MLB Player News

The White Sox placed Kopech on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a left knee strain.

After Kopech exited in the first inning of his start during Monday's 6-4 loss to the Royals, manager Tony La Russa said the right-hander was dealing with a hamstring issue, but the White Sox provided an updated diagnosed upon placing the 26-year-old on the IL. The severity of his left knee strain isn't fully known, though the White Sox are tentatively planning on Kopech being ready to return from the shelf when first eligible Sept. 7, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Even if that's the case, Kopech's impending two-week absence could still make it difficult for fantasy managers to justify holding him at this stage of the season. The White Sox called up Tanner Banks from Triple-A Charlotte to provide the team with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen until a replacement in the rotation is needed for Kopech beginning with Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right biceps soreness.

Ashcraft had been confirmed to start Wednesday's game in Philadelphia, so the biceps soreness may have cropped up in his most recent bullpen session following his last outing Friday in Pittsburgh. Right-hander T.J. Zeuch was one of three players called up from Triple-A Louisville, and he could enter the rotation Wednesday if he isn't needed out of the bullpen Tuesday. Ashcraft had gotten off to a nice start to the second half, having posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 32:11 K:BB across 38.1 innings coming out of the All-Star break. Per Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ashcraft is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday, but since the rookie right-hander isn't dealing with any elbow pain, the Reds are hopeful he'll pitch again in 2022, according to manager David Bell.

Severino (lat) threw 24 pitches Tuesday while facing rehabbing teammate Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles) in a live batting practice session, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

According to Rivera, Severino's fastball sat around 95-to-97 miles per hour during the throwing session, right around his season-long average. The Yankees moved Severino to the 60-day injured list earlier this month after he exited his July 13 start with a low-grade lat strain, but the right-hander already looks like he's well on his way to being ready to go when first eligible in the middle of September. Severino could soon be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Red Sox placed Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Eovaldi was deactivated after he demonstrated little progress in recent days in his recovery from the shoulder issue, which resulted in him being scratched ahead of his start against the Pirates last week. Boston summoned Josh Winckowski from Triple-A Worcester to replace Eovaldi in the rotation beginning with Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Greene (shoulder) is expected to throw another bullpen session Wednesday before facing hitters in live batting practice Saturday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Greene checked out fine after a 25-pitch side session Sunday, his first mound work since he landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 5. Manager David Bell has said that Greene will require between one and three rehab starts in the minors prior to being activated from the IL, so he's most likely trending toward a mid-to-late September return. The shoulder injury came at an inconvenient time for Greene, who had been magnificent over his most recent four starts with the Reds (2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 29:8 K:BB in 23.1 innings).

Cubs manager David Ross said Farrell is expected to receive a call-up from Triple-A Iowa to start Wednesday's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ross said he wanted to wait until Tuesday's doubleheader with St. Louis concludes before locking Farrell in for Wednesday's start, but the Cubs look to be leaning toward bringing up the 31-year-old lefty journeyman to fill the opening in the rotation rather than calling up one of their top two pitching prospects -- Caleb Kilian or Hayden Wesneski -- from Triple-A. Farrell, who made 20 appearances in the majors with the Twins in 2021, has pitched exclusively at Iowa this season, compiling a 5.03 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 59 innings.

The Cardinals recalled Liberatore from Triple-A Memphis and will designate him as the 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader with the Cubs.

The rookie southpaw will technically be available for both ends of the twin bill, but the Cardinals will presumably save him for the second game, when Jake Woodford is scheduled to start. Since Woodford covered 1.1 innings in relief just two days ago, he'll presumably be on a limited pitch count in the spot start, potentially setting the stage for Liberatore to piggyback him as a multi-inning reliever. In seven appearances (six starts) for the big club this season, Liberatore has provided a 5.33 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 22:14 K:BB over 27 innings.

Miley played catch Monday but still isn't rebounding from his left shoulder injury as well as the Cubs had hoped, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Miley looked as though he might have been a candidate to return from the 15-day injured list this week after he allowed one unearned run over five innings in his most recent rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 16, but the veteran southpaw experienced renewed discomfort in his strained shoulder in that outing and is without a clear timeline to return to game action. The Cubs may have Miley rest for the next few days before determining his next steps, but in any case, he'll likely have to throw at least one more rehab start or simulated game before he's activated from the IL.

Gray has already set a new career high in innings pitched this season, and the Nationals are keeping a close eye on his workload and in-game mechanics, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. "We're looking at kind of the wear and tear, how he reacts in-game, a lot of mechanics -- is he using his lower half ... is he flying open?" manager Dave Martinez said Saturday night. "We'll keep an eye on a lot of stuff."

The right-hander is fourth in the league in innings pitched by a second-year starter behind Alek Manoah, Shane McClanahan and Logan Gilbert, but Gray also tossed far fewer innings in 2021 than any of that trio. With Erick Fedde (shoulder) expected to return from the IL this week and the Nats having a few scheduled off days over the next couple weeks, they will have opportunities to skip Gray in the rotation if they feel he needs extra rest. The 24-year-old has a 4.67 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through 123.1 innings on the season, with a strong 10.2 K/9 balanced by a rough 2.3 HR/9.

Houser (elbow) joined the Brewers' taxi squad in Los Angeles on Monday and could be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's series finale against the Dodgers, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Houser has been on the shelf since July 2 with a right flexor strain, but he looks to be healthy again after making three rehab starts at Triple-A Nashville earlier this month. The 29-year-old had been scheduled to make another start for Nashville this past Sunday, but he was scratched in a decision that was apparently not injury-related. The Brewers will have an opening in the rotation for Houser after Aaron Ashby (shoulder) was placed on the IL on Monday, but expectations should be tempered for the right-hander if he does in fact get the starting nod Wednesday. Prior to landing on the IL, Houser submitted a 4.72 ERA and 7.7 K-BB% across 15 starts, and his results during the rehab assignment weren't overly impressive (3.24 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 10:7 K:BB in 8.1 innings).