• Making last rehab start
    Scherzer (back/arm) is expected to throw 70-75 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, which will be his final rehab start barring a setback, Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Saturday's start will be Scherzer's second rehab appearance, following up four scoreless innings Sunday. If all goes well, Scherzer will be ready to return to the active roster and make his 2024 debut after undergoing an offseason back surgery and dealing with thumb and forearm issues throughout his recovery. Rotowire.com 22 minutes ago
     
  • Carlos Carrasco surrenders five runs in loss
    Carlos Carrasco allowed five runs with two strikeouts over five innings in a loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday.

    Advice: Carrasco started with a clean first inning, then ran into some trouble in the second. The Blue Jays would bring two runs in on a walk and three hits before Carrasco could record an out. He got out of the frame with three runs scored. A walk and a hit made it four runs after four innings. Carrasco hit two batters in the fifth and allowed one more run before his day was done. The 37-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 5.80 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and a 44/21 K/BB ratio across 59 innings. He’ll take on the Blue Jays once again in Cleveland on Friday. Rotoworld 36 minutes ago
     
  • Has Grade 2 oblique strain
    Wicks was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

    Advice: Craig Counsell didn't offer much of a timeline for Wicks' recovery, mentioning only that Wicks was "going to miss some time." However, a Grade 2 sprain likely indicates that Wicks will be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days, leaving his rotation spot to Kyle Hendricks for the foreseeable future. Wicks sustained the injury Friday during his first start since April after spending a month on the IL due to a forearm injury. Rotowire.com 55 minutes ago
    Jordan WicksCHC - SP
    W, 5-1 vs STL
     
  • Jordan Wicks diagnosed with Grade 2 oblique strain
    Jordan Wicks was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right oblique strain.

    Advice: That’s certainly not the news that the Cubs were hoping for. Now rather than missing just a couple of weeks, it’s likely that the 24-year-old southpaw will be looking at an extended absence. Kyle Hendricks is expected to hold down Wicks’ spot in the Cubs’ rotation for the foreseeable future. Rotoworld Today, 2:11 pm
    Jordan WicksCHC - SP
    W, 5-1 vs STL
     
  • Kodai Senga (shoulder) throws bullpen on Saturday
    Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw around 30 pitches in a successful two-inning bullpen session on Saturday.

    Advice: He’ll throw another bullpen early next week and if all goes well with that session, it sounds like Senga will finally be cleared to face live hitters. He’s still going to need several minor league rehab starts before he’s an option to join the Mets’ rotation, but he’s at least taking small steps in the right direction. Rotoworld Today, 2:01 pm
     
  • Like Mike: Imanaga folds Cards in seven-inning gem
    Shota Imanaga struck out six and allowed one run over seven innings on Saturday in a win over the Cardinals.

    Advice: Imanaga got his first taste of the storied NL Central rivalry on Saturday afternoon at historic Wrigley Field and delivered another masterpiece, throwing a career-high 103 pitches and limiting St. Louis’ lineup to just four baserunners over seven stellar frames. He induced 14 swinging strikes, with a dozen of them coming on his splitter/sweeper combo, and allowed just seven batted balls with an exit velocity in excess of 95 mph. The 30-year-old Japanese southpaw has been a revelation this season in his Cubs debut, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 13 starts so far. He’ll carry a microscopic 1.89 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 78/11 K/BB ratio across 76 innings (13 starts) into a home outing on Friday against the Mets. Rotoworld Today, 1:51 pm
     
  • Andre Pallante gives up two runs in brief outing
    Andre Pallante was charged with two runs (one earned) over 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in a loss to the Cubs.

    Advice: Pallante turned in a perfect opening frame before engineering a masterful escape after giving up back-to-back hits to open the second inning. He got into trouble in the fourth inning after giving up consecutive hits to open the frame and was lifted for reliever Chris Roycroft after striking out Ian Happ and wound up being charged with a pair of runs following his departure. He struck out four and didn’t hand out a free pass. The 25-year-old righty figures to continue operating in a swingman-type role for the Cardinals moving forward. Rotoworld Today, 1:50 pm
     
  • Another rehab start set
    Scherzer will make another rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday against Tacoma.

    Advice: Scherzer will be back on the mound for the second start of his rehab assignment after tossing four scoreless while striking out five Sunday against Triple-A Oklahoma City. The right-hander has yet to make his major-league debut this year as he's been recovering from offseason back surgery and then a subsequent thumb injury he suffered in April. If all goes well against Tacoma, it's possible that it is Scherzer's final rehab outing. Rotowire.com Today, 1:31 pm
     
  • Josiah Gray (elbow) to need two more rehab starts
    Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez told reporters on Saturday that Josiah Gray (elbow) will require two more minor league rehab starts before he’s ready to rejoin the team’s rotation.

    Advice: Gray made a rehab start at Double-A Harrisburg on Friday where he allowed just one run over four innings of work — throwing 41 pitches (27 strikes) in the session. He’ll go five innings his next time out and then will get to around 90 pitches or six innings in his final rehab start before he’s cleared to return. The 26-year-old hurler has been shelved for nearly two months now due to a flexor strain in his elbow. Rotoworld Today, 1:02 pm