MLB Player News

Wainwright (12-5) allowed one run on four hits and three walks and earned the win despite failing to strike out a batter Friday night against Atlanta.

This was the first time Wainwright failed to record a strikeout all season, including a 1.2-inning disaster against Baltimore on June 17 in which he allowed seven hits and nine runs. Still, Wainwright was shifty enough to get the job done and keep the Cardinals in front. He has just one strikeout over eight innings since returning from the disabled list this week, though, and that inability to miss bats will cost him against some of the league's more powerful lineups.

Urena allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings Friday but came away with a no-decision in a 6-3 win over the Rockies. He struck out three.

Homers by Nolan Arenado and Gerardo Parra accounted for all the damage off Urena, who had only surrendered one homer in 25 innings while winning three of his previous four starts. His ability to keep the ball in the park is reflected in his 3.76 ERA, and he should be a solid streaming option in his next outing Wednesday at home against the Giants.

Gray gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings Friday while striking out four, but had to settle for a no-decision in a 6-3 loss to the Marlins.

The right-hander seemed to have the game well in hand early, taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, but he couldn't hang on for the quality start once Miami's bats got rolling. Gray continues to do a good job controlling the strike zone, posting a 29:6 K:BB in 30.2 innings over his last five outings to go along with a 3.81 ERA. He'll next take the mound Wednesday at home against the Braves.

Lugo (6-2) allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.1 innings, but received no decision Friday against the Phillies.

Lugo fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, and despite a rough start, he received enough run support to leave the game with a lead before the bullpen failed to hang on. He's allowed 13 runs over his last 16 innings over three starts to raise his ERA from 4.10 to 4.85 and he's been trending downward lately. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Yankees.

Taillon (7-5) allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win Friday against the Blue Jays.

Taillon gave up single runs in the second and third innings, but otherwise kept the Jays' bats silent, as he earned his seventh win of the year. Although he owns a 4.50 ERA, he's recovered from a pair of horrible outings, as he's held opponents to two runs in each of his past two starts. Assuming he's gotten past the issues that plagued him recently, he appears back to being a solid fantasy option. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Cardinals.

Kershaw (back) had an uneventful bullpen session Friday and will throw at least one more before heading out on a rehab assignment, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group reports.

Kershaw has moved up from throwing off flat ground earlier this week. His rehab is continuing at the expected pace, and assuming his bullpens and rehab assignment go as planned, Kershaw is still looking at a late August return.

Velasquez (finger) was placed on the 10-day DL on Friday.

A day after leaving his start due to numbness in his right middle finger, Velasquez is back on the DL -- he missed the final six weeks of the first half with a flexor strain. The Phillies are being vague as to the exact nature and severity of the issue, and thus any estimated return timetable remains up in the air. His replacement in the starting rotation has not yet been announced.

Cueto (flexor strain) played catch on flat ground prior to Friday's game for the first time since initially feeling discomfort on July 31, and said everything felt normal, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cueto has hinted that the injury is something he could probably pitch through in a playoff setting, but considering the Giants are just playing out the string, everyone is taking a cautious approach with his recovery. His next step is to be determined, but a return to the big-league rotation in late August is still a possibility.

Buehler has been pitching out of the bullpen in his previous two outings with Triple-A Oklahoma and could finish the year as a reliever, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The 2015 first-round pick has pitched well since returning from Tommy John surgery (3.32 ERA and 12.5 K/9 across three levels in the minors this season), but the Dodgers want to limit his workload by pitching him out of the 'pen. General manager Andrew Friedman acknowledged the workload limitations, but he also mentioned that the club is "getting a chance to see [Buehler] in that role to the extent that it potentially makes sense to bring him up in September." It doesn't sound like the conversion is a permanent one, but a move from a starter to a reliever would certainly hurt Buehler's dynasty appeal, especially in an organization that has a dominant closer like Kenley Jansen who effectively blocks any reliever from getting fantasy-relevant save opportunities for the foreseeable future.

Nicolino was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans and will start Saturday against the Rockies.

It will be Nicolino's second time in the Miami rotation this season, as he posted a 4.95 ERA and 0-1 record in five starts earlier this year for the team before being sent down to Triple-A. The southpaw has fared a bit better with New Orleans, owning a 3.19 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 79 innings this season, but faces a tough challenge against the Rockies, who rank second in the NL with 5.24 runs per game. Nicolino will likely be sent back to the minors once Chris O'Grady (oblique) returns from the 10-day disabled list, though there's still no timetable for his return.