MLB Player News

Cobb (oblique) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday versus the Mets, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cobb proved his health in a rehab start Saturday with Single-A San Jose, tallying nine strikeouts over 3.2 innings of one-run ball. He's been on the shelf since June 15 because of a mild left oblique strain.

The Dodgers optioned Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Grove gave up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks in a five-inning start Wednesday at Coors Field. The 26-year-old swingman heads back to the minors with a 7.54 ERA in 37 total major-league innings for the year.

Olson was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker Thursday versus the Rangers, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. He allowed one run with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings before exiting.

It's good news for an initial diagnosis, although it's not clear at this point whether Olson is set to undergo any additional testing. The right-hander's next turn is tentatively scheduled for early next week at home versus the Athletics, but it's too soon to say whether he'll be ready to take the ball that day.

Olson was removed from Thursday's start against the Rangers in the second inning after being hit on the left leg by a comebacker, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

He was struck by a 103.5-mph shot off the bat of Josh Smith and immediately crumpled to the ground in pain. Olson eventually walked off the field under his own power following a lengthy chat with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and the athletic trainer. The right-hander was charged with one run on three hits and a walk before leaving.

Sale (shoulder) was cleared to begin a throwing program Thursday after getting encouraging results from an MRI, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Sale is just three weeks removed from being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left scapula, but he's pain-free and able to pick up a ball again. The left-hander will now start the slow build-up process toward a return to the mound, which the Red Sox hope can come in early August, when he's first eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL.

Manager Pedro Grifol indicated Thursday that Kopech could have his turn in the White Sox' rotation skipped this weekend, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Kopech's next turn lines up for Sunday in Oakland, but the White Sox currently have that spot listed as TBA. The right-hander might make just one start next week prior to the All-Star break and then get an extended break before his first outing of the second half as the team looks to keep him fresh. Kopech is on pace for about 170 innings this season after throwing around 180 frames combined the previous two campaigns and zero from 2019-20.

Arizona recalled Pfaadt from Triple-A Reno ahead of his scheduled start Thursday against the Rays.

As expected, Pfaadt is back in the Diamondbacks' rotation as a replacement for Merrill Kelly, who went on the injured list earlier this week due to a blood clot in his right calf. There is no timetable for Kelly's return, so Pfaadt should have an extended chance to strut his stuff and perhaps rebound from his poor five-start introduction to the majors in May. The talented 24-year-old has worked to a promising 3.16 ERA and 28:5 K:BB across 25.2 innings (five starts) with Reno since his May 27 demotion and is worth another look in most fantasy formats.

Skubal (elbow) is expected to return from the 60-day injured list to make his next start with the Tigers, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Skubal has been electric on his rehab assignment, holding a 1.23 ERA and 20:3 K:BB over 14.2 innings covering five starts between High-A West Michigan and Triple-A Toledo. He will throw a bullpen session over the weekend, and if he gets through it with no issues, he could make his season debut with the big club as soon as Tuesday at home versus the Athletics. The upcoming start would be his first in the majors since he underwent season-ending flexor tendon surgery last August. Skubal didn't work more than four frames in any rehab start, so he will likely be limited from a workload perspective initially. However, with what shapes up to be two starts in his first week back from the IL and one of those outings slated to come against Oakland, he might be worth using in fantasy leagues, anyway.

Wentz was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Wentz was rocked for six runs (four earned) on nine hits across 4.2 innings in a loss to the Rangers on Wednesday to push his ERA on the season to 6.09. He'll head to Toledo for a reset, but there may not be a clear path back to the rotation for him once Tarik Skubal (elbow) and Eduardo Rodriguez (finger) are healthy.

Allen was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The moves comes one day after Allen needed 98 pitches to cover 3.2 innings against the Royals, albeit in a scoreless appearance. Allen didn't last longer than four frames in any of his last three starts, and while his ERA for the Guardians is sitting at 3.47, his 1.44 WHIP points to some work still needing to be done. Cal Quantrill (shoulder) is slated to return from the injured list this weekend and will take Allen's rotation spot.