MLB Player News

The Padres optioned Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Waldron has given up 22 earned runs across his last 14.1 innings spanning three starts, and now the Padres will try to get him back on track in the minors. It's unclear who will take over Waldron's spot in the rotation, though Randy Vasquez is on the same pitching schedule as Waldron and would be a natural fit to return from Triple-A to fill the opening.

Williams (2-6) took the loss Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings against the Yankees. He struck out five.

Williams was locked in a pitcher's duel early against Gerrit Cole but was tagged by an Aaron Judge solo blast in the fourth inning, then was pulled after a couple of batters reached base in the fifth, both of whom came around to score. Combined with the Guardians' moribund bats, it was more than enough damage for Williams to be handed his sixth loss. Williams has now failed to make it through the fifth inning in three of his last four appearances, tallying a 7.36 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over 18.1 innings during that stretch. With a banged-up bullpen and a playoff push ahead for Cleveland, they'll continue to rely upon Williams to regain his form during the stretch run. He'll look to bounce back during his next start, slated to take place at home against the Royals.

Scherzer (shoulder) will no longer make a rehab start Friday with Double-A Frisco as previously scheduled, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Scherzer has been on the shelf since Aug. 2 with right shoulder fatigue, but he had received the green light to begin a rehab assignment after he initially responded well to a nerve injection administered a little under two weeks ago. The right-hander seems to have since suffered a setback this week, so the Rangers will at least temporarily press pause on the rehab assignment. He's now without a clear timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list, but the Rangers could shed more light on Scherzer's condition and his next steps over the weekend.

Cole (5-2) earned the win Thursday, allowing one hit while walking five over six scoreless frames against the Guardians. He struck out two.

Cole allowed a leadoff single to Steven Kwan that represented the only hit of the game for the Guardians. However, Cole battled his command all day, tossing just 55 strikes over 95 pitches while issuing a season-high five walks. He also matched a season high by completing six frames and collected his third quality start of the season. Cole entered the game having allowed just one run with 18 strikeouts in 11.1 innings over his last two appearances, so while the opportunity for more was available Thursday, he still leaves the outing with two wins, 20 strikeouts and a 0.52 ERA in his past three starts. He's next slated to take the hill when the Yankees travel to Washington to take on the Nationals.

Miller is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Rays at Dodger Stadium.

At least while Tyler Glasnow (elbow) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (tricep) are on the injured list, the Dodgers are opting to keep Miller in the rotation as their No. 5 starter over Justin Wrobleski, who was optioned to Triple-A over the weekend. Miller returned from Triple-A to make his first start for the Dodgers since July 9 this past Saturday, when he took a loss to the Cardinals. The command and control problems that plagued Miller when he was up with the Dodgers earlier this season reared their head again in St. Louis, as he was charged with four earned runs on eight hits and one walk while also throwing four wild pitches. Even with a relatively favorable matchup on tap against the Rays at home, Miller's recent form makes it difficult to stream him with much confidence.

Canning is in line to serve as a bulk reliever in Thursday's contest against the Blue Jays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Canning has a 9.36 ERA and has surrendered nine home runs in 123 plate appearances in the first inning this season, so the Angels are trying something new with the right-hander. He will follow opener Brock Burke, who will presumably work an inning or two before giving way to Canning.

Eflin (shoulder) said Thursday that he expects to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible on Sept. 1, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Eflin landed on the IL on Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation but said Thursday that he already feels "10 times better" and doesn't believe he will need any rehab starts before returning. The righty has not yet resumed throwing, so while his comments Thursday are encouraging, Eflin's return when first eligible can't be written down in ink just yet.

Matz (back) is expected to make one more minor-league rehab start prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

On Wednesday, Matz made his third rehab start for Triple-A Memphis, striking out three batters in five innings and giving up four earned runs on nine hits and one walk while pushing his pitch count up to 85. Though Matz looks to be fully stretched out at this point, the Cardinals may want to see a sharper outing from the lefty before bringing him back from the IL. According to John Denton of MLB.com, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak previously floated the idea of the team using a six-man rotation down the stretch, though Matz could still find himself as the odd man out for a starting role once he's activated. Lance Lynn (knee) looks to be tracking toward a return from the IL around the same time as Matz, and current fifth starter Andre Pallante (3.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in five starts since the All-Star break) may be pitching well enough to keep his spot in the rotation.

The Orioles optioned Rogers to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Baltimore obviously saw something in Rogers to the point that it surrendered a surprisingly hefty trade package to acquire him at the deadline, but the club has been unable to fix him. In fact, Rogers has been much worse for the Orioles than he had been with the Marlins this season, collecting a 7.11 ERA and 12:10 K:BB over 19 innings covering four starts since joining his new team. With Rogers out of the picture, Cole Irvin and Cade Povich will continue getting starts for the Orioles, at least until Zach Eflin (shoulder) and/or Grayson Rodriguez (lat) return from the injured list.

The Guardians optioned Cantillo to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

While making his fourth start of the season for the Guardians on Wednesday against the Yankees, Cantillo was dealt a third consecutive loss after yielding seven earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over four innings. Despite being optioned to Columbus, Cantillo could still be a candidate to get called up again Monday, when the Guardians will require two starting pitchers for a doubleheader with the Royals. However, with Cantillo now owning an 8.47 ERA and 1.76 WHIP through 17 innings with the big club, the Guardians could be compelled to go in a different direction.