MLB Player News

Nelson is listed as the Diamondbacks' scheduled starter for Tuesday's game against the Mets at Citi Field.

Nelson was called up from Triple-A Reno last week and made his first start with the big club in nearly a month this past Thursday, covering 5.2 innings while giving up one run on two hits and two walks en route to picking up a win against the Cubs. Arizona has been struggling to reliable starting pitching beyond Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly throughout the season, so the decision to keep Nelson in the rotation on the heels of his strong showing his last time out comes as little surprise. Nelson tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second turn set to come this weekend at home versus the Cubs.

Ward (shoulder) struck out three while allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over five innings in his most recent rehab start Friday for Double-A Harrisburg.

Ward, who has been on the shelf since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation, was making the sixth appearance of his rehab assignment overall and his second straight at Harrisburg. He's now covered exactly five innings in his last two outings and built up to 79 pitches (51 strikes) in Friday's start. Though all 22 of his appearances with Washington this season have come as a reliever, Ward looks on track to get a look as a starter once he returns from the 15-day injured list. The Nationals currently have an opening in the rotation Wednesday at Pittsburgh, and Ward could be a candidate to either start that game or work as a bulk reliever behind an opener.

Knizner went 1-for-3 with one RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Reds.

Knizner's RBI single in the fourth inning was the only hit for the Cardinals in the contest. The catcher had gone 0-for-17 across his previous five games, dating back to Aug. 25. He's slashing .242/.287/.442 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored and two steals over 203 plate appearances. Knizner's playing time is likely to remain limited as he works in a backup role to Willson Contreras.

Wright (shoulder) is with Atlanta for the team's doubleheader in Philadelphia on Monday and could be activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of the second game of the twin bill, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The club has yet to name a starter for the second game of the doubleheader after Spencer Strider's (illness) next appearance was pushed back to Wednesday, but all signs point to Wright filling the vacant rotation spot. The 27-year-old's last rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett came Sept. 5, when he threw just 50 pitches over 3.2 innings. If Wright is indeed the starter for Monday's nightcap, he would likely be in store for an abbreviated workload.

Hill worked in relief Sunday in the Padres' 12-2 loss to the Astros, striking out three while giving up two unearned runs on one hit and two walks over three innings.

After failing to escape the second inning while serving up six earned runs in his most recent start Sept. 4 versus the Phillies, Hill was bypassed for the start Sunday in favor of Matt Waldron. Though Waldron was dealt the loss after giving up four earned runs in five innings, he might have performed well enough to maintain the rotation spot over Hill, who lowered his ERA on Sunday but needed 55 pitches just to record his nine outs. Since joining the Padres in an Aug. 1 deal with the Pirates, Hill has gone 0-4 with a 9.27 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB across 22.1 innings over seven appearances (five starts).

Teheran (hip) made the fourth start of his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Nashville, striking out five in five innings while allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks.

Teheran covered five frames for the second rehab outing in a row, though after tossing 72 pitches his last time out, the right-hander was lifted after 60 pitches (34 strikes) on Sunday. He appears to be sufficiently stretched out for starting duty again following his placement on the 15-day injured list July 30 with a right hip impingement, but the Brewers don't have an immediate need for Teheran in their rotation. Colin Rea has been solid enough in two turns through the rotation since rejoining the Brewers earlier this month as a replacement for injured No. 5 starter Adrian Houser (elbow).

Triple-A Gwinnett placed Grissom on its 7-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip injury, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

With the big-league active roster expanding to 28 men in September, Grissom would have been a candidate to return to Atlanta at some point during the final month of the season, but the hip injury could end up thwarting those plans. After a promising showing in his first taste of the majors in the second half of last season, Grissom missed out on a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster and has logged just 80 plate appearances in the big leagues in 2023.

Atlanta optioned Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Heller's latest stint with Atlanta lasted just three days, with the veteran right-hander making two relief appearances and tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. Atlanta recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A to make a spot start Saturday versus the Pirates, but Dodd returned to Gwinnett a day later.

Abbott will not start for the Reds on Wednesday in Detroit in what would be his next turn in the rotation, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Abbott's 153 innings between the majors and minors this season is already 35 frames past his previous career high, and he's looked of late like he might be hitting a wall with a 6.51 ERA over his last eight starts. The Reds currently have TBD listed for Thursday, and it's possible Abbott winds up taking the ball that day. For now, though, his next scheduled start looks to be up in the air.

Phillips will make his second start for the Reds on Wednesday in Detroit, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Though Andrew Abbott is on turn to start Wednesday, the Reds will give the rookie southpaw at least one additional day of rest amid his recent struggles. As a result, Phillips will be called upon to make his second big-league start despite struggling in his debut outing against the Mariners last week, when he allowed five runs over 4.2 innings. Phillips' time in the Cincinnati rotation could come to an end when Ben Lively (illness) likely returns from the COVID-19-related injured list later in the week.