MLB Player News

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.

Herz is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Herz was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on July 8, though his demotion always looked to be the result of the Nationals wanting to maintain more flexibility with their active roster heading into the All-Star break. He rejoined the big club when a fifth starter was needed for the first time in the second half Tuesday and worked five innings in a loss to the Padres, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Herz will take a 1-4 record and 4.95 ERA into his ninth start of the season with the Nationals on Sunday.

Megill is likely to receive a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse to replace the injured Christian Scott (elbow) in the Mets rotation Saturday versus Atlanta at Citi Field, Andy Martino reported Wednesday on SportsNet New York's "Baseball Night in New York" program.

Martino relays that the Mets envision using Megill as a high-leverage reliever late in the season, but since he's remained stretched out as a starter after being optioned to Syracuse in late June, the right-hander will be plugged back into the big club's six-man rotation. In his prior eight starts with the Mets this season, Megill turned in a 5.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 39 innings, but his underlying numbers (4.29 SIERA, 17.1 K-BB%) suggested that he pitched slightly better than his ERA would indicate.

Glasnow (8-6) took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Glasnow struggled with his command a bit in his return to the rotation, issuing walks in each of the first three innings before surrendering a leadoff homer to Matt Chapman to open the fourth. The right-hander threw just eight of his 21 first pitches for strikes while matching his season high with four free passes. On a positive note, Glasnow was able to get through five frames without any apparent setbacks and still managed to produce 10 whiffs despite his command issues. He's now allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last eight starts.