MLB Player News

DeSclafani (8-3) pitched six innings Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven and taking the loss against the Mets.

DeSclafani pitched well overall Wednesday, but yielded a pair of long balls to Jose Reyes and Curtis Granderson, each of whom also hit home runs the day before against the Reds. DeSclafani has been the Reds' best starter this season, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 4.25 K:BB ratio over 17 starts. Those numbers are a terrific improvement over DeSclafani's first two major league seasons where he posted a 4.34 ERA over 36 starts. He'll look to get back in the win column against the Brewers on Monday.

Syndergaard (13-8) allowed no runs against the Reds on Wednesday, but lasted just five innings, giving up six hits and four walks while striking out seven and earning the win.

Syndergaard was a bit wild Wednesday, walking four and needing 95 pitches to get through five innings. Yet despite averaging two baserunners per inning, he kept the Reds off the scoreboard and lowered his ERA to 2.48. The lack of command was uncharacteristic from Syndergaard, who has a sterling 5:1 K:BB ratio on the year. He'll next take the hill against the Nationals on Tuesday.

The Nationals activated Strasburg (elbow) from the disabled list Wednesday.

Strasburg is ready to return after missing three weeks with his elbow injury, and he will jump right back into the rotation and take the ball Wednesday night against the Braves. Strasburg is no doubt looking to put August in the rear-view mirror, as he was tagged for 19 earned runs over just 11.2 innings in the three starts prior to his absence.

Anderson allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over 7.1 innings in Tuesday's no-decision against the Giants.

After failing to complete seven innings in any of his first nine starts, Anderson has done so four times in his past seven outings. All four of those have come at Coors Field, and three have been quality starts. Even when the Rockies have pitching talent, it's rare that they can handle pitching in Denver, so Anderson is looking like a huge find for them right now. His ERA sits at 3.35, particularly solid considering just five of his 16 starts have come on the road.

Hammel (14-8) allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits, struck out five and walked two over 5.2 innings in a loss to the Brewers on Tuesday.

This was the third time this season Hammel allowed at least nine runs in an outing, and all three of those starts came on the road. He has been a far more effective pitcher at Wrigley Field this season, posting a 1.77 ERA at home versus a 5.26 ERA on the road. Overall, he is 14-8 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 127 strikeouts in 151.2 innings. Hammel will try to bounce back Monday on the road against St. Louis.

Stripling (4-6) gave up two runs on three hits and struck out five over five innings in a win Tuesday over Arizona.

Stripling is approaching an innings limit and wasn't showing his normal velocity, so he was removed after just 66 pitches despite what looks on paper like a solid five frames. Considering the Dodgers have an expanded roster bullpen to play with, it probably isn't worth expecting Stripling to go deep in whatever games he appears in down the stretch. The rookie has done a fine job filling into the Dodgers rotation, posting a 4.12 ERA and a 62:25 K:BB in 87.1 innings, but the Dodgers would probably rather take their chances with a reliever than let Stripling face a lineup for the third time around.

Clemens (2-5) allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks and struck out three over four innings in a loss Tuesday to Boston.

Clemens hasn't managed to go more than five innings yet in 11 starts this season. He just hasn't shown good enough control to last deep into ballgames, as Tuesday's start marked the fifth time he was walked at least three batters. If he can't lower his 4.9 BB/9, he'll struggle to keep his rotation spot.

Perez lasted just 2.1 innings Tuesday against the Nationals, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out two. He received no decision.

Perez got the start Tuesday in a return from the DL as a way to give Mike Foltynewicz an extra day of rest. While Perez didn't walk anyone, he gave up a pair of big home runs in the third inning, one of which was a grand slam, to give the Nationals a 6-4 lead. The young right-hander's ERA ballooned to 5.47 with the poor start, his 10th of the season and 30th of his career. While his 1.31 WHIP isn't terrible, Perez has struck out just 25 batters in 51 innings, and it's now two starts in a row in which he's given up six or more earned runs.

Finnegan tossed five innings of two-run ball Tuesday, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out six. He received no decision.

Finnegan struggled with his command Tuesday, needing 105 pitches to get through five innings while walking four. He also served up solo shots to Curtis Granderson and Jose Reyes. Finnegan had been on a roll entering Tuesday, sporting a 1.80 ERA and 0.65 WHIP with 29 strikeouts over his last three starts. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it looks as though Finnegan may only get one more start in 2016 before running into an innings cap and being shut down.

Strasburg (elbow) will start Wednesday's game against the Braves, CSN Mid-Atlantic's Chase Hughes reports.

He apparently made it through his bullpen session Tuesday without issue, and was therefore confirmed as Wednesday's starter. Strasburg was brutal in 17.2 innings in August before landing on the DL with the elbow injury, posting a 10.19 ERA over four starts. However, this is too good of a matchup to pass up in most formats, and prior to August, Strasburg had been his typical ace-like self.