MLB Player News

Richardson was scratched from his start Thursday at Triple-A Louisville with no reason provided, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

It's possible the Reds are considering Richardson as a rotation replacement for Ben Lively, who landed on the injured list Wednesday with a right pectoral strain. A second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft out of a Florida high school, Richardson missed the entire 2022 season following Tommy John surgery but has roared back to deliver a 1.86 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 58 innings (19 starts) this season between Low-A, Double-A and Triple-A. Connor Phillips and Levi Stoudt are among the other -- less exciting -- possibilities to get the call to Cincinnati.

Cueto (0-3) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over six innings against Philadelphia. He struck out four.

Cueto got himself into trouble in the top of the second after walking Nick Castellanos to start the inning. The right-handed veteran then served up a hanging cutter to J.T. Realmuto two batters later, leading to a two-run shot to put the Marlins down 2-0. Cueto would actually go on to shut out the Phillies over the next four innings before surrendering back-to-back singles and a walk to open the seventh, which led to two more runs coming home. He's now allowed four runs in each of his last two starts, though he's also made it through six innings in three straight.

Lorenzen (1-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over eight innings against the Marlins. He struck out five.

Lorenzen was terrific in his Phillies debut, holding the Marlins to just two runs over a season-high eight innings of work. The newly acquired right-hander retired 10 consecutive batters after giving up his first run, before then allowing a solo home run off the bat of Bryan De La Cruz. Lorenzen has now conceded two runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts, while the home run he allowed Thursday was the first he's given up since June 25.

Gausman (8-6) took the loss Thursday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against Baltimore. He struck out six.

Gausman allowed multiple baserunners in three separate frames and was pulled with one out in the fifth after a Ryan O'Hearn single. This marks the 32-year-old right-hander's shortest outing since he went just 3.1 innings against the Red Sox on May 4. However, it's worth noting that Gausman had been exceptional between these two rough starts, going 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 113:25 K:BB across 85.2 innings during that stretch. He will look to rebound in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against Cleveland.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Buehler (elbow) is "on the verge" of beginning a rehab assignment, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Buehler is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday in San Diego and could then head out next week to one of the Dodgers' minor-league affiliates as he prepares to return to live games. Roberts told reporters that they are expecting the 29-year-old back -- as a starting pitcher -- in the early part of September. He is closing in on the 12-month mark from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Kershaw (shoulder) is on track to return from the 15-day injured list next week, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

Kershaw faced live hitters in another successful simulated game Thursday at Dodger Stadium as he continues to take positive steps forward in his recovery from a bout of left shoulder inflammation. The veteran southpaw hasn't pitched in a major-league game since June 27, but it sounds like he'll be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment. The final box to check is a weekend bullpen session.

Hill is scheduled to make his Padres debut Sunday against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hill was acquired from the Pirates -- along with Ji-Man Choi -- on Tuesday in exchange for Jackson Wolf, Estuar Suero and Alfonso Rivas. The veteran left-hander had posted a rather underwhelming 4.76 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 104:47 K:BB through 119 innings (22 starts) this season with Pittsburgh, but he can still work deep in games and miss a few bats at age 43.

McClanahan was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left forearm tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

In a short statement to reporters, the Rays said only that they are "in the process of gathering further information and updates will be provided when available." This all sounds ominous after McClanahan was pulled from his start Wednesday against the Yankees due to forearm discomfort, shortly after he surrendered five earned runs on a double, two singles and two homers in the bottom of the third inning. Topkin reported previously the 26-year-old ace is headed for "additional imaging" and "additional opinions" on his left arm.

Flaherty (8-6) earned the win Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out eight.

After allowing a single and a walk to start the game, Flaherty settled in, retiring 15 consecutive Blue Jays in dominant fashion. His only blemish came on an RBI single by Vladimir Guerrero in the sixth. The recently acquired 27-year-old has now earned wins in five of his last seven outings despite a 4.00 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 36 innings during that span. Flaherty is tentatively scheduled to face Houston in his next start.

McClanahan (forearm) will be placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McClanahan was lifted from his start Wednesday against the Yankees after experiencing left forearm tightness in the bottom of the fourth inning. There is no exact diagnosis yet, but the 26-year-old ace is headed for imaging scans and is expected to seek out multiple opinions in an effort to get to the root of the issue. He'll be sidelined through at least mid-August, and perhaps far longer. More should be known in the coming days.