MLB Player News

Scherzer (shoulder) said Saturday that he feels fine physically and has made a change in his mechanics that allows him to throw without pain, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The 40-year-old also said that he believes he is ready for a rehab assignment and wants to pitch in the majors again this season. However, manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Scherzer will need a bit of time to build back up after he starts throwing, so the right-hander doesn't appear particularly close to heading out on a rehab assignment. The right-hander has been on the shelf since Aug. 2 due to fatigue in his right shoulder.

Wicks (oblique) is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Nationals in Washington, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Wicks had been scratched from his scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Friday in anticipation of his return to the big club, though it wasn't immediately known whether he would be activated this weekend or early next week. The Cubs have ultimately decided to bring Wicks back for Sunday, with Jameson Taillon getting bumped back a day in the schedule to start Monday against the Pirates as a result. Before he landed on the IL on June 15 with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, Wicks compiled a 4.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB over 28 innings. He got stretched out to 4.2 innings and 73 pitches over the course of four minor-league rehab outings.

The Dodgers placed Kershaw on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a bone spur in his left big toe.

Kershaw was forced out of his start Friday against the Diamondbacks in the second inning due to the injury, and manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the southpaw's toe has swollen to the point where it's hard for him to move around, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Kershaw will now be sidelined until at least Sept. 15, and the Dodgers will bring up Ben Casparius from Triple-A Oklahoma City to provide extra coverage in the bullpen for the time being. The Dodgers haven't announced who will take Kershaw's spot in the starting rotation.

The Rangers optioned Dunning to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Dunning was lit up for five earned runs over three innings during his last appearance Friday, and he'll now head back to Triple-A in an effort to right the ship. Chase Anderson was selected from Round Rock in a corresponding move to replenish Texas' bullpen depth.

The Yankees optioned Warren to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Warren gave up four earned runs over four innings during his spot start Saturday, and the Yankees will waste no time sending him back to the minors. The 25-year-old righty now owns a 9.55 ERA and 1.85 WHIP through 21.2 innings across five MLB starts, and his demotion to Triple-A opens up a slot in New York's rotation for Luis Gil (back) or Clarke Schmidt (lat) to fill once one of them returns from the injured list.

The Giants recalled Black from Triple-A Sacramento ahead of his start Saturday versus the Marlins.

The loss of Robbie Ray (hamstring) created an opening in the Giants' rotation, and Black will now come up from the minors to plug the gap. The 24-yera-old righty hasn't been impressive in his MLB career so far (8.79 ERA through 14.1 innings), but he's built some momentum in Triple-A with several consecutive solid outings, and he'll have the benefit in facing a Marlins offense that ranks 29th in the big leagues in total runs scored this year (509). Austin Warren was optioned to Sacramento in a corresponding move.

Warren (0-3) took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over four innings.

Warren yielded four runs in the third inning, including a three-run home run to Brendan Donovan. The rookie generated just five whiffs on 76 pitches and has now surrendered four earned runs or more in four of his five starts with the Yankees. He owns a 9.55 ERA and 1.85 WHIP through 21.2 major-league innings and will likely cede his spot in the rotation upon the return of Luis Gil (back) or Clarke Schmidt (lat).

Gibson (8-6) earned the win against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with six strikeouts over seven innings.

Gibson tossed three separate 1-2-3 innings and earned his first win since July 7. While he threw just 55 of 93 pitches for strikes, he didn't issue a walk -- this was only the second outing in which the veteran didn't walk a batter this season. On the year, he owns a 4.39 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 134:56 K:BB across 147.2 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Mariners next weekend.

The Reds selected Buchanan's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

The Reds acquired Buchanan from Philadelphia on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, and the 35-year-old now has the opportunity to pitch in the majors for the first time since 2015. He posted a 4.91 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 102.2 innings during his time with the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate and will most likely be used as a multi-inning reliever while with the Reds. Evan Kravetz was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

The White Sox are expected to recall Iriarte from Double-A Birmingham on Sunday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Iriarte, a 22-year-old right-hander, will come up to fill one one of the two openings on the expanded September roster. He is expected to work mostly out of the bullpen after working primarily as a starter at Double-A. Iriarte has gone 5-7 with a 3.71 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 122:57 K:BB across 126 innings for Birmingham this season.