MLB Player News

Cueto (forearm) didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-6 loss to the Cardinals, allowing two earned runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman over 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

Cueto was able to hang in for 80 pitches in his first start after an extended absence, showing no ill effects from the forearm injury that had kept him out since mid-July. The 31-year-old right-hander gave up his fewest earned runs in a start since June 24, which also marked the last time he'd posted back-to-back quality starts. Cueto's numbers are mostly down across the board compared to the last three seasons, and he'll have his hands full trying to build on Friday's encouraging outing when he takes on the Rockies at Coors Field next Wednesday.

Flaherty didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-6 win over the Giants and allowed five earned runs on eight hits, one walk and a hit batsman over four innings. He struck out six.

Flaherty has worked up to 71 pitches at the end of four frames, leading to an early exit in his first major-league outing. The 21-year-old right-hander did miss his fair share of bats, and he notched 1-2-3 innings in both his first and last frame. Flaherty has shown plenty of upside at Triple-A Memphis (2.74 ERA and 85 whiffs over 85.1 innings), so his first experience against big-league bats, while rocky, is certainly no reason for long-term concern. It remains to be seen if Flaherty will be able to continue his stint in the Cardinals rotation, with Adam Wainwright's ongoing elbow issues potentially providing a path to more starts rather than a September spent in the bullpen.

Kershaw (16-2) allowed just two hits over six shutout innings and struck out seven to earn the win Friday night against the Padres.

So much for rust. In his first game since a back injury took him out of action July 23, Kershaw was in midseason form. Despite facing a 75-pitch limit, Kershaw easily completed six innings, as he tossed 53 strikes in his 70 pitches and didn't allow a ball to reach the outfield. His ERA is once again below 2.00 and he now has a legitimate chance to post sub-2.00 ERAs in two consecutive years, just as he did in 2013 and 2014.

Freeland (11-9) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over four innings and took the loss Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Freeland was wild in August, as he walked eight batters over just 18 innings. That continued Friday night, as his lack of control led to long innings and constant jams, even if none of them turned into crooked numbers. Freeland owns a 3.89 ERA, largely thanks to his nifty strikeout ability, but if he can't figure out his control in September, he'll struggle to go deep enough into games to be a valuable fantasy asset.

Walker (8-7) struck out 10 over five shutout innings and allowed just three hits and three walks to earn the win Friday against the Rockies.

The only problem with racking up so many strikeouts in so few innings is you also rack up a huge pitch count, too. Walker threw 93 pitches in just five frames, and with bullpens bolstered by September call-ups, the Diamondbacks decided not to push him too hard. Walker has now reached double-digit strikeouts three times this season, and when he is on, few pitchers in the nation are harder to hit.

Wainwright (elbow) will rejoin the team when they begin their series next Monday in San Diego, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright had a platelet-rich plasma injection roughly two weeks ago, so is likely still at least a week away from returning to game action. Depending on how his next throwing session goes, he could make a return during next week's series against the Padres, but with rosters expanded for September, the Cardinals have no reason to keep him on the disabled list.

Lyles will start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.

Lyles will make his first big-league start in more than 15 months, with Jhoulys Chacin moving back to start Sunday's series finale. The 26-year-old allowed just one homer in 20 innings with Triple-A El Paso after giving up 11 in 46.2 innings with the Rockies, but even so, his ratios were still unsightly. He's not a recommended play in any format.

Cueto (forearm) was activated from the disabled list Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

It was announced earlier this week that Cueto would come off the disabled list and start Friday's game against the Cardinals, and this confirms he will do just that. Cueto has posted a sub-par 4.59 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 19 starts this season, but he will get the opportunity to return against a St. Louis squad he has had a lot of success against over the last few years.

Kershaw (back) was reinstated from the 10-day DL prior to his start against the Padres on Friday.

Kershaw looked good during his lone rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, and should be at full health heading into Friday's outing. Although his pitch count will be limited to around 75, Kershaw should be deployed in all formats.

Lyles was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lyles signed a minor-league deal with the club in early August after being released by the Rockies, and figures to help out in some capacity over the course of September. It remains to be seen whether he will get an opportunity to start, as the Padres have a doubleheader coming up Saturday against the Dodgers, but he is likely to serve as a bullpen arm just as he did in Colorado.