MLB Player News

Cortes (elbow) struck out two and allowed three hits and no walks over four scoreless innings in his rehab start Thursday with High-A Wisconsin.

The southpaw has pitched effectively over two rehab starts with Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville, tossing seven scoreless frames with a 6:0 K:BB. He built up to 54 pitches (36 strikes) in Thursday's outing, and Cortes may need just one more outing to get stretched out before making his return from the 60-day injured list shortly after the All-Star break. Though the Brewers are flush with appealing rotation options, Cortes' strong track record over the last four seasons should be enough for him to reclaim a starting role. After being acquired in the Devin Williams trade this winter, Cortes made just two appearances for the Brewers before being placed on the IL on April 6 due to a left elbow flexor strain.

Rojas struck out 10 without walking a batter and allowed just two hits over five scoreless innings in his second start for Double-A New Hampshire on Thursday.

The 22-year-old southpaw got a belated start to his season due to an abdominal injury, but Rojas appears intent on making up for lost time. A converted outfielder, Rojas has had trouble staying healthy since moving to the mound, but he boasts a mid-90s fastball with a slider and changeup, and a smooth, athletic delivery that has led to rapid improvement in both his raw stuff and his control. After posting a 2.43 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 61:12 K:BB over 55.2 innings at High-A last year, Rojas could be poised to take another big step forward in the second half of 2025.

Lagrange has a 2.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 34:15 K:BB in 20.2 innings over his last four starts for Double-A Somerset.

The 22-year-old righty was surprisingly assigned to High-A Hudson Valley to begin the year, even though he had an 18.8 percent walk rate at Single-A Tampa in 2024. Lagrange was up for the challenge, logging a 4.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 64:12 K:BB in 41.2 innings at High-A before getting promoted to Double-A on June 3. Even during his stretches of dominance, walks can be a problem for Lagrange, as he's given up more walks than hits in three straight starts.

Ogasawara is slated to start Saturday's game against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

With Trevor Williams (elbow) hitting the injured list last week with a season-ending UCL tear, Ogasawara was summoned from Triple-A Rochester to fill the opening in the rotation. The 27-year-old proceeded to get thrashed in his MLB debut last Sunday, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits and no walks over 2.2 innings in a loss to the Red Sox. With prospect Cade Cavalli (14 earned runs allowed over his last two starts) struggling at Triple-A, the Nationals don't have many appealing alternatives for their fifth starter spot, so Ogasawara will receive at least one more turn as he looks to build a case for sticking around with the big club coming out of the All-Star break.

Sproat has not allowed a run over his last three starts for Triple-A Syracuse, registering an 18:5 K:BB while giving up seven hits in 18 innings over that stretch.

Sproat had pitched quite poorly at Triple-A prior to this three-start stretch. He hadn't struck out more than four batters in an outing since May 7, until he fanned six in six scoreless innings June 28 and eight over five scoreless innings July 4. Among top Mets pitching prospects, Nolan McLean has had better results all season -- even recently, as he's logged back-to-back starts with 10 strikeouts -- but Sproat has pitched his way back into the mix if New York needs to summon a starting pitcher from Triple-A.

The Padres will reinstate Bergert (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Phillies in San Diego, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Bergert landed on the IL on June 25 due to a right forearm contusion but made a quick recovery. The rookie right-hander gave up four earned runs on nine hits and one walk over a 4.2-inning, 63-pitch rehab start with Triple-A El Paso last Sunday, so he should be capable of handling something close to a typical starter's workload in his return. Through nine appearances (five starts) for the Padres this season, Bergert owns a 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB in 27 innings.

Dobbins (elbow) is expected to be activated off the 15-day injured list Friday and will start that night's game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The Red Sox cleared a roster spot for Dobbins following Thursday's 4-3 win over Tampa Bay by optioning reliever Isaiah Campbell to Triple-A Worcester. Dobbins had gone 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 16 walks over 59.1 innings prior to landing on the injured list with a right elbow strain.

Bieber (elbow) threw 41 pitches with three up-and-downs in a live batting practice session Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Bieber reported feeling good following the session, and the Guardians will huddle up Friday to discuss the next steps in his recovery from Tommy John surgery in April 2024. The veteran right-hander believed earlier this week that he could restart a paused rehab assignment after throwing the live BP, and he may be only a few weeks away from rejoining the Guardians' rotation.

Lowder (forearm/oblique) continues to rehab in Arizona but has not yet participated in more advanced baseball activity, MLB.com reports.

Lowder endured elbow soreness and a forearm injury during spring training before an oblique injury paused his rehab assignment in May. The oblique is the issue now, and it threatens to scrap a year of development for the 23-year-old right-hander.

Miley (forearm) is playing catch and could return at some point in 2025, MLB.com reports.

Miley was rehabbing an elbow injury early this season and had a couple of encouraging starts before landing on the 15-day injured list with a left flexor strain. Even if the veteran southpaw does make it back from the IL late in the year, there may not be a spot for him in the Cincinnati rotation with Chase Burns having been called up and Hunter Greene (groin) likely healthy by then.