MLB Player News

Steele struck out 10 batters in 4.2 scoreless innings Friday against the Marlins, walking one while allowing four hits. He did not factor into the decision.

Steele isn't known for his strikeout stuff, as he carried a forgettable 22.5 percent career strikeout rate heading into Friday's start, but he wound up matching his career high with his second double-digit strikeout game of the season. The Marlins didn't offer much resistance outside of the fourth inning, when a catcher's interference call and a pair of singles loaded the bases with one out, but Steele would escape that jam with a strikeout and a flyout. The only negative for the lefty was that all the long counts meant he was unable to finish five frames, but it was still quite a encouraging performance. Steele will look to provide an encore Wednesday against Washington.

Kershaw is getting an MRI on his lower back and will miss 2-to-4 weeks, according to manager Dave Roberts, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

That timeline is not rock solid, considering the Dodgers are still awaiting the results of the MRI. However, Kershaw was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, so he will miss at least two weeks. Ryan Pepiot was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City and is the presumptive rotation replacement for Kershaw.

Pepiot is no longer listed as Saturday's starting pitcher for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and it's possible he will make his next start for the big club with Clayton Kershaw (back) heading to the injured list, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

The Dodgers have the option of going with a four-man rotation until Aug. 16 in Milwaukee, but they could also give everyone some extra rest next week and add Pepiot to the rotation for a two-game series at home against the Twins on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 24-year-old righty has a 3.20 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 19.2 innings over his last three starts at Triple-A. He has electric stuff, but sometimes his control can abandon him, so Pepiot is a high-risk/high-reward option whenever he makes MLB spot starts.

Feltner was recalled by the Rockies on Friday.

Felner was sent down after serving as the extra man in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Padres. He failed to impress in that start, allowing three runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings, but he could get at least a couple more turns in the rotation after Chad Kuhl (hip) hit the injured list.

Kershaw (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list as expected Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw exited his start Thursday against the Giants with lower-back pain and will now miss at least two more turns in the rotation. The Dodgers sounded optimistic that he wouldn't be in line for a long absence, but the team currently holds a 12.5-game lead in the NL West, so there's little reason to rush him back. Off days Monday and Thursday mean the Dodgers could put off the question of who replaces Kershaw in the rotation for several days.

Skubal (arm) is scheduled to restart his throwing program within the next couple days, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The left-hander landed on the 10-day IL with arm fatigue earlier this week, and it's an encouraging sign he isn't expected to be shut down from throwing for long. Skubal won't be eligible to be reinstated to the active roster until Aug. 17, but it's unclear if he'll be ready at that point. Bryan Garcia was promoted to start Friday against the Rays in Skubal's place.

Gaddis had his contract selected by Cleveland and is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Astros.

The 24-year-old was promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus in July and will now make his way to the majors for the first time. Gaddis has a 4.07 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 114:31 K:BB over 86.1 innings between Akron and Columbus this season. If the right-hander pitches well in his debut he could make another turn or two through the rotation, depending when Aaron Civale (wrist) is able to return from the injured list.

Kershaw's back injury is expected to send him to the injured list, though the Dodgers remain optimistic that his absence won't be a long one, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw left his start Thursday against the Giants with pain in his lower back. An X-ray failed to reveal much Friday, so he'll undergo an MRI as well. Regardless of the result of that test, it looks like Kershaw will miss at least a pair of starts, but it's possible he doesn't wind up missing much more than that.

Woodruff did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks over 6.1 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Pirates. He struck out three.

Woodruff struggled with his command in the second inning, throwing a wild pitch to allow Greg Allen to advance to third before the baserunner ultimately scored on a passed ball by Victor Caratini. The right-hander settled down and recorded four scoreless frames before he allowed three of the first four hitters to reach in the seventh inning, including an RBI single by Tucupita Marcano. Woodruff was tagged with another earned run when Brad Boxberger allowed one of his inherited runners to score on a Ben Gamel single. Since a stint on the IL, Woodruff has posted a 2.18 ERA across seven starts (41.1 innings), but the ace has walked multiple batters in four of his last five outings.

Garcia had his contract selected by the Tigers, and he will start Friday's game against the Rays.

The right-hander was previously announced as Detroit's starter for the contest, and he's now officially been added to the big-league roster. Garcia made his season debut in a spot start for the Tigers last week and was demoted after giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks across 3.2 innings July 29.