MLB Player News

Matz (1-1) allowed four runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- while striking out four over seven innings in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Nationals.

He only made a few mistakes on the evening, throwing 66 of 100 pitches for strikes, but the Nats made the lefty pay for every one. Things won't get much easier for Matz in his next start Thursday on the road against the Dodgers.

Corbin (6-6) allowed four runs -- just two earned -- on five hits while striking out five batters through six innings during Friday's win over Philadelphia.

The lefty owned an 8.35 ERA through his previous seven outings, so Friday's showing was a nice rebound. Corbin has flashed enough fantasy potential to be utilized in favorable matchups, but his game-to-game inconsistency makes him a nightly risk. For the campaign, Corbin sports a disappointing 5.19 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.7 K/9, and he projects to make his next start against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Martinez (6-5) allowed just a single run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over six innings during Friday's win over Baltimore.

After spinning a complete-game shutout in his last start, Martinez tossed another strong outing Friday. With a 2.86 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.2 K/9, he's well on his way to posting a career-best campaign, and he should be viewed as a high-end starter going forward. Martinez projects to make his next start against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Wood (7-0) allowed a single run on four hits while striking out five batters through eight innings during Friday's win over Cincinnati.

Having seven wins at this stage of the season is impressive, but considering Wood has only made 10 starts, it highlights just how dominant he's been. He owns a 1.90 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 10.5 K/9, and his 2.14 FIP affirms the sustainability of his excellent stretch on the mound. It isn't out of the question to view Wood as a matchup-proof hurler going forward, either. The lefty lines up for a home date against the Mets in his next start.

Hendricks' (hand) MRI revealed no new injuries, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

This is good news for the right-hander, although the Cubs still don't have a timetable for his return following the development. It seems like they're just going to wait a few days before attempting to get Hendricks back on track, although more information should become available in the coming days.

Velasquez (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday, Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com reports.

The right-hander continues to recover from a strained elbow, which landed him on the DL at the end of May. If Thursday's session goes well, a clearer timetable could be available, but at this point the team has not indicated when it expects Velasquez to return to the mound.

Allard, 19, has a 2.88 ERA and 52:26 K:BB through 68.2 innings at Double-A Mississippi.

Allard has walked a few too many batters of late, issuing at least three free passes in each of his last four starts. As a result, his ERA has risen over that span from 1.65 to 2.88. Still, the teenager has managed to limit the damage overall, and he has more than met the challenge of the aggressive promotion by the Braves, as Allard skipped High-A altogether.

Lorenzen has a 1.64 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 22 innings since the start of May.

The right-hander had a couple rough outings in April that ballooned his ERA but overall has put together a good season thus far. Lorenzen has allowed only two home runs this season and has recorded six holds. The 25-year-old is likely to continue in his current role with most of the Reds' bullpen performing well.

Soroka (8-3) scattered three hits and a walk while striking out five over seven scoreless innings for Double-A Mississippi in Thursday's 4-1 win over Montgomery.

He's still seven weeks shy of his 20th birthday, but Soroka continues to humble hitters a few years his senior in the Southern League. He hasn't been scored upon in any of his last three starts, a streak of 22 consecutive innings, and has posted an 18:1 K:BB over that stretch. The Braves aren't going to rush the right-hander, but his impressive performance in the first half of 2017 may well have him on track to make his big-league debut before he turns 21.

Wacha allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five batters over four innings during Thursday's loss to Milwaukee. He didn't factor into the decision.

Wacha is turning in mediocre numbers again in 2017 with a 4.78 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. His 4.22 FIP doesn't instill much confidence that he can turn it around, either. The 25-year-old righty pitched well through his first three seasons in the league and entered the majors with an excellent pedigree, so there is definitely potential for a bounce-back stretch. It's probably best to take a wait-and-see approach in most fantasy formats at this stage of the season, though. Wacha projects to face the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in his next start.