MLB Player News

Buehler (elbow) was charged with five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over four-plus innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Buehler's line wasn't pretty, but it bears mentioning that he was pitching at high altitude in Albuquerque, so the results were mostly secondary to how he felt physically during the outing. He got his pitch count up to 86 and averaged 94.1 miles per hour with his four-seamer, which is down 1.1 mph from what he averaged during the 2022 season prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery. Buehler has now made five rehab starts, and it's possible that he could return from the 15-day injured list to make his next outing with the Dodgers. If he's activated during the upcoming week, the earliest his season debut would come would be Tuesday on the road versus the Diamondbacks.

Senzel was scratched from Washington's lineup ahead of Thursday's game versus the Dodgers due to a stomach illness.

Ildemaro Vargas will cover third base instead and bat eighth while Senzel is under the weather. The 28-year-old has hit safely in three of his last four games, homering twice.

Merrill was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game in Colorado due to right groin tightness, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said the move was precautionary and Merrill could have played, so it sounds safe to call the rookie outfielder day-to-day. Jose Azocar will shift over to center field, Tyler Wade will move to left and Eguy Rosario will enter the lineup at third base.

Fletcher was sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Fletcher appeared in five games for Atlanta after being selected from Triple-A on April 16, going 2-for-8 with two RBI. He will remain in the organization for now but has the ability to elect free agency. No corresponding move was announced alongside Fletcher's demotion, which may point toward a potential return from the IL for Ozzie Albies (toe) before Friday's game against Cleveland.

Adams is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers.

With Keibert Ruiz (illness) returning from the 10-day injured list Thursday and starting behind the plate in his first game back, Adams' time as the Nationals' No. 1 backstop appears to have ended. He had started 11 of the Nationals' 13 games while Ruiz was out, going 10-for-37 (.270 batting average) with five extra-base hits (one home run, four doubles), three runs and three RBI.

Outman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

With the Dodgers and Nationals concluding their series with a day game after a night game and with southpaw MacKenzie Gore on the bump for Washington, Outman is one of three lefty-hitting regulars who will get the afternoon off. Outman will be joined on the bench by Gavin Lux and Max Muncy.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

With the Dodgers and Nationals concluding their series with a day game after a night game and with southpaw MacKenzie Gore on the bump for Washington, Muncy is one of three lefty-hitting regulars who will get the afternoon off. Muncy will be joined on the bench by Gavin Lux and James Outman.

Lux is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

With the Dodgers and Nationals concluding their series with a day game after a night game and with southpaw MacKenzie Gore on the bump for Washington, Lux is one of three lefty-hitting regulars who will get the afternoon off for Los Angeles. Lux will be joined on the bench by Max Muncy and James Outman.

Barnes will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Barnes will pick up his sixth start of the season while top backstop Will Smith gets a breather as the Dodgers and Nationals close their series with a day game after a night game. Over 19 plate appearances to date, Barnes has batted .250 with no extra-base hits, one RBI and one run.

Smith is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Smith will get a breather for the day game after he pounded out four hits, scored twice and drove in a run in Wednesday night's 11-2 win. Austin Barnes will fill in for Smith behind the plate.