MLB Player News

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.

Matz (knee) will throw a bullpen Sunday and then report to Double-A Springfield for a rehab assignment next week, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz continues to work his way back from an MCL strain in his left knee. He's still not expected back until late September, which suggests the southpaw may spend more than one week in the minors working his way back to full health. Matz will pitch out of the St. Louis bullpen once he's activated from the injured list.

Burnes didn't factor in the decision against Arizona on Saturday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 5.2 innings.

Burnes struggled with his control in the contest, allowing three walks and throwing 67 of 110 pitches for strikes. He still had a chance to win, entering the bottom of the sixth inning with a 4-3 lead. However, the right-hander allowed a pair of two-out hits in the frame, and both runners came around to score. Burnes has given up at least three earned runs in each of his past four contests, posting a 7.29 ERA over 21 innings during that stretch.

Nelson will be called up from Triple-A Reno to start Monday's game against the Padres, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The team will afford its starters an extra day of rest this turn through the rotation and give Nelson a look at the major-league level. A second-round pick in 2019, Nelson flashed some impressive strikeout stuff at prior stops in the minors. His strikeouts are down this season, however, and his flyball tendencies have led to some home-run issues in the Pacific Coast League.

Pepiot will be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will pitch behind Caleb Ferguson in Sunday's series finale against the Padres, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Prior reports indicated that Pepiot would start Sunday's game, but manager Dave Roberts has decided to throw the lefty Ferguson in front of the rookie right-hander. The arrangement might make Pepiot slightly more appealing as a fantasy streamer, as theoretically he has a better chance at factoring into the decision working behind an opener. Pepiot has a 4.02 ERA in the majors and a 2.58 ERA at Triple-A this season.

Urias (15-7) earned the win over San Diego on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Urias didn't need to expend excessive energy on a hot night in Los Angeles, riding a wave of run support to a cool 78-pitch, six-inning quality start. The left-hander pitched mostly to contact, inducing only six swinging strikes and notching just two punchouts. The lone run he gave up came on a Manny Machado home run in the sixth inning. With Sandy Alcantara getting hammered for six runs Friday, Urias now owns the top ERA in the National League among qualified starters at 2.29.

Smyly (5-8) took the loss during Saturday's 8-4 defeat at the hands of the Cardinals, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

Smyly was provided a three-run lead before he took the mound but surrendered a Paul Goldschmidt two-run home run in the bottom of the first and five more runs in the third before being pulled. The poor start follows a sensational August that featured a 0.90 ERA across 30 innings -- Saturday's outing increased the 33-year-old's ERA more than half a run from 3.24 to 3.84. Smyly lines up to take the mound again next weekend at home against San Francisco.

Syndergaard did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings in a 5-4 loss against the Giants. He struck out three.

His own throwing error resulted in the Giants' first run in the first inning and Joc Pederson added an extra run to his ledger after Syndergaard exited the game in the fifth. Syndergaard was lifted after 75 pitches -- his lowest total so far in six starts for the Phillies. The right-hander has lost a lot of his dominance, but he's taken the ball 21 times between the Angels and the Phillies this season and posted respectable results (4.07 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) after nearly two full years away due to injury.

Corbin (6-17) allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out five over seven innings to earn the win Saturday over the Mets.

Corbin limited the damage to an Eduardo Escobar solo shot in the third inning. The game was tied through seven frames, but the Nationals gained the lead on a Lane Thomas solo home run in the eighth to put Corbin in line for consecutive wins for just the second time all year. This was also the southpaw's eighth quality start of the campaign. He's given up just four runs in his last 18.1 innings, though he's also yielded three homers in that span. For the year, he has a 6.28 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 118:46 K:BB through 134.2 innings. He's projected to make his next start in Philadelphia if the Nationals utilize a six-man rotation -- if it's a traditional five-man rotation, Corbin would line up for a start in St. Louis.