MLB Player News

Lively is the most likely candidate to join the Phillies' rotation this week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Zach Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after a poor outing Sunday, perhaps creating an opening for Lively, who has gone 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA and a 45:7 K:BB in 56.1 innings for Lehigh Valley this season. The 25-year-old works in the low-90s with his fastball and relies on pitching down in the zone to induce weak contact from hitters. If he gets the call, his first start will likely come Saturday at home against the Giants.

Cueto (5-4) turned in a quality start Sunday, firing six innings of one-run ball while striking out eight in a win over the Braves.

It was a nice bounce-back performance from the 31-year-old after he gave up nine runs over his last two outings. Cueto was dealing with blisters on his throwing hand in his last start, but he was able to pitch through the minor ailment with little resistance Sunday. The veteran still owns a sub-par -- by his standards -- 4.37 ERA, but a 3.54 xFIP indicates that there are better days ahead for the Giants' interim ace.

Kershaw was hit around by the Cubs on Sunday, giving up four runs on 11 hits (three home runs) over 4.1 innings. He walked two and struck out six in a game where the Dodgers would eventually prevail 9-4.

The Dodgers' ace didn't have his best stuff in this one, failing to escape the fifth inning for the first time this season. Surprisingly, this was the second time that the southpaw surrendered three homers in the same outing, with the other instance coming against the Rockies on April 8. Even with Sunday's poor performance, Kershaw still owns a 2.37 ERA, which is a testament to how dominant he has been this season. Expect the 29-year-old to bounce back in his next start against the Brewers on Friday.

Marquez (4-2) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out five in Sunday's 8-4 win over Colorado.

Since being called up to replace an injured Jon Gray (foot) in the Colorado rotation, Marquez has been more than solid when it's his turn. He wasn't at his best against St. Louis, but he got out of a few early jams and limited the Cardinals to just two runs to win his fourth straight start. During the win streak, the rookie hurler has an ERA of 1.46 and a WHIP of 1.18 over 24.2 innings. His next time out will be at sea level when the Rockies take on Clayton Richard and the Padres in San Diego.

Lynn (4-3) pitched five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk, while striking out three in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Rockies.

Lynn allowed the first two hitters to reach in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Gerardo Parra made him pay with a three-run home run that extended the Rockies' lead to four. The Cardinals offense couldn't provide any support until after Lynn had left the game. Lynn entered on a solid streak of starts, but pitching in Coors Field has a way of putting an end to those types of things. Before entering the thin Denver air, Lynn had allowed more than two runs just once over his previous seven starts and won four of his last five decisions. Despite the subpar performance Sunday, Lynn's ERA still sits at a sparkling 2.93.

Corbin (4-5) pitched four-plus innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in Sunday's 9-5 loss in Milwaukee.

Corbin just didn't have it this time out. He gave up a leadoff triple to Keon Broxton to spark a two-run first for the Brewers. Then, after his offense cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth, he served up a grand slam to Domingo Santana in the bottom half. He gave up hits to the last two batters he faced before getting removed. He's now allowed 26 runs in his last 26 innings over five starts, erasing a strong start to the season. His ERA has ballooned to 5.14. It sat at 2.29 after five April starts. Corbin faces the Marlins on Friday, looking to get things back on track.

Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following Sunday's loss to the Reds.

Eflin was torched at home by the Reds to the tune of seven earned runs on nine hits -- including four long balls -- over five innings Sunday. Considering the 23-year-old is now 0-3 with a bloated 6.13 ERA and 11 homers allowed in 47 innings (eight starts), the team has decided to send him down to get his game straightened out. Eflin's replacement in the rotation has not yet been announced.

O'Sullivan signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Sunday.

O'Sullivan will return stateside after opening the season with the Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization. Nexen granted O'Sullivan his release in May after the right-hander served up 14 runs over eight innings, but it appears the Nationals think he could still fortify the team's pitching depth at Triple-A Syracuse. O'Sullivan last appeared in the big leagues in 2016 with the Red Sox, making five appearances and turning in a 6.75 ERA.

Taillon (groin) struck out six over three innings, allowing just a hit and a walk in a rehab outing Sunday for Double-A Altoona. According to Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he'll now throw a bullpen session Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Taillon looked marvelous in his first trip to the mound since undergoing a surgical procedure in early May to treat testicular cancer. The team now plans to send the right-hander on another rehab assignment, though it's uncertain at this time where that might be. He'll be monitored closely during the upcoming side session, but a trip to Triple-A Indianapolis doesn't seem too far off.

Cueto (finger) has been cleared to start Sunday's game against the Braves, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Cueto revealed he was experiencing some issues with blisters during his most recent start Tuesday against the Cubs, but after reevaluating the right-hander over the weekend, team doctors cleared him to take the mound for his usual turn. While he's disappointed in 10 starts this season with a 4.64 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 64 innings, Cueto should benefit from the move back to San Francisco for Sunday's outing. He's carried a 4.00 ERA (2.56 FIP) and has allowed just one home run in 27 innings at AT&T Park.