MLB Player News

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Rutledge will make his major-league debut Wednesday against Pittsburgh, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Rutledge began the season with Double-A Harrisburg and has posted a 4.44 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through 50.2 innings since being promoted to Triple-A Rochester in June. The 24-year-old righty doesn't strike batters out at a particularly high rate (7.9 K/9), and he's struggled with walks (5.4 BB/9) since reaching Triple-A, so fantasy managers would be wise to temper expectations as Rutledge makes his first major-league start.

The Padres announced Tuesday that Darvish (elbow) has officially been shut down for the rest of the season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Darvish was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 28 due to a bone spur in his right elbow. His recovery has been slower than expected, so he'll turn his focus to rest and rehab over the next few weeks while the Padres play out the string on a non-playoff-contending season. The 37-year-old righty will finish the 2023 campaign with a 4.56 ERA and 1.30 WHIP alongside a 141:43 K:BB through 136.1 innings.

Cease (7-7) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings against Kansas City. He struck out eight.

It was a step in the right direction for Cease, who'd struggled to a 9.30 ERA in his prior four starts (20.1 innings). While efficiency remains an issue for Cease (he needed 102 pitches to get through 5.1 innings Tuesday), his 10.8 K/9 ranks as the seventh-highest figure in MLB. Cease's ERA now sits at 4.87 with a 1.46 WHIP and 191:74 K:BB through 30 starts (159 innings) this season. He'll look to build on Tuesday's outing in his next start, currently scheduled for this weekend against the Twins.

Singer (8-11) took the loss Tuesday, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in a 6-2 loss against the White Sox. He struck out two.

Singer would ultimately settle down after giving up five runs in the opening inning, but the Royals couldn't overcome the early deficit, leaving Singer with his third loss in his last four starts. The 27-year-old right-hander has allowed four runs or more in each of his last four outings, raising his ERA to 5.51 with a 1.44 WHIP and 129:47 K:BB through 28 starts (153.2 innings) this season. Singer's currently in line for a tough home matchup with the Astros in his next outing.

Houser (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game against the Marlins, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Houser needed just a couple weeks of rest to recover from the elbow swelling that sent him to the IL on Aug. 28. The 30-year-old right-hander carries a 4.58 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 77:28 K:BB in 90.1 innings this season with the Brewers.

Kershaw (shoulder) is expected to make his next start Saturday in Seattle, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw was skipped on his latest turn through the Dodgers' rotation, but manager Dave Roberts assured reporters Sunday that the veteran left-hander is not in danger of requiring a stint on the injured list. He's battled off-and-on shoulder issues for much of the second half but threw a bullpen session Tuesday without issue.

Ashby (shoulder) isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list this season, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander hasn't suffered a setback in his recovery from the arthroscopic shoulder procedure he underwent in April, but the Brewers want him to focus on building up his arm in the minors over the next few weeks rather than gearing up for a return to the MLB bullpen. Assuming the Brewers don't deviate from that plan, Ashby will continue to make rehab appearances at Double-A Biloxi this week before moving up to Triple-A Nashville, where he'll finish the 2023 campaign. Ashby has resided on the Brewers' IL all season but began his rehab assignment at High-A Wisconsin earlier this month, striking out five and walking five while allowing three runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings over three appearances before moving up to Biloxi.

Rutledge has joined the Nationals' taxi squad and could be promoted from Triple-A Rochester to make his major-league debut Wednesday versus the Pirates, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan Washington reports.

Washington has yet to name a starter for Wednesday's game, but Rutledge looks to be the top candidate for the nod. The 24-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Nationals with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft and has worked to a 3.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 106:55 K:BB in 119 innings (23 starts) this season between Double-A Harrisburg and Rochester.

Hill was placed on waivers by the Padres on Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

San Diego will hope to get a bit of salary relief on the veteran left-hander, but he could very well pass through waivers unclaimed. Hill, 43, has struggled to a 9.27 ERA in 22.1 innings (five starts, two relief appearances) since being acquired from the Pirates at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Lucchesi is expected to be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Lucchesi should get multiple turns in the rotation before the regular season comes to an end, and it can serve as an audition of sorts for a starting role as the Mets begin to make plans for the 2024 campaign. The left-hander has posted a 3.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB in 28 major-league innings (six starts) this season.