. Senga has already been ruled out for the first half of the season, but if he can build on Saturday's session next week, he'll remain on track to return relatively soon following the All-Star break.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's loss to the Cardinals that Hendricks is likely to take Jordan Wicks' (oblique) spot in the rotation, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Hendricks came on in relief for the injured Wicks in the second inning Friday and tossed 4.1 scoreless frames. The veteran right-hander has been disastrous on the whole this season with an 8.20 ERA, but he hasn't been scored upon over his last 8.2 innings out of the bullpen. Hendricks would tentatively be lined up to start Wednesday at home versus the Giants.

The Cubs placed Wicks on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor reports.

Wicks had to be pulled from Friday's start against the Cardinals in the second inning due to the injury. It's unclear what grade the strain is, so it's difficult to project a return date. Typically, even low-grade oblique strains result in absences beyond the minimum 15 days. Kyle Hendricks will slide into Wicks' rotation spot.

Henry is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Scott McGough in Saturday's game against the White Sox, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

After being called up from Triple-A Reno last Sunday, Henry worked behind McGough and picked up a win against the Padres, despite giving up two earned runs over three hits and two walks over 2.1 innings. Henry hasn't been used since that relief outing, so he should be able to give Arizona plenty of length once McGough exits Saturday's contest.

Manaea (4-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five-plus innings in a 2-1 victory over the Padres. He struck out seven.

The veteran southpaw did serve up a homer for the fifth straight start, a solo shot in the fifth inning by Jackson Merrill, but it was the only damage Manaea surrendered. It was a strong bounce-back effort after he'd been tagged for 11 earned runs in 9.1 frames over his prior two outings, and Manaea will take a 4.11 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 67:26 K:BB through 65.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week against the Rangers.