MLB Player News

Lamet allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Sunday.

This was Lamet's first start against the Padres, though he previously faced them in relief appearances twice early in the season. He held his own Sunday, and the Rockies ultimately won 5-4 with a walk-off home run by Nolan Jones after a rain delay. Lamet has now allowed 11 runs (10 earned) over 11 innings across three starts. He's at a 10.38 ERA, 2.31 WHIP and 26:17 K:BB through 21.2 innings, but Sunday's outing appeared to be a step in the right direction. He's tentatively lined up to make his next start on the road in Atlanta.

Hicks (1-4) allowed a run on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one inning to take the loss Sunday versus the Reds.

Hicks put two runners on base and then yielded a fielder's choice to Tyler Stephenson, who knocked in the Reds' go-ahead run. After a month-long, 12.1-inning scoreless streak, Hicks has yielded three runs over 1.1 innings in two appearances versus Cincinnati. He's now at a 4.73 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB over 26.2 innings with five holds and two blown saves this season. With four walks over his last four innings, Hicks will need to once again regain his command to be an effective reliever.

Diaz pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cardinals.

The Reds took the lead in the eighth inning, and Diaz had no trouble securing the one-run advantage. He saw a 9.1-inning scoreless streak snapped in Saturday's outing versus the Cardinals, which came in a non-save situation. Diaz remains one of the steadiest closers in baseball with a 1.71 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB through 26.1 innings. He remains perfect at 15-for-15 in save conversions.

Murfee exited Sunday's game against the Angels in the bottom of the seventh inning with an apparent arm injury, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Murfee allowed no hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless sixth inning before being removed in the bottom of the seventh. He appeared to be shaking his right arm as the trainer came out to meet him, which is somewhat concerning since the 29-year-old was just activated from the 15-day injured list Friday after missing a month with right elbow inflammation. However, the exact nature and severity of his current injury aren't yet clear.

Romano picked up the save in Sunday's 7-6 win over Minnesota, allowing zero hits and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Romano allowed the game-tying run to reach base by walking Donovan Solano to start the ninth, but he retired the next three batters, including a strikeout of Trevor Larnach to end the game. The right-hander has allowed just one earned run over his past seven appearances, which all ended in a save, and has eight strikeouts during that stretch. He's currently second in MLB with 18 saves behind Emmanuel Clase (20).

Strahm will start Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The Phillies appear to be in line to rely on several bullpen arms during Monday's series opener in Arizona, so Strahm should operate as an opener while beginning the game on the mound. The southpaw hasn't been particularly sharp in recent outings, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 9.1 innings over his last six appearances.

McGough recorded the save in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Tigers, recording a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.

McGough entered in relief of Andrew Chafin with runners on the corners and one out. The right-hander struck out Javier Baez before inducing a game-ending groundout from Nick Maton. The 33-year-old McGough has been spotless of late -- he's now gone 11.1 innings without allowing a run, allowing just two hits while striking out 17 in that span. His ERA is down to 2.97 with a 0.87 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB through 33.1 innings this season. With Miguel Castro struggling a bit of late, McGough could be in the mix for more closing opportunities in Arizona.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen as a long reliever moving forward with Houston transitioning back to a five-man rotation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The Astros are completing a string of 17 games in 17 days Sunday, and Blanco had been called up from Triple-A Sugar Land early in that stretch to help give Houston's other five starting pitchers an extra day of rest amid the busy schedule. Though Blanco acquitted himself well in his first two big-league starts -- he turned in a 3.18 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB in 11.1 innings -- his results weren't spectacular enough to supplant either J.P. France or Brandon Bielak as a back-end option in the rotation.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that an MRI on Joyce's right elbow revealed no ligament damage, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL earlier Saturday with what the Angels labeled as right ulnar neuritis, and that initial diagnosis looks as though it'll hold after the MRI turned up nothing concerning. The power right-hander had pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB in four innings over his first five appearances out of the Los Angeles bullpen prior to suffering the injury.

Moore (oblique) said he played catch from 60 feet Sunday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Moore is gradually increasing his throwing distance off flat ground while he's in the early stages of a throwing program following a roughly two-week shutdown due to a right oblique strain. The veteran southpaw will need to advance to throwing off a mound and then facing hitters in live batting practice before the Angels map out a rehab assignment for him.