MLB Player News

Mikolas (11-10) allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three over eight shutout innings to earn the win Sunday over the Cubs.

Mikolas mostly pitched to contact, amassing just eight whiffs while throwing 68 of 97 pitches for strikes. One of the two hits he allowed was a Franmil Reyes double, but Mikolas had no trouble eliminating the few scoring threats that the Cubs produced. He's gone eight innings in three of his last six starts, but he's been ineffective in the other three starts in that span. Overall, this solid outing lowered the right-hander's ERA to 3.32 with a 1.01 WHIP and 127:31 K:BB through 176.1 innings across 28 starts this year. He's projected for a road start in Pittsburgh next weekend.

Stroman allowed just four hits and struck out five without walking a batter over seven scoreless innings, but he did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Cardinals.

Stroman was excellent in a pitchers' duel with Miles Mikolas, but the Cubs failed to cash in any of their four baserunners. While Stroman is winless over his last seven outings, he's taken just one loss while posting a 3.29 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 41 innings in that span. The strong stretch has trimmed his season ERA to 3.73 with a 1.17 WHIP and 90:29 K:BB through 108.2 innings across 20 starts this year. The right-hander is projected for a home start versus the Giants next weekend.

Carrasco (13-6) took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings against the Nationals. He struck out two.

The 35-year-old's return from an oblique injury did not go as planned as he surrendered a run on a double and a single to start the game. He got through the second inning with relative ease but ran into trouble again in the third after a one-out single and a costly Jeff McNeil throwing error snowballed into four runs, all of which were unearned, and led to him being pulled from the game after throwing 54 pitches. Carrasco will take a 3.91 ERA into his next start.

Painter struck out nine batters in seven innings in his start for Double-A Reading on Saturday, giving up one run on eight hits and no walks.

The 19-year-old righty began the year with Single-A Clearwater, posting a 1.40 ERA in nine starts before moving to High-A Jersey Shore in early June. Things went even better for him after the promotion, as he cruised to a 0.98 ERA in eight outings before moving up to the Double-A level in mid-August. Through his first three starts for Reading, he owns a 1.40 ERA and 23:1 K:BB. His outstanding season has accelerated his timeline, and he now seemingly has a shot to debut in the first half of 2023.

The Dodgers recalled Pepiot from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

After Pepiot made his first seven career MLB appearances as a starter, manager Dave Roberts said the rookie right-hander is scheduled to work as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen behind opener Caleb Ferguson in Sunday's game against the Padres, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. While the setup may end up limiting Pepiot's innings compared to a traditional start, it could help his case for factoring into the decision. If the Dodgers choose to keep a six-man rotation intact for the upcoming week, Pepiot will likely continue to make starts or operate as a primary pitcher while Tony Gonsolin (forearm) is on the shelf.

The Mets reinstated Carrasco (oblique) from the 15-day injured list in advance of his scheduled start Sunday against the Nationals.

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, reliever Adonis Medina was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to open up a spot on the 28-man active roster for Carrasco, who was on the shelf for the past two and a half weeks with a left oblique strain. Since he didn't head out on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated and instead threw a simulated game, Carrasco could be on a limited pitch count Sunday as he steps back into New York's rotation.

Cabrera didn't factor into the decision during Saturday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Cabrera was able to limit the damage to an Austin Riley solo shot in the fourth inning despite some traffic on the bases. The 24-year-old found the zone with 57 of 98 pitches and induced 12 swinging strikes en route to notching at least seven strikeouts for the fifth time in nine turns this season. Cabrera carries a 2.39 ERA and 1.06 WHIP into his next start, slated for next weekend against the Mets.

Oviedo is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Mets, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Though he struck out four over three scoreless innings in his Pirates debut Friday against the Blue Jays, Oviedo needed 77 pitches to record his nine outs while conceding two hits and three walks. Despite Oviedo's inefficiency, the Pirates came away from the outing encouraged enough to give him another turn through the rotation. Don't expect Oviedo to cover much more than 90 pitches in Wednesday's start, however, which could hurt his chances of factoring into the decision.

Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett following Saturday's 2-1 win over the Marlins.

Making a spot start Saturday in place of Jake Odorizzi (arm), Elder was brilliant in the outing. He struck out six and scattered two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings before departing with a 1-0 lead, but Elder was denied the win when closer Kenley Jansen served up a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning. Though Elder will now head back to Triple-A, he could be first in line for a promotion if Atlanta requires another starter again at some point over the final month of the season.

Contreras did not factor into the decision against Toronto on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five and walking two over six innings.

Contreras pitched well Saturday, but the Pirates' bullpen could not hang on for the win. Contreras allowed six baserunners but limited the damage to just one run scored. The rookie starter tossed 65 of 92 pitches for strikes across six frames for his third quality start of the season and his second in his last three appearances. Contreras will take a 3.41 ERA into his next outing.