MLB Player News

The 29-year-old infielder was shelved at the end of the spring due to a right oblique strain. He had already been playing at Triple-A El Paso on a minor league rehab assignment where he has hit .276/.364/.310 with zero homers, 10 RBI, zero stolen bases and a 17/8 K/BB ratio over 66 plate appearances. He’ll remain there in an everyday role until he’s needed at the big league level.

Troy, who was hurt crashing into the wall in Saturday’s game, will exit the outfield mix for at least the first week back from the All-Star break, resulting in probably an additional start or two for Loudres Gurriel Jr. and Max Kepler.

McCullers is making $17 million this year in the final year of a five-year deal, so this was mostly a salary dump to free up money for other trades. Fielder, who is the son of Prince Fielder, is hitting .233/.415/.398 in 45 games at Single-A with three home runs, 34 runs, 23 RBI, and 10 steals. He also doesn’t seem to have a real defensive position, so he’s a long shot to push for MLB at-bats in the future.

Gordon has only thrown 9 1/3 innings for the Astros this season, but he’s posted a 3.69 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 55/14 K/BB ratio in 70 2/3 innings in Triple-A. Gordon, much like Shane Drohan and Chad Patrick, has experience both as a starter and a reliever, so he will provide some organizational depth and potential bulk innings for the Brewers down the stretch.

This move was reported a few hours ago and is now official. McCullers was up to 77 pitches in his last rehab start, so there’s a chance that he could join the Milwaukee rotation shortly.

That means the team will push Mitch Keller to next week. It makes sense to use Jones, who is clearly on a pitch count, in the first start after the break because it means the bullpen will be fresh.

Nola will start on Thursday, there will then be a day off to accommodate the World Cup Final, and then Luzardo and Rangel will throw on Saturday and Sunday. The Phillies could have chosen to use Zack Wheeler on normal rest this weekend, but the veteran will likely get a two-start week against the Dodgers and Yankees instead.

Webb was a member of the NL All-Star team, but he did not pitch in the game on Tuesday. That will enable him to pitch over the weekend once regular-season games begin again. Tyler Mahle and Trevor McDonald will then follow on Monday and Tuesday against the Royals.

Ford came to the Nationals in the offseason in a trade for reliever Jose A. Ferrer and immediately became one of the top prospects in Washington’s system. He was sent to Triple-A, where he played through a shoulder injury and hit .223/.370/.335 in 58 games with four home runs, 34 runs scored, and 22 RBI. However, Ford has been improving of late, posting an .841 OPS in June and then hitting .292/.486/.542 in eight games in July with a 7/9 K/BB ratio. Keibert Ruiz is hitting .275/.302/.465 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 62 games this season, so Ford is not going to immediately supplant him, but the young prospect could see regular starts against left-handed pitchers early on. He remains off the fantasy radar for now.

The White Sox will return from the break with their top three starters going. This will also set up Erick Fedde for a two-start week against Texas and Houston the following week.

Kranick underwent flexor tendon surgery in August of last season and will make his season debut when he gets into a game. The 28-year-old posted a 3.65 ERA over 37 innings with the Mets last year and should be a solid contributor to the Nationals’ bullpen, something they desperately need.