MLB Player News

Plesac was released by the Angels on Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Plesac was working at Triple-A Salt Lake prior to his release, where he accrued a 5.69 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with a 65:33 K:BB across 99.1 innings with the Bees. He failed to find his footing while up with the Angels in 2024, allowing 11 earned runs on 12 hits and seven walks while fanning five over 12 frames (three starts).

Gonzales will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left forearm strain, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Gonzales struggled mightily in his last start Wednesday against the Padres, but the team neglected to report any injury news until Monday. It's still too early to know when Gonzales could return to the starting rotation, and Stumpf notes that the team is still gathering more information on the southpaw's injury to determine a rehab plan.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Nelson will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game versus the Rockies, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Nelson will be ready in case starter Jordan Montgomery is unable to work deep into Wednesday's outing. If Nelson is not needed Wednesday, he will start Friday in Tampa Bay. If Nelson does in fact start Friday, it could be his last one for a while, as Lovullo says the club would then go back to a five-man rotation. Lovullo wouldn't commit to Nelson being the one to lose his rotation spot when that time arrives, but he looks to be the most likely candidate. Nelson holds a 2.90 ERA and 49:11 K:BB over 49.2 innings since the beginning of July, so he certainly doesn't deserve a demotion. However, he could be the team's starter most equipped to handle a shift to relief.

Reds manager David Bell said Monday that Ashcraft (elbow) could begin a throwing program within the next 10 days, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft has been out since early July with a right elbow strain. He will need about six weeks to ramp things back up before he's ready for games, so even in a best-case scenario the right-hander is probably looking at just one or two late-season appearances.

Williamson (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Williamson initially went on the injured list before Opening Day because of a left shoulder strain, but he was later diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder in June. The southpaw was given multiple injections in the shoulder and has been ramping things back up to the point that he's nearly game-ready again. Williamson could join the Reds by September, perhaps in a relief role.

Scherzer (shoulder) will undergo an MRI on Monday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer has missed nearly two weeks of action with right shoulder fatigue and has not progressed as hoped, so he's been sent back to Dallas for further evaluation, which will include an MRI. There might be more information available on Scherzer's status later Monday or perhaps Tuesday once the test results are in. He'll need to ramp things back up before returning, so even if the MRI comes back clean, it's going to be a while before Scherzer pitches for the Rangers again.

The Padres activated Musgrove (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

Musgrove will rejoin San Diego's rotation Monday versus the Pirates after missing 11 weeks of action with a bone spur and bone bruise in his right elbow. The veteran right-hander threw only 43 pitches in his lone rehab start, so his workload will be curtailed against Pittsburgh.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Garcia (elbow) has yet to resume a throwing program, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Garcia has had his rehab assignment shut down on two occasions because of soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow. While Espada wasn't ready to rule Garcia out for the remainder of the season, the skipper acknowledged Monday that the right-hander is running out of time to make it back in 2024. Even if Garcia is able to start ramping up again in the next week or two, he might not be able to complete a starter's throwing progression and could have to settle for a bullpen role once he returns from the 60-day injured list.

Manager Oli Marmol told reporters Monday that Matz did not feel any back pain following his rehab outing with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz came away with the no decision Sunday after allowing one run on two hits while striking out three across four frames. His next rehab appearance will take place Friday, and the plan is for the 33-year-old southpaw to toss five innings and approximately 75-to-80 pitches. Matz has not pitched for the Cardinals since late April due to a herniated disc in his back, though he could be on his way back to the big club if he comes out of Friday's outing unscathed.

Criswell (illness) might not be ready for activation Friday, when he's first eligible to return from his seven-day stay on the COVID-19 injured list, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Criswell has dealt with some significant symptoms while on the COVID-19 IL, and while the Red Sox are hopeful that he can start Friday in Baltimore in place of James Paxton (calf), he sounds like he might need a bit more time to recover. Josh Winckowski would be a candidate to take the ball for Boston on Friday if Criswell isn't ready.