MLB Player News

Cobb allowed an unearned run on four hits and no walks while striking out five in 7.1 innings versus the Brewers on Saturday. He did not factor in the decision.

Cobb allowed the Brewers to tie the game at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. That was the only run he allowed, but he exited after the play, having thrown 99 pitches (64 strikes). This was his longest outing of the season and one of his best performances as well. The right-hander now has a 4.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 68:20 K:BB across 70.1 innings. Cobb carries a 3-4 record into the second half of the campaign.

Stroman did not factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on one hit and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Mets. He struck out six.

He pitched well against one of his former teams, but manager David Ross lifted Stroman at 83 pitches in what was the right-hander's second start back from a shoulder injury. He was limited to just 59 pitches in his return. With this gradual progression, we should expect the reins to come off for the most part shortly after the All-Star break.

Alexander will not start Sunday's game against the Giants, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers will start Aaron Ashby on short rest instead, though a reason for the pitching change was not announced. Something may be off with Alexander -- he threw only 73 pitches across four innings in a rain-shortened outing Tuesday and Ashby just threw 101 pitches Wednesday.

Ashby will start Sunday's series finale against the Giants in San Francisco, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Jason Alexander had been listed as the Brewers' probable starter for Sunday, but the team will go with Ashby on three days' rest instead. The reason for the change was not immediately available. Ashby went 4.1 innings his last time out and has failed to complete five innings in four of his last five starts around an IL stint with left forearm inflammation.

Fried (10-3) earned the win during Saturday's 6-3 victory over Washington, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in seven innings.

Atlanta provided Fried an early four-run lead and the lefty rolled to an easy win, firing 60 of 94 pitches for strikes in the process. The 28-year-old encountered one rough inning in the fourth when he surrendered two runs on two hits but managed to permit only one run in his other six frames. Though he still delivered a quality start, the three runs surrendered snapped a five-game streak of allowing two runs or fewer. Fried concludes the first half with a 2.64 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 109 strikeouts in 119.1 innings across 19 starts.

Mikolas (7-7) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings against the Reds. He struck out four.

Jonathan India tagged Mikolas for a leadoff homer to begin the game, but that would end up being the only blemish on Mikolas' line. With three consecutive quality starts to close the first half, Mikolas now sits with a 2.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 92:23 K:BB over 120.1 innings this season. An All-Star in 2018, Mikolas did not quite make the cut in 2022.

Lodolo (2-3) took the loss Saturday, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over two innings against the Cardinals. He struck out five.

Lodolo also plunked three batters, uncorked a wild pitch and served up a long ball to Paul Goldschmidt. The lefty needed 67 pitches to record six outs. After the game, Lodolo didn't shy away from the fact that his command was completely absent. "It's something I haven't gone through," Lodolo told Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's kind of weird just losing the zone like that on the field. I'm known for throwing strikes a lot. When I'm out there, I think maybe I'm trying to overcorrect because I'm thinking I'm a lot further off than I am." Perhaps Lodolo will try to tweak some things on the side during the All-Star break. Either way, he's going to be in the rotation throughout the second half so long as he's healthy.

Matz (shoulder) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Reds, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Matz hasn't pitched for the Cardinals since May 22 due to left shoulder inflammation, but he recently made four rehab appearances at Triple-A Memphis and posted a 2.13 ERA, 17:3 K:BB and 0.95 WHIP in 12.2 innings. The southpaw made four starts in May prior to landing on the injured list, and he logged a 5.95 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 19.2 innings over that span.

Rodon has both a blood blister and a split nail, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

It's possible the issues explain why Rodon allowed eight hits in five innings against the Brewers on Thursday, though he struck out seven batters and only allowed one run, so it's hard to say he pitched poorly. The lefty won't pitch in the All-Star Game as a result of his finger troubles, but it's not yet clear whether either issue will delay his first start of the second half.

Dunn (shoulder) will make his fifth rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Dunn built up to 74 pitches during Tuesday's rehab start at Louisville, and he's expected to throw approximately 85 pitches Sunday. While the right-hander has made good progress in recent weeks, he's expected to require another rehab start after the All-Star break prior to returning from the injured list.