MLB Player News

Urias (10-6) earned the win Sunday over the Rockies, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out 12 without walking a batter.

The 12 strikeouts marked a season high for the southpaw. Aside from an eight-run disaster in Baltimore on July 19, Urias has been strong since the All-Star break. He's won three straight outings and is now at a 4.35 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 99:21 K:BB through 99.1 innings over 18 starts this season. Urias is projected for a home start against the Marlins his next time out.

Nelson was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday.

Nelson had notable struggles in his last two starts. In both his start Aug. 5 and Aug. 11, he allowed six earned runs in three innings. The 25-year-old has had season-long struggles as well with a 5.47 ERA. The starter will head back to Triple-A Reno for the first time since last season. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks selected Bryce Jarvis from Reno.

Lively (pectoral) was sent to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment.

Lively is eligible to return rom the 15-day injured list Aug. 17, but the Reds are off that day, so the first game he could start would be Aug. 18 against Toronto. If Lively pitches in Sunday's game for Louisville, that would line him up to return Aug. 18 for a start on normal rest. Lively gave up 13 earned runs in his most recent start before going on the IL, and he had a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 25 innings in the five starts prior to that blowup outing.

Alcantara (5-10) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over nine innings against the Yankees while striking out 10.

Alcantara was dominant Saturday, not allowing a runner to reach second base until the top of the seventh after the right-hander was called for a balk, advancing Billy McKinney from first. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner then allowed one run to come across in the frame before continuing his dominance over the final two innings to log his third complete game of the season. Alcantara also racked up a season-high 10 strikeouts in the contest and has now allowed one run or fewer in three of his last four starts.

Steele did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings against the Blue Jays while striking out seven.

Steele didn't have his best stuff Saturday, allowing at least one hit in four of his five innings of work and serving up a two-run homer to Whit Merrifield. The lefty had won each of his last four decisions coming in and has now allowed three runs in three straight outings to open the month of August. On a positive note, Steele did not issue a walk Saturday for the second time in his last three starts, and he's put together a solid 20:4 K:BB over that stretch.

Hill (7-12) took the loss against Arizona on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings.

Hill allowed four extra-base hits among the seven knocks against him, including a Christian Walker two-run homer. The veteran hurler was pulled after racking up 83 pitches through 3.1 frames, going just one out longer than in his Padres debut, when he allowed six runs over three innings. The pair of outings are Hill's two shortest among his 23 starts this season, so it goes without saying that he's not providing the rotation boost San Diego was hoping for when it acquired him at the trade deadline. Michael Wacha (shoulder) is slated to return Tuesday, but the Padres may need to continue to roll out Hill every five days since Joe Musgrove (shoulder) isn't likely to rejoin the rotation until at least mid-September.

Gallen (12-5) earned the win over the Padres on Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over six scoreless innings.

Gallen limited the Padres to five baserunners and punched out eight batters en route to his third straight quality start. This was his best outing of the trio, as he finished without yielding any runs for the first time since May 30. Gallen has continued to thrive as a reliable ace in the midst of Arizona's midseason slide, as he's tossed at least six innings in 10 of his past 11 starts and has posted a 3.41 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 72:13 K:BB over 71.1 frames during that stretch. The right-hander ranks third in the National League with 165 strikeouts on the campaign.

Walker (13-5) took the loss Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits and six walks over five innings against the Twins. He struck out two. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he would skip Walker's next scheduled start to give him some extra rest, the Associated Press reports.

Walker has given up four or more runs in three of his last six starts with a 18:14 K:BB in 30.1 innings. "Control is off, command is off, velocity is down," Thomson said. "So I think it's time to just give him a little breather." The Phillies have off days Monday and Thursday and were already running a six-man rotation, so Walker's brief shutdown won't cause any ripples on the staff.

Woodruff (2-1) earned the win over the White Sox on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 6.1 innings.

Woodruff pitched well but was stuck with the loss against Pittsburgh his last time out, which was his first appearance in nearly four months following a shoulder injury. The right-hander was solid again Saturday, though it looked like he could be in for another tough-luck defeat when the Brewers failed to score through six frames. However, Milwaukee finally broke through for a trio of runs in the top of the seventh, setting Woodruff up for his second win of the campaign. The veteran hurler threw 86 pitches in the outing, so he appears to be under only mild workload limitations. His next start is projected to be a tough road matchup against the Rangers next week.

Wood allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three without walking a batter over four innings Saturday versus the Rangers. He did not factor in the decision.

Wood was initially lined up for an appearance versus the Rays on Monday, but starter Alex Cobb struggled Saturday. Wood was able to spare the rest of the Giants' bullpen with the bulk-relief outing, but he'll likely be unavailable until later in the week. Through 19 outings (11 starts), Wood has a 4.92 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 58:33 K:BB over 71.1 innings, with most of his recent work coming in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen. Given that the Giants have just two or three pitchers working as traditional starters at any given time, it remains difficult to predict when other pitchers like Wood will take the mound.