MLB Player News

The Cardinals reinstated Flaherty (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday against the Nationals, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

He'll be making his fourth start of the season with the big club and his first since June 26 after being shut down for just over two months following a setback with his right shoulder. After building up to 6.2 innings over the course of five rehab starts between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, Flaherty looks like he'll be ready to handle a normal starter's workload as he steps back into St. Louis' rotation. Though Flaherty has been a major disappointment for those who invested in him on draft day, he still has a chance to salvage something this season and should be a strong fantasy option in nearly every league. He lines up for two starts this week against two sub-.500 teams, as he's expected to make his next turn this weekend in Pittsburgh.

The Rangers released Keuchel on Sunday.

His release became official shortly after the Rangers designated him for assignment earlier Sunday. Keuchel has now been cut three times this season after posting a collective 9.20 ERA and 2.06 WHIP in 60.2 innings across 14 starts with the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Rangers. At this stage of the season, the 34-year-old lefty is unlikely to catch on elsewhere, and he'll have to settle for a minor-league deal this offseason if he intends to keep his career going in 2023.

Ragans (calf) appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Houston, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers haven't provided an update on Ragans' condition since he was forced to the IL on Aug. 26 with a left calf strain, but interim manager Tony Beasley previously downplayed the injury and fully expected the rookie to return in the minimum amount of time. Texas' decision to designate fill-in starter Dallas Keuchel for assignment Sunday seemingly supports the notion that Ragans will be ready to rejoin the rotation by the middle of the week. The Rangers could opt for a bullpen day Wednesday in the event Ragans isn't quite ready to go for the series finale in Houston.

Gray (hamstring) is expected to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and is lined up to make his next start Thursday versus the Yankees, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Gray was originally expected to start Wednesday against New York, but he'll have his outing pushed back a day after his bullpen session was moved from Monday to Tuesday. The right-hander left his last outing Friday versus the White Sox early with right hamstring tightness, but he appears on track to avoid a trip to the injured list.

Lyles (illness) is expected to start Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader with the Blue Jays, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Lyles woke up under the weather Monday, forcing the team to push him from starting Game 1 to starting Game 2 of the team's doubleheader with Toronto. Manger Brandon Hyde said he's "fairly confident" that the left-hander will be able to make the start, but his progress before the contest will ultimately decide if he can give it a go.

Severino (lat) is scheduled to make his next rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Somerset, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Severino was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Single-A Tampa and looked sharp over two scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing one hit and no walks. According to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record, the Yankees are anticipating that Severino will be ready to rejoin the big-league rotation following Wednesday's rehab start, though he could be capped around 70 pitches in his first outing back from the 60-day injured list. Unless the Yankees elect to expand their rotation to six men, Severino's potential return from the IL next week would likely result in Domingo German moving to the bullpen.

Clevinger (5-6) took the loss during Sunday's 9-4 defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Clevinger permitted a single baserunner in each of his first three frames before falling apart in the fourth, allowing five baserunners and two runs, prompting his removal. Reliever Luis Garcia let all three inherited runners score, giving Clevinger his first start of surrendering more than three runs in his last five turns. The 31-year-old still possesses quality numbers with a 3.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 88.2 innings, though a 4.47 FIP indicates he's been slightly fortunate. He's currently tabbed for a rematch with Los Angeles this weekend.

Pepiot didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 9-4 victory over San Diego, allowing an unearned run on three hits and four walks while notching three strikeouts in two-plus innings.

Making his first appearance since Aug. 21, Pepiot followed reliever Caleb Ferguson and pitched a messy two-plus frames. The 25-year-old permitted two singles in the second but was able to escape thanks to a double play, however, he didn't fare as well after when an unearned run scored on a hit and two walks in the third. He was pulled after walking the first two batters of the fourth inning and ended up tossing 74 pitches while allowing more baserunners than outs recorded. It's unclear if Pepiot will stick in the rotation as Los Angeles currently has five healthy starters.

Williams tossed 4.1 innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Nationals, striking out three while allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks.

Williams made his first appearance since Aug. 20, when he picked up a spot start in a doubleheader game in Philadelphia. The Mets have since condensed their rotation to five men and also returned Carlos Carrasco from the injured list Sunday, though he only gave them 2.2 innings Sunday before Williams was summoned in long relief. Looking ahead, expect most of Williams' opportunities to come in mop-up scenarios out of the bullpen.

Farrell covered two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Cardinals, striking out two while allowing no hits and issuing two walks.

Farrell made a pair of abbreviated starts Aug. 24 against St. Louis and Aug. 31 in Toronto, but he'll likely work in relief moving forward with Wade Miley (shoulder) set to return from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday and with Justin Steele (back) expected to rejoin the rotation later on this week. Don't expect the right-hander to have much fantasy value while typically working in lower-leverage spots or as a mop-up man out of the bullpen.