MLB Player News

Greene (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Louisville, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.

Greene's strained right shoulder responded well to him facing hitters in live batting practice Saturday, so the rookie looks like he'll be ready to move on to the final phase of his recovery program. He's expected to make two rehab appearances in the minors, as Reds manager David Bell said Sunday that if all goes well, Greene will likely return from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the big-league rotation Sept. 11 in Milwaukee or Sept. 12 at home versus the Pirates.

Wells (oblique) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Sunday or Monday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Wells returned to mound work last week with a couple bullpen sessions, and he's now poised to face live batters. It remains to be seen whether the 28-year-old returns as a starter or a reliever, but he's closing in on a rehab assignment regardless.

Gore (elbow) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Monday or Tuesday before likely facing hitters in live batting practice later in the week, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The Nationals still envision Gore returning from the 15-day injured list as a member of the rotation before season's end, though because of the time he'll need to build back up, he may be able to make only a couple of turns through the rotation. The rookie left-hander had been on the IL since July 26 with elbow inflammation before he was shipped to the Nationals in the Aug. 2 blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego.

Cavalli is scheduled to make his next start Thursday versus the Athletics in Washington, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Despite being roughed up for seven earned runs over 4.1 innings in his MLB debut Friday against the Reds, Cavalli will get another chance to right the ship as he aims to gain a foothold in Washington's rotation heading into 2023. The home matchup with the lowly Athletics represents a good bounce-back opportunity for Cavalli, who at least showed some positive signs in his debut in the form of his six strikeouts.

The Reds are listing Anderson as their scheduled starter for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.

Prior to Monday's contest, the Reds will need to formally select Anderson's contract to add him to the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster, after he joined the organization Saturday on a minor-league deal. He'll be stepping into the rotation spot vacated by T.J. Zeuch (back), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday. Between stops with the Tigers' and Rays' Triple-A affiliates this season, Anderson has produced a 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 72:29 K:BB in 80 innings.

Verlander was removed from Sunday's start versus the Orioles with right calf discomfort, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander battled against Baltimore and needed 60 pitches to get through three scoreless frames before he exited with the calf issue. Any injury is a concern, especially at this point in the season, but it's an encouraging sign Verlander isn't dealing with an arm issue. It remains to be seen if the injury affects his availability for his next turn through the rotation, but the Astros can afford to be extra cautious this week with scheduled off days Monday and Thursday.

Gil (elbow) was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The 24-year-old was already on the injured list with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May, and the Yankees called him up to move him to the 60-day IL and free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Gil won't return this year and will also be sidelined for at minimum the first half of the 2023 campaign.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kershaw (back) will be part of a six-man rotation for "a couple weeks at the bare minimum" when the southpaw returns from the 15-day injured list, most likely during the upcoming week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Roberts disclosed that a decision on when Kershaw will pitch next has already been reached, but the skipper wasn't yet ready to reveal which day the southpaw will take the hill. It's possible the Dodgers send Kershaw to a minor-league affiliate for a tune-up start, but because he already built up to 70 pitches in a simulated game Saturday, he's seemingly stretched out enough to rejoin the big-league rotation. Since Thursday's matchup with the Mets would align with a typical four-day rest schedule and is also the same day that the Dodgers' active roster will expand from 26 men to 28, that contest might represent the most logical time for Los Angeles to activate Kershaw and slot him into the rotation.

Sauer recorded 17 strikeouts over eight innings for Double-A Somerset in a game against New Hampshire on Thursday.

Sauer allowed just one run on two hits in the contest, though Somerset wasn't able to win. The right-hander's 17 punchouts were a Somerset franchise record and are the most by any major- or minor-league pitcher this season, per Eli Fishman of Pinstriped Pros. Sauer appears to have recently found another level of swing-and-miss stuff in his arsenal -- he registered a then season-best 11 strikeouts in his previous contest Aug. 19.

Cubs manager David Ross said Sunday that Steele, who experienced low-back tightness coming out of his most recent start Friday against the Brewers, won't be eligible to join the team in Toronto for its upcoming three-game series versus the Blue Jays due to his vaccination status, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Along with Steele, fellow starting pitcher Adrian Sampson won't make the trip to Toronto due to the vaccination rules in place for Canada. Sampson is starting Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee and wasn't in line to pitch versus the Blue Jays anyway, but Steele would have been on tap to take the hill Wednesday, assuming his back issue didn't prove to be a concern. Instead, the Cubs will now have to place Sampson on the restricted list Monday and appoint a spot starter for Wednesday's contest. Steele should be on track to make his next start at some point during the Cubs' series in St. Louis next weekend.