MLB Player News

Hendricks (6-8) allowed two earned runs on five hits and no walks while striking out three across five innings to earn the win Saturday against the Padres.

While Hendricks wasn't able to replicate the dominance of his last start, there were some positive signs Saturday. Specifically, it marked the first time since May 13 -- a span of 10 starts -- that he didn't walk a batter. However, he did struggle to pitch with efficiency and has failed to complete six innings in seven of his last nine starts. Even when he is able to post solid ratios, Hendricks needs to work deep into games to stand out due to his 6.8 K/9 through 110.1 innings this season.

Gray (8-7) allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk while striking out six across 7.1 innings to earn the win Saturday against the Mariners.

Gray made his first big-league start since June 28 and put together a tremendous effort, highlighted by 11 groundouts. He also exhibited impressive control with 64 of his 93 pitches going for strikes while also starting 18 of the 27 batters he faced with a strike. While this hardly makes up for his struggles throughout the first half of the season, Gray should be a fixture in the Rockies' rotation after the All-Star break, giving him plenty of opportunities to improve on his 5.44 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.

Castillo pitched five innings in a no-decision Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits -- including a home run -- and striking out two Cardinals.

The right-hander's 53 pitches meant he was efficient, especially because he registered 36 strikes, but he still couldn't last long enough to garner a decision in the Reds' eventual win. He finishes the first half with an unsightly 5.49 ERA but has flashed his elite ceiling at certain points. Corrections to his left-on-base percentage (a somewhat unlucky 66.2, per Fangraphs) and home-run rate (1.65 per nine) could go a long way to rediscovering the upside he teased in 2017 and many chased in the early middle rounds of mixed drafts.

Wood didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Angels, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings while striking out five.

The left-hander was tagged for three runs in the first two innings, but Wood buckled down and gave the Dodgers a chance to rally, although Kole Calhoun's 10th-inning homer eventually made those efforts futile. Wood now has 10 quality starts and a 3.92 ERA as he heads into the All-Star break.

Flaherty worked five scoreless innings in a no-decision Saturday, working around two hits and three walks while striking out five Reds.

The right-hander, who has dazzled with a 3.24 ERA in the first half, rebounded from three rough outings before this one. His 3.75 FIP indicates he's pitching slightly above his means, considering he's allowed 1.2 homers per nine innings. However, the 10.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 paint a positive picture for the second half. More good news: Flaherty, 22, probably won't be limited too strictly with innings. The right-hander worked 170 last year between Double-A Springfield, Triple-A Memphis and the majors, and he's only accumulated 106.2 across the latter two in 2018.

Greinke (10-5) struck out seven over 7.2 scoreless innings in a win over the Braves on Saturday. He gave up four hits and walked none.

The right-hander rebounded from his last start and has spun at least six frames in five of his last six assignments. Greinke has done his best to ease concerns many in the baseball and fantasy communities had with his preseason velocity issues. He earned an All-Star honor and finished the first half with a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 20 starts.

Wheeler (3-6) struck out seven and picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks over 7.2 innings in a 7-4 victory over the Nationals.

The right-hander held the Nats off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, but most of the damage off Wheeler came as he faded in the eighth, not a surprising outcome after he threw 113 pitches (81 strikes) -- just one pitch off his season high. The win was his first since April 29 and his first at Citi Field in over a year. Wheeler will carry a 4.44 ERA into the All-Star break.

Nola (12-3) took the loss Saturday as the Phillies fell 2-0 to the Marlins He struck out five and allowed two runs on four hits and one walk over six innings.

The only two runs in the game scored in the bottom of the first inning, and while Nola settled into a groove after that, the Phillies' offense couldn't get anything going. The right-hander has thrown five straight quality starts and has 16 on the season, and he'll carry a stellar 2.30 ERA into the All-Star break.

Darvish (elbow, shoulder) said he hopes to throw off a mound sometime during the first weekend after the All-Star break, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The right-hander said he feels better in this rehab stint than the last one, when he was plagued by pain in several throwing sessions and a rehab start, but he still doesn't have a set timetable to be activated from the disabled list. The club might reveal more details about the next steps in Darvish's recovery during the days after the All-Star Game.

Eflin was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Eflin had been scheduled to start Sunday against the Marlins, but Enyel De Los Santos will start in his place. Eflin is not expected to miss much time and could be eligible to start July 24 against the Dodgers, meaning he'd end up missing just a single start.