MLB Player News

Alcantara is expected to start Thursday's game against the Nationals, Craig Mish of Sirius XM reports.

With Dan Straily having returned from a five-game suspension Sunday and Jose Urena (shoulder) due to come off the 10-day disabled list to start Wednesday against the Rays, the Marlins have only one spot available for the three new starters -- Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Elieser Hernandez -- that entered the rotation last week. Alcantara, the club's top pitching prospect, seems to have the edge on the No. 5 gig after acquitting himself well in his team debut June 29, covering five innings and giving up one run on three hits and five walks. The 22-year-old will likely need to show improved control in his subsequent outings before entrenching himself in the rotation, but his mid-to-upper-90s fastball and improving changeup make his long-term ceiling higher than any of Miami 's other starters.

Strasburg (shoulder) tossed a 60-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

Manager Dave Martinez stated that Strasburg's next step will be throwing a simulated game, which could happen sometime this weekend. Since he is expected to require at least one appearance in the minors while on a rehabilitation assignment, it's becoming increasingly likely that Strasburg will remain on the shelf until after the All-Star break.

Buehler will make at least two starts in the minors before returning to the Dodgers' active roster, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports.

After being sidelined for most of June with a right rib microfracture, Buehler bypassed a minor-league rehab assignment last week and was instead activated from the 10-day disabled list to come out of the bullpen and piggyback starter Clayton Kershaw. That plan proved disastrous, however, as Buehler was tagged for five runs over one inning to take the loss in what had been a tightly contested game. With the Los Angeles rotation back to full strength following the recent returns of Kershaw and Rich Hill from the DL, Buehler was sent back to High-A Rancho Cucamonga and will make a start with the affiliate Tuesday. He'll presumably be stretched out in preparation for an eventual return to a starting role with the Dodgers, with Roberts perhaps willing to roll with a six-man rotation if the other five starters remain both healthy and effective. Look for Buehler to rejoin the big club shortly before or immediately after the All-Star break.

Freeland (8-6) allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three over seven innings in a win over the Giants on Monday.

After allowing a homer to the first batter of the game (Gorkys Hernandez), Freeland was great. He finished his night with four consecutive perfect frames and now has a 2.89 ERA and .215 BAA at Coors Field this season, compared to 3.50 and .247 marks on the road. The peripherals suggest he's overachieved a bit, but the heavy-groundball approach should help Freeland continue to get by at home. He lines up to face the Mariners in Seattle on Sunday.

Ray (3-1) was the pitcher of record in the Diamondbacks' 6-3 loss to the Cardinals on Monday. He covered five innings and struck out seven while giving up six runs on nine hits and a walk.

The Cardinals blitzed Ray right away, as the southpaw allowed six of the first seven hitters to reach base in a three-run first inning. Ray then retired 13 of the next 15 batters before yielding back-to-back solo shots in the top of the sixth, with manager Torey Lovullo giving him the hook after Jedd Gyorko's blast. On an encouraging note, Ray has displayed solid control with a 13:3 K:BB over 11 innings in his first two starts since returning from the disabled list, but his fastball velocity has averaged 93.3 miles per hour between those outings, per Brooks Baseball. That's a full tick down from what he averaged during his breakthrough 2017 campaign.

Martinez (5-4) allowed two earned runs on six hits, two walks and a wild pitch over six innings in a win over the Diamondbacks on Monday. He struck out seven.

Although he issued multiple walks for the 12th time in 14 starts, Martinez still managed his best road effort since April 15 against the Reds. The right-hander fired a manageable 96 pitches through his six frames, and his strikeout total was encouragingly elevated for the second consecutive start. Martinez has seemingly righted the ship after a four-start rough patch following his return from the disabled list, one in which he generated an 8.10 ERA, .329 BAA, .424 wOBA and 10.8 BB/9 across 16.2 innings. He'll look to stay on the right track when he faces off with the Giants in a scheduled start Saturday.

Anderson (2-5) picked up the win in impressive fashion for High-A Florida in Monday's 3-2 victory over Jupiter, scattering three hits and a walk over six scoreless innings while striking out 11.

The 11 whiffs tied his career high to date in the minors, continuing a run of dominance for the Braves' No. 7 fantasy prospect that extends back to the beginning of May. Anderson now has a 2.25 ERA and 69:22 K:BB over his last 11 starts and 56 innings while giving up only one home run, and while Atlanta has no reason to rush the 20-year-old up the ladder, he could force his way into a late-season promotion to Double-A if he keeps bossing around Florida State League hitters.

Castillo (5-8) tossed 6.2 one-run innings Monday against the White Sox, allowing six hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Castillo limited baserunners to great effect and wasn't even scored upon until the bullpen allowed an inherited runner to score with two outs in the seventh inning. He threw an impressive 73 percent of his pitches for strikes, inducing a whopping 21 swinging strikes and nine groundball outs in what was one of his finest outings of the season. Castillo still has a 5.53 ERA after allowing three earned runs or more in each of his previous six starts, but he continues to flash his potential from time to time. He'll look to build on this effort Sunday against the Cubs.

Wood (5-5) fired six innings of one-run ball Monday, giving up six hits and striking out three while picking up the victory over the Pirates.

Wood was extremely efficient in this one, throwing 67 of his 92 pitches for strikes. The 27-year-old has been on a roll of late, posting a 2.19 ERA with a 6.0 K/BB ratio while picking up wins in four consecutive starts. Wood will look to convert his fifth straight victory in the conclusion of the Freeway Series against the Angels this Sunday.

Urena (shoulder) is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list and start Wednesday against the Rays, Craig Mish of Sirius XM reports.

Urena has been dealing with a shoulder issue since June 22, although he appears to have returned to health, and he should be ready to go following his latest bullpen session Sunday. He's made 16 starts in 2018, accruing a 4.40 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 75:21 K:BB over 94 innings.