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Austin Gomber SP | TEX
Rockies' Austin Gomber: Bound for injured list
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.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Won't return in 2023
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.
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Bailey Falter RP | ATL
Pirates' Bailey Falter: Works in bulk relief Wednesday
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.
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John Means SP | KC
Orioles' John Means: Looks on track to return next week
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.
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Carson Spiers RP | CIN
Reds' Carson Spiers: Nabs another start
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.
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Mike Soroka SP | ARI
Braves' Michael Soroka: Won't need surgery
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.
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Emmet Sheehan SP | LAD
Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan: Picks up another start
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.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Rays' Taj Bradley: Receives another start
Bradley is scheduled to start Friday's home game against the Mariners.
In his first big-league start since July 29 on Sunday, Bradley turned in uneven results in a no-decision at Cleveland. He struck out seven and allowed just one earned run on three hits over five innings, but he issued five free passes and threw two wild pitches. Despite his poor efficiency, Bradley will get at least one more turn through the rotation, as the Rays are short on healthy starting options.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Destroyed by Detroit
Rodon (2-5) took the loss Thursday, allowing seven runs on eight hits over 3.2 innings in a 10-3 loss to Detroit. He struck out four without issuing any walks.
The 30-year-old spotted the Tigers a two-run lead before registering an out Thursday, allowing a leadoff double to Matt Vierling before Spencer Torkelson hit a wall-scraping homer to right field. Rodon surrendered five more runs across the third and fourth frames, resulting in an early exit with a season-high seven runs charged to his line. After back-to-back campaigns with a sub-3.00 ERA, the southpaw has endured a tumultuous and abbreviated first season in New York, compiling a 2-5 record with an unsightly 6.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a disappointing 1.95 K/BB ratio across 10 starts (46.1 innings). Rodon will look to get back on track in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to take place in Boston early next week.
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Braxton Garrett RP | CHC
Marlins' Braxton Garrett: Short outing Thursday
Garrett (8-6) took the loss Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 3.2 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out four.
Garrett tied his season high in walks and contended with heavy traffic, resulting in his shortest outing since July 21 when he lasted just three innings against Colorado. Despite struggling with his command Thursday, the 26-year-old was able to limit the damage, marking the southpaw's eighth consecutive outing in which he has limited the opposition to three or fewer runs. During this stretch, Garrett has compiled a 3-3 record while posting a 2.68 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB across 43.2 innings. He currently lines up to take the mound in Milwaukee next time out.