MLB Player News

Mize (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Mize was pulled off his throwing program Aug. 30 due to elbow fatigue. He's now scheduled to resume throwing off a mound and could face hitters again shortly afterward. However, there is still no guarantee Mize makes it back to Detroit's pitching staff before the end of the season.

Sanchez (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session with Double-A Pensacola on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanchez already has several mound sessions under his belt and could finally be nearing a return to live minor-league games. The 25-year-old right-hander hasn't made an appearance at any level since 2020 because of serious shoulder problems.

Colorado signed Marquez (elbow) to a two-year, $20 million contract extension Friday.

This new deal will cover the 2024-2025 seasons, so Marquez is no longer headed into free agency this winter and now carries some financial security into the remaining several months of his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. He underwent the reconstructive elbow procedure in May of this year and is not expected to return to a major-league mound until the second half of next season. The 28-year-old right-hander owns a 4.41 ERA in 1,016 career big-league innings, all with the Rockies. His career ERA away from Coors Field is 3.80.

Gomber (back) will be placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Friday's game in San Francisco, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Gomber has dealt with a nagging back issue lately, and the Rockies have apparently decided to shut him down. The left-hander will be eligible for activation Sept. 22, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready to rejoin the rotation at that time. Reliever Victor Vodnik is taking Gomber's spot on the roster.

Buehler (elbow) will not pitch for the Dodgers in 2023.

Buehler has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He threw two scoreless innings during his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. However, with the Dodgers shifting their focus to getting Buehler ready for the start of 2024, it's unclear whether the 29-year-old righty will continue making rehab appearances in the minors.

Falter struck out three over 3.2 scoreless frames out of the bullpen Wednesday but didn't factor into the decision in the Pirates' 5-4 win over the Brewers. He gave up one hit and no walks in the 44-pitch outing.

For his second appearance in a row, the 26-year-old southpaw worked behind an opening pitcher, as Colin Selby got the starting nod Wednesday and covered one inning before turning the game over to Falter. Between his last two outings, he has struck out five batters while allowing just one earned run on two hits and one walk across 7.1 innings, so the Pirates could be incentivized to continue deploying him as a bulk reliever rather than a traditional starter.

Means (elbow) struck out four over five innings Wednesday and allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks in a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk.

The veteran lefty's 30-day rehab assignment window will come to a close Friday, so his start Wednesday was presumably his last in the minors before he returns from the 60-day injured list. Means pitched five innings in each of his final two rehab starts with Norfolk, tossing 67 pitches (45 strikes) on Wednesday after throwing 86 pitches in his prior appearance. He turned in a 3.74 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB in 21.2 innings over his six rehab outings between Norfolk and Double-A Bowie as he works his way back from April 2022 Tommy John surgery. The Orioles have already moved Cole Irvin to the bullpen to facilitate Means' addition to the team's six-man rotation, though manager Brandon Hyde told Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com earlier this week that Baltimore could downsize to a five-man unit as the postseason approaches. Even in that case, Means might remain in a starting role. Both Jack Flaherty and Kyle Gibson have struggled of late, and while rookie Grayson Rodriguez has been excellent since rejoining the Orioles after the All-Star break, the organization may have some desire to keep his innings in check down the stretch.

The Reds list Spiers as their probable starting pitcher for Saturday's home game against the Cardinals.

Though Hunter Greene (illness) is scheduled to return from the COVID-19 list to start Sunday's series finale, the Reds will still have an opening in the rotation for Spiers this weekend with Ben Lively (illness) and Brandon Williamson (illness) still on the mend and with Graham Ashcraft (toe) recently landing on the 15-day IL. Due to the Reds' depleted rotation, Spiers made the jump from Double-A Chattanooga to the majors last weekend and took a no-decision in a 15-7 loss to the Cubs, striking out seven while allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. The 25-year-old right-hander doesn't make for an inspiring streaming option against St. Louis and could be sent back to the minors immediately after Saturday's start.

Soroka (forearm) won't require surgery after testing revealed only inflammation in his forearm, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander's season is over after he left his start Tuesday complaining of numbness in his fingertips, but Soroka will at least be able to avoid yet another surgical procedure. His numbers in the majors this year were unimpressive, but given that he hadn't pitched for Atlanta since 2020 due to multiple injuries, just making it back to the big leagues was an achievement. Soroka also pitched well at Triple-A in 2023, getting named the International League Pitcher of the Month for August after posting a 2.77 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB through 26 innings. He'll head into next spring looking to reclaim a regular spot in Atlanta's rotation.

Sheehan is listed as the Dodgers' probable starter for Friday's game in Washington.

The rookie was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City last weekend and acquitted himself well in an abbreviated start against a tough Atlanta offense, striking out six while allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks over four innings. Since the 23-year-old right-hander has already covered 105.1 innings between the majors and his two minor-league stops this season -- he threw only 66.2 frames in 2022 in the minors -- the Dodgers may not be eager to let Sheehan work especially deep in his future starts, limiting his potential to pick up wins. Sheehan would gain more value if the Dodgers opt to deploy him in bulk relief behind an opener, but manager Dave Roberts hasn't suggested he plans on using Sheehan in that fashion.