MLB Player News

DeSclafani (elbow) is not expected to return to the club until August, Tom Groeschen of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The right-hander was cleared to resume throwing in late May but still hasn't done much otherwise after a UCL sprain put him on the disabled list. DeSclafani is looking less and less likely to deliver much late-season fantasy value, considering he may not be able to flash his full abilities until weeks after he returns. He may wind up being a name to remember in 2018 instead. Either way, fantasy players in deep leagues will want to keep tabs on his status for the off-chance that he returns some value toward the end of the season.

Finnegan (shoulder) could rejoin the Reds rotation before the end of June, Tom Groeschen of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The southpaw has been sidelined since mid April by a muscle strain in his trapezius area, but he's slated to start for Double-A Pensacola on Sunday, per Groeschen. Finnegan struck out 14 in his first 10 innings of the year but also walked nine batters -- an exaggerated but somewhat accurate portrayal of his high-strikeout, high-walk approach. Cincinnati's abysmal rotation could use someone with his talent, though, and fantasy players in deep leagues should check if he's on the waiver wire if they need a back-end option.

Greinke (8-3) allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight batters through five innings during Wednesday's win over the Padres.

Considering the Friars are the lowest-scoring team in the majors, Greinke wasn't his sharpest Wednesday. Still, striking out eight batters and adding another checkmark to the wins column moves the fantasy needle. He's having a rebound campaign with a 3.20 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and career-high 10.7 K/9, and his 3.28 FIP suggests everything is sustainable going forward. Greinke lines up to face the Tigers at Comerica Park in his next start.

Lynn (4-3) allowed only one run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings but had to settle for a no-decision in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Reds.

He was lifted for a pinch hitter after throwing only 78 pitches (47 strikes) with the Cards ahead 3-1, and while it's good to see the club keep an eye on Lynn's workload in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, manager Mike Matheny may be second-guessing himself after watching his bullpen implode after Lynn left the game. The right-hander will get an extra day of rest before taking the mound Tuesday at home against the Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader.

Urena (4-2) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks over five innings Wednesday, striking out five Cubs in a 6-5 win.

With his ERA now up to 3.96, his WHIP up to 1.36 and his K/9 a miserable 5.68, Urena is barely clinging to the outer fringes of fantasy relevance. The peripherals have been suggesting that his numbers are going to take a turn for the worse, and that's just what's been happening recently, as he's given up six homers and 16 runs in his last 19.1 innings. Urena won't always be this bad, but it's quite clear that there was a healthy dose of luck mixed into the 1.91 ERA he posted through his first nine starts.

Wheeler allowed the Rangers to score just a single run on six hits and three walks over seven innings Wednesday, striking out five in a no-decision.

He left with a lead, only to see Jerry Blevins blow it in the eighth inning before the Mets eked out a win in the ninth. While it hasn't always been pretty and efficient for Wheeler, he's managed to get the job done more often than not this year. Now 27 years old, Wheeler has only 60 MLB starts under his belt thanks to his 2014 Tommy John surgery, so there's still room for him to continue growing as a pitcher. The key will be cutting his walk rate, which remains too high at 3.73 BB/9.

Eickhoff (0-7) gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk over five innings in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Braves.

Nothing new here -- Eickhoff's given up at least three earned runs in seven of his last eight starts, and with a 5.15 ERA and 1.53 WHIP, the winless wonder isn't enticing fantasy owners despite his decent strikeout rate. The peripherals indicate that perhaps he's a bit better than these ratios would indicate, but the Phillies are an awful team, which is dragging all their pitchers down.

Garrett was diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald reports.

This is tough news for both parties, as Garrett was one of the few bright spots in the Marlins' farm system. He was 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA and 16:6 K:BB through 15.1 innings pitched (four starts) with Low-A Greensboro this season. Garrett will explore other options before deciding whether he'll undergo Tommy John surgery, but he'll be sidelined for an extended period of time either way.

Freeland (7-3) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits with five strikeouts in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Cleveland.

This was another solid outing for the 24-year-old rookie, as he earned his seventh win of the season. A solo home run in the seventh from Jose Ramirez was all the Indians could muster. Home runs have been a bit of an issue for Freeland. He's given up a long ball in five straight starts, but four of the six long balls during that stretch have been solo shots, so he's minimizing the damage. The best stat for Freeland on Wednesday was his zero walks, since he'd walked two or more in 10 of his 11 starts this year prior to Wednesday. He's scheduled to take on the Pirates on Monday in what looks like a favorable matchup against Chad Kuhl.

Walker (finger) felt good following a five-inning simulated game Wednesday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander seems to be very close to amassing enough innings to rejoin the rotation, although the Diamondbacks are planning to re-evaluate Walker's status on Thursday. If he's deemed ready, he could rejoin the rotation as early as Tuesday, but if he can't look for Zack Godley and Randall Delgado to continue picking up starts in his place.