MLB Player News

Morton (8-8) took the loss Monday, giving up one run on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings in a 1-0 loss to the Mets. He struck out seven.

Morton put together one of his better efforts of the season in a losing effort Monday. He pitched into the seventh inning for just the fifth time this season and held the Reds to a single run on an RBI double by Ty France in the third inning. The 40-year-old got lit up for eight runs against the Brewers early in August but has bounced back nicely since then with a 2.88 ERA over his last six starts. 

Martinez (8-6) got the win Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Martinez pitched a gem Monday as he continues to settle into his new role in the rotation. Even though he had started sparingly earlier in the season, Martinez has now received eight straight starts and is pitching to a 3.12 ERA over that span. The 34-year-old veteran threw his fourth career start of seven or more innings without allowing a run, and two of those have come over his last eight starts.

Glasnow (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday followed by a simulated game Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

This is another step in the right direction for Glasnow, who successfully fired a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday. If he's able to get through Tuesday's bullpen and Friday's sim game without issue, the right-hander could be sent out on a rehab assignment as early as next week.

Graterol (hamstring) will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol has been out since Aug. 7 after suffering a Grade 3 right hamstring strain, but he's expected to be cleared for the team's final game of the series Wednesday if all goes according to plan. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the club deploy the right-hander in a few low-leverage situations upon his return, as he's logged one-third of an inning so far this season dating back to Aug. 6 against Philly.

Kershaw (toe) was spotted throwing off a makeshift mound at Dodger Stadium on Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ardaya added that Kershaw was testing his ability to push off his big left toe by not wearing a shoe. It's another step in the right direction for Kershaw, who landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 31 due to a bone spur in his left big toe. A timeline for the veteran southpaw's return remains unclear.

Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

Winker had started in each of the Mets' last six matchups -- all against right-handed pitching -- and went 1-for-18 with six strikeouts. The Mets have been running a four-man committee in the outfield of late with Winker, Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Harrison Bader all vying for playing time. Winker will continue to sit regularly versus lefties, and he could find himself out of the mix versus right-handers more frequently if he's unable to break out of his funk at the plate.

Hernandez (ankle) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Hernandez will miss a third straight start as he continues to recover from a left ankle contusion. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said previously he expected Hernandez back in action either Monday or Tuesday, but the outfielder will now be shooting for the latter date due to some lingering soreness. Hernandez will go through his normal routine Monday and should be cleared for the second game of the series if all goes according to plan, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Chris Taylor is in left field and batting ninth for Monday's series opener.

Joe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

After a stretch of five consecutive starts, Joe has now hit the bench in consecutive games for the Pirates. Joe will likely be in store for a short-side platoon role the rest of the way, barring Pittsburgh losing additional everyday players to injury.

Grandal will start at catcher and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Marlins.

Though he's included in the starting nine Monday, Grandal is expected to move into the No. 2 role at catcher after the Pirates reinstated top backstop Joey Bart from the injured list Friday. Grandal is slashing .333/.469/.569 since the beginning of August, but his .681 OPS on the season still lags well behind Bart's mark of .848.

Kiner-Falefa is absent from Monday's lineup against the Marlins.

Kiner-Falefa will hit the bench after he started each of the Pirates' last four games against the Nationals, going 5-for-18 with four runs scored and two RBI. Alika Williams gets the start at shortstop and bats ninth in Kiner-Falefa's stead.