MLB Player News

Mikolas came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Pirates, giving up two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

It was a vintage performance from the right-hander and a strong rebound from a 10-run disaster against the Reds his last time out. Mikolas delivered his 10th quality start of the season on an efficient 87 pitches (61 strikes) but left the mound on the hook for his eighth loss, until the Cards tied the game at 3-3 in the eighth inning. Even with last week's implosion, he sports a respectable 4.30 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 40:11 K:BB through 58.2 innings over his last 10 starts. Mikolas will look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Nationals.

Abbott (8-6) earned the win over the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 6.1 innings.

Abbott wasn't overpowering -- he induced just six swinging strikes and notched only two punchouts -- but he got the job done with his sixth quality start of the campaign. The southpaw allowed only one extra-base hit (a double) and didn't yield a run while he was in the game, as the only score charged to his ledger came after he departed with one out in the seventh inning. Through 17 starts, Abbott is up to eight wins, which is as many as he logged across 21 outings as a rookie last year. He's improved upon his ratios with a 3.28 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, though his 6.9 K/9 is a dramatic drop-off from his 9.9 K/9 last year.

Parker allowed five runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five batters in a no-decision against the Mets on Wednesday.

Parker allowed only five batters to get on base, but all of those reached on an extra-base hit, and three hitters went deep against the rookie. It was just the second time through 15 starts that Parker has allowed multiple homers in an outing and the first time he's given up three long balls. The southpaw's five earned runs were a season-high mark, but he still owns a respectable 3.61 ERA through 84.2 innings.

Mazur allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out four without walking a batter over four innings, taking a no-decision versus the Rangers on Wednesday.

While it's a positive that he issued zero walks, Mazur still had too much traffic on the basepaths to deal with. He threw just 46 of 74 pitches for strikes. This was the fourth time in six outings that he's failed to complete five innings. Mazur has a 7.52 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 15:17 K:BB through 26.1 innings as he continues to struggle during his first stint in the majors. With two off days next week, the Padres could get by with a four-man rotation up to the All-Star break, so it's no guarantee Mazur will stay on the 26-man roster this month.

Imanaga allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over six innings in a no-decision versus the Phillies.

Imanaga held his own versus a tough opponent, though he allowed home runs to Rafael Marchan and Alec Bohm. This was Imanaga's fourth quality start in his last five outings, the exception being a 10-run anomaly facing the Mets on June 21. The southpaw is now at a 3.16 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 92:15 K:BB through 91 innings over 16 starts this season. He's projected for another challenging opponent next week when he's lined up to for a road start in Baltimore.

Wheeler allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs on Wednesday.

Wheeler has posted quality starts in eight of his last nine outings, the lone exception being an eight-run disaster at Baltimore on June 16. The right-hander left Wednesday's game with a lead, but Matt Strahm couldn't maintain it, though the Phillies went on to win, 5-3, anyway. Wheeler is now at a 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119:33 K:BB through 111.2 innings over 18 starts this season. He's projected for a tough home start versus the Dodgers in his next outing.

Sale (11-3) allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings to earn the win over the Giants on Wednesday.

Sale has allowed just one run in each of his last three starts, though he was unlucky to come away with just two wins in that span. His 11 wins rank first in the National League, and Sale is tied with Kansas City's Seth Lugo for the major-league lead. Sale is now at a 2.71 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 127:19 K:BB through 99.2 innings over 16 starts this season. The southpaw's next start is projected to be on the road in Arizona.

Hicks (4-5) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings, taking the loss versus Atlanta on Wednesday.

Hicks is winless in his last eight outings, going 0-4 with a 5.02 ERA in that span. He's walked multiple batters in six of those starts, though Wednesday was the fourth time in that span that he's avoided giving up a home run. Hicks is at a 3.47 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 82:35 K:BB through 90.2 innings over 18 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home against one of his former teams, the Blue Jays.

Jones was removed from his start Wednesday versus St. Louis due to a right lat strain, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Jones managed to get through five innings of one-run ball while striking out five batters and walking two before coming out of Wednesday's contest. The 22-year-old said after the game that he could have kept pitching if necessary, but the team opted for a cautious approach in order to prevent his injury from worsening. Pittsburgh will keep an eye on Jones' lat as his next start approaches, but the initial level of concern seems relatively low.

Manager Bud Black said Wednesday that Marquez (elbow) will make two more rehab starts with Double-A Hartford, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Marquez struggled heavily in his latest rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, allowing four earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning and throwing just 33 pitches. The 29-year-old righty was originally slated for just one additional start after Friday, but his abbreviated appearance will cause the Rockies to add another game to his rehab stint, ruling him out for a return to Colorado before the All-Star break. Since restarting his assignment June 12, Marquez has allowed eight earned runs in 8.2 innings while striking out 13 batters and walking three.