MLB Player News

Marquez (5-7) earned the win during Sunday's 3-2 victory over Arizona, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.

Marquez settled down after surrendering a Ketel Marte solo homer in the first inning to retire 12 straight before permitting an additional run and allowing three baserunners in the sixth. It was a nice rebound for the 27-year-old after he allowed nine total runs during consecutive losses to the Dodgers during his last two starts. The quality start Sunday was his sixth in 17 outings. The successful performance lowered Marquez's ERA and WHIP to 5.66 and 1.47 respectively, and he lines up to start again next weekend versus Pittsburgh.

Fried (upper leg) is listed as Atlanta's probable starter for Monday's game versus the Mets, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander exited after six scoreless innings due to tightness in his right glute during his previous start Wednesday, but it appears he's had no further issues and is set to make his next turn through the rotation. Fried has been electric in his past four outings with a 1.35 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB across 26.2 innings.

Gutierrez (elbow) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery later this month, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gutierrez, the Reds and the team's medical staff made the collective decision to have the right-hander go under the knife after he suffered a setback with his strained elbow during a live batting practice session Tuesday. Based on the timing of his upcoming surgery, Gutierrez will miss the remainder of the 2022 campaign and likely the majority of the 2023 season while recovering from the procedure. He'll become the third Reds pitcher to require Tommy John in the last calendar year, joining Tejay Antone and Justin Wilson.

The Cubs reinstated Smyly (oblique) from the 15-day injured list prior to his scheduled start Sunday against the Dodgers.

Right-handed reliever Michael Rucker was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to clear room on the active roster for Smyly, who is slated to make his first start for the big club since May 30. Smyly said he expects to be limited to around 85 pitches Sunday after tossing four innings and 52 pitches in his lone minor-league rehab start Monday with High-A South Bend.

Cardinals president of baseball operations said Friday that Matz (shoulder) will make one more minor-league rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Matz completed his third rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Memphis, working 3.1 innings while striking out four and allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk. Since Matz exited after throwing 59 pitches, the Cardinals will likely want to see the lefty get stretched out to the 70-to-80-pitch range in his upcoming rehab start before bringing him back from the IL. Matz is likely to make his next minor-league appearance Tuesday before potentially slotting back into the St. Louis rotation for the Cardinals' final game of the first half July 17 against the Reds.

Cubs manager David Ross said Smyly (oblique) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chicago will end up welcoming two starters back from the injured list to close out the weekend series in Los Angeles, as Marcus Stroman (shoulder) was activated Saturday and worked four innings in the Cubs' 4-2 loss. Smyly will be making his first appearance for the Cubs since May 30 after he was on the shelf for the past five and a half weeks with a right oblique strain. The southpaw covered four innings and tossed 52 pitches in his lone minor-league rehab start back on Monday, so he expects to be capped at around 85 pitches in his return from the IL.

Wood (hamstring) is listed as the Giants' scheduled starting pitcher for Sunday's game in San Diego.

Wood experienced cramping in his left hamstring during his most recent outing Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, but he was apparently able to complete a between-starts bullpen session without issue to keep himself on track for the two-start week. The southpaw has had mixed results over his six starts since the beginning of June, tossing two quality starts in that stretch but posting a 7.41 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across his last four appearances.

Stroman (shoulder) threw four scoreless innings Saturday versus the Dodgers. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three, and he didn't factor in the decision.

Stroman missed a month with right shoulder inflammation. He was limited in this appearance, throwing 59 pitches (37 strikes), though he was effective after his stint on the injured list. It's an encouraging return for the right-hander, who still owns a mediocre 4.91 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 48:13 K:BB through 51.1 innings in 10 starts this year. He's projected for a home start versus the Mets next weekend, though it's likely he'll still be working on a pitch count for that outing as he continues to stretch out to a full workload.

Kershaw (6-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings, earning the win over the Cubs on Saturday.

Kershaw worked into the eighth inning for the first time since last June. This was the ninth time in 11 starts he's limited opponents to two or fewer runs, and he's now logged six quality starts in 2022. He's in vintage form in July with only one earned run, nine hits and a walk allowed in 14.2 innings over his last two starts. The 34-year-old southpaw has a 2.40 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 69:12 K:BB through 63.2 innings overall, and he's projected for a road start versus the Angels next weekend.

Rodon (8-5) earned the win Saturday over the Padres. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts in nine innings.

For the ninth time in 17 starts, Rodon limited the opposition to one or fewer runs. This was the third complete game of his career, and his first since his no-hitter April 14, 2021. The southpaw dialed up double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this year, and he threw 79 of 112 pitches for strikes. He's pitched to an excellent 2.70 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 124:32 K:BB through 100 innings. Rodon will likely get one more start before the All-Star break, which is currently projected as a home game versus the Brewers next week.