MLB Player News

Greinke (6-2) came within an out of a complete game Monday, picking up the win after allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out a season-high 12 White Sox.

Manager Torey Lovullo was showered with boos from the home crowd as he walked to the mound with Greinke just one out away from his first nine-inning complete game since June 7 of last season. The Diamondbacks were leading 5-1 at the time, and Lovullo's pitcher was sitting at 104 pitches. Regardless, owners can't complain with how the 13-year veteran has performed this year. Through 10 starts, Greinke is on pace for one of the best seasons of his career. He leads the NL in innings pitched (67) and strikeouts (78), while owning the league's second-best marks for wins and WHIP (0.97). A Saturday date with Milwaukee is on tap for his next start.

GM Matt Klentak said the Phillies intend to continue to try to develop Velasquez as a starter, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

There has been plenty of speculation that Velasquez will end up in the bullpen someday, but at least for now, that is not in the cards. Velasquez has a dominant fastball, but has struggled to find consistency with his secondary pitches. He also struggles to get past the fifth inning due to high pitch counts. The young righty has the potential to be an ace if he puts everything together, which is why the rebuilding Phillies will give him every opportunity to figure things out.

Eickhoff (0-5) allowed four runs on nine hits with no walks across six innings in Monday's loss to the Rockies. He struck out four.

Eickhoff tossed a trio of perfect innings in this one, but three runs on four hits in the third frame and a sacrifice fly in the sixth amounted to another ho-hum performance. As has become a common theme, he received little run support from his teammates and is still in search of his first win of the season. Eickhoff started the year with three consecutive quality starts, but he has allowed four or more runs in four of his last five outings to push his ERA up to 4.70. He's also recorded more than five strikeouts just once in that same span, bringing his K/9 down to 8.2. Eickhoff will look to right the ship Saturday against the Reds.

Finnegan (shoulder) will begin throwing off a mound Tuesday, John Fay of WCPO Cincinnati reports.

This is a step in the right direction for the left-hander, who also commented that he's feeling great at the moment. Manager Bryan Price projects that Finnegan will still be able to return to the rotation in mid-June, which suggests that he's still following his original timetable. A more specific return date should come forth once he progresses further in his recovery.

Milone (1-2) coughed up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and two walks over just 1.1 innings in Sunday's loss to the Angels. He struck out three.

His ERA through three starts with the Mets now stands at a ghastly 10.50, and the left-hander's time in the Mets rotation is running out with both Steven Matz (elbow) and Seth Lugo (elbow) getting close to coming off the DL. Milone is scheduled for at least one more start Friday in Pittsburgh.

Lugo (elbow) will make a rehab start for High-A St. Lucie on Tuesday, Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News reports.

Assuming all goes well Tuesday, the right-hander will make one more rehab start before rejoining the Mets in early June. The club hasn't yet announced what role Lugo will fill upon his return, but neither Robert Gsellman nor Tommy Milone has done much to secure a spot in the rotation.

Matz (elbow) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News reports.

Assuming all goes well Tuesday, the left-hander will make one more rehab start for Las Vegas before rejoining the Mets in early June. Matz has yet to pitch in the majors this season, but he posted a 3.40 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 129:31 K:BB through 132.1 innings in 2016.

Freeland (5-2) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters through 5.2 innings during Sunday's win over the Reds.

The rookie has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of nine starts, so with a powerful offense providing run support, Freeland has cruised to five wins already. The lack of strikeouts (5.6 K/9) caps his fantasy upside, and his 4.2 BB/9 and 4.54 FIP are concerning marks. However, Freeland sports a 63.1 groundball percentage, so he could be less susceptible to the thin air at Coors Field. There are likely still rougher times ahead, but a lot of what Freeland is doing on the mound looks to be sustainable. He projects to face the Cardinals at Coors in his next start.

Strasburg (5-1) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out a season-high 11 over 7.2 innings in Sunday's win over the Braves.

The 28-year-old has been pitching to more contact this season, as his career-low 8.8 K/9 demonstrates, but Strasburg is still capable of big strikeout totals when everything's clicking. He'll take a 3.28 ERA and 1.11 WHIP into his next start, Friday at home against the Padres.

Nola (2-1) allowed one run on four hits over seven innings in a 1-0 loss to the Pirates on Sunday. He struck out five and walked two.

Making his first start since coming off the disabled list with a lower-back strain, Nola topped out at 95.5 mph with his fastball and averaged 92.3 mph, according to Corey Seidman of CSN Philadelphia. He needed just 89 pitches to get through seven innings. The 23-year-old righty is scheduled to face the Reds in his next start.