MLB Player News

Eflin (elbow) allowed two runs over 4.1 innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. He struck out five and walked none.

Eflin was making his first start for Lehigh Valley since coming off the disabled list. He had been sidelined since June 2 because of an elbow injury.

Freeland (9-7) pitched 8.1 scoreless innings with just one hit and three walks allowed during Sunday's win over the White Sox. He struck out nine batters.

This was the best start of Freeland's young career, and it was all the more impressive coming at Coors Field. He enters the All-Star break with a serviceable 3.77 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 5.5 K/9, but he's already up to 107.1 innings pitched. There have been talks about shifting him to the bullpen to limit his workload, too. The 24-year-old lefty is an ideal sell-high candidate following Sunday's gem.

Cueto allowed six runs on six hits and six walks while striking out just two batters through six innings during Sunday's loss to Miami. He didn't factor into the decision.

Cueto had this start pushed back because of an inner-ear infection, but fantasy owners probably now wish he had just been skipped entirely. With a 6-7 record, 4.51 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 7.9 K/9, it's been an underwhelming first half from the veteran, and Cueto's fantasy value has taken a substantial hit. His 4.74 FIP doesn't suggest there are better times ahead, either. He's a candidate to be dealt ahead of the trade deadline, though, and it might just take a change of scenery to kick-start a rebound.

Kershaw tossed a complete game Sunday that included no walks and 13 strikeouts in a 5-2 win over the Royals. He allowed two runs on six hits.

What a way to end the first half of the season. The Dodgers' ace continued his impressive run of strong pitching, earning his seventh straight victory while recording double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time in his last five starts. Kershaw now has a near-perfect 14-2 record to go with a sparking 2.18 ERA and stingy 0.88 WHIP -- both of which are slightly better than his career marks of 2.35 and 1.00. Now 29 years old, it might be hard to fathom, but the best may still be ahead for the Texan.

Urena allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three batters through five innings during Sunday's win over Miami. He didn't factor into the decision.

Urena has significant upside because of his nasty pitch arsenal, but he's still extremely raw on the mound. He's now allowed three runs or fewer in each of his past seven starts and has flashed the potential to show an uptick in the strikeouts column. However, he's still not a matchup-proof fantasy option. Urena enters the All-Star break with a serviceable 3.54 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.1 K/9.

Corbin (6-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine batters during Sunday's loss to Cincinnati.

Corbin heads into the All-Star break in solid form. The lefty has surrendered three runs or fewer in each of his past six starts and sports a 4.71 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 8.4 K/9 and 4.25 FIP for the campaign. His numbers are inflated by a poor six-game stretch in which he allowed 32 runs through just 31 innings, but otherwise, he's been a serviceable fantasy asset. Being selective with his opponents is an option, and this might prove to be a buy-low spot for Corbin.

Eickhoff (1-7) limited the Padres to five hits and one walk while striking out eight in five shutout innings Sunday en route to his first win of the season.

Eickhoff took advantage of this matchup with the league's worst offense while receiving six home runs in support as Philadelphia cruised to a 7-1 win. His ERA sits at 4.63 despite this effort, so it's still tough to trust him in less pitcher-friendly matchups. Eickhoff will look to double his win total a week from Monday in Miami.

Lynn (7-6) allowed just three hits and one walk with two strikeouts over seven shutout innings in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Mets.

Lynn pitched seven full innings for just the third time in 18 starts and was in control the whole time despite posting a season-low strikeout total. He has notched at least 12 wins in each of his past four campaigns, and is once again on pace to top that mark heading into the All-Star break. The right-hander's next start is scheduled for Saturday at Pittsburgh.

Matz (2-2) lasted just 4.1 innings in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals while allowing five runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Matz came in with a 2.19 ERA through five starts despite a lack of strikeouts this season, but it could be time to start worrying about the 26-year-old lefty's 5.40 K/9. He finished each of his first two seasons over 8.50, so it's not surprising that Matz's current 5.11 FIP is 1.50 higher than his previous worst mark. Matz's next start is scheduled for next Sunday at home against the Rockies.

Senzatela will likely be the Rockies' No. 5 starter at the outset of the second half, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

Senzatela was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday as the Rockies opted to bolster the roster for the final couple games of the first half. Senzatela leads the majors in run support for a starting pitcher, which has allowed him to win nine games despite a 4.63 ERA and below-average 17.6 percent strikeout rate. Even if he does begin the second half in the rotation, he could easily lose that spot to Kyle Freeland or German Marquez, as one of those two will likely start the second half in the bullpen.