MLB Player News

Teheran (4-9) tossed seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out eight and earning just his fourth win of the season against the Padres on Tuesday.

Teheran's lone blemish came in the fifth with the Braves already leading 5-0, when he surrendered a two-run home run to outfielder Oswaldo Arcia. Teheran has been the victim of terrible run support this season, but the Braves' offense gave him seven runs Tuesday, more than enough. Teheran's 2.92 runs of support per game remain easily the lowest in the majors among qualifying pitchers. Yet Teheran's peripherals remain stellar, with a 3.12 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 4.25 K:BB ratio. His coughed up nine earned runs on 21 hits in his previous two starts after returning from a DL-stint, so it would seem Teheran is back on track going into the final month of the season.

Tuesday's scheduled start was postponed and Hill will now start Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Wednesday, the Southern California News Group's J.P. Hoornstra reports.

While this will give Hill an extra day of rest, it won't allow him to start two games this week. He will still have to pitch in Coors Field on Wednesday and he will line up to start again Monday at home against the Diamondbacks. Ross Stripling will start Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Hendricks (13-7) pitched seven scoreless innings, limiting the Pirates to just three hits while walking one and striking out four in Tuesday's win.

Hendricks sliced his MLB-best ERA to 2.09 with his sixth straight quality start Tuesday. The right-handed hurler is now 9-1 in his last 10 decisions dating back to June 19 and has seemingly surpassed the NL's reigning Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta as the Cubs most reliable pitcher since the All-Star break. Although his strikeout rate leaves something to be desired, Hendricks more than compensates for it with the NL's second-best WHIP of 0.98. The 26-year-old has been nothing short of a fantasy stud over the past couple months, and he'll look to continue dominating when he makes his next start Monday in Milwaukee.

Taillon was optioned to rookie-level Bristol on Tuesday.

The assignment to Bristol will allow Taillon to return Friday -- after Bristol's season ends -- in time for his next scheduled start. Taillon turned in his worst performance in the majors his last time out, allowing five runs on seven hits (including two home runs) over just three innings (57 pitches). However, the results have been very good overall and he figures to continue taking the mound every fifth day over the remainder of the season.

Taillon was optioned to rookie-level Bristol on Thursday.

The assignment to Bristol will allow Taillon to return Friday -- after Bristol's season ends -- in time for his next scheduled start. Taillon turned in his worst performance in the majors his last time out, allowing five runs on seven hits (including two home runs) over just three innings (57 pitches). However, the results have been very good overall and he figures to continue taking the mound every fifth day over the remainder of the season.

Kershaw (back) is expected to make a minor league rehab start, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Manager Dave Roberts refused to tip his hand initially after Kershaw completed a two-inning simulated game Tuesday, but he ultimately acknowledged that Kershaw will likely need a start on the minor league side to prepare for a return to the major league rotation. President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman later confirmed that the next step for Kershaw would be a minor league game. With that, it seems Kershaw is on track for a return late next week.

Kershaw (back) threw two simulated innings Tuesday and "came out of it well" according to manager Dave Roberts, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

One would think Kershaw would need a minor league rehab start after only building up to two innings Tuesday, but David Vassegh of 570 AM Los Angeles is reporting that the Dodgers are undecided as to whether Kershaw will next pitch in the majors or the minors. Roberts suggested Kershaw will need to build up to five innings, but he left the door open for Kershaw to do so in a major league game. Either way, the three-time Cy Young winner seems to be closing in on a return following a lengthy absence.

Urias will start Friday against the Padres, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 20-year-old endured some initial growing pains upon arrival to the major leagues but the results lately have been outstanding for the former top prospect. Urias has allowed just one earned run over his last two starts (spanning 12 innings), striking out eight against the Cubs in his most recent outing to improve to 5-2. He now lines up for a highly favorable matchup at home against San Diego, but his innings cap figures to finally come into play at some point in September.

The Pirates expect Cole (elbow) to be able to pitch again this season, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

An MRI cleared Cole of any ligament damage but he is dealing with inflammation in his elbow, and there has been speculation that the inflammation may be the result of a bone spur. Cole was, however, able to play catch Tuesday according to Adam Berry of MLB.com, and the team seems to think he will be able to return at some point in September. Any future plans for the right-hander will likely be tentative as the Pirates wait and see how Cole responds as he progresses through his throwing program.

Hammel is now slated to start Wednesday against the Pirates, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hammel will be pitching on four days' rest, but he only threw 39 pitches in Saturday's abbreviated outing so he should be fresh and available for a full workload against Ryan Vogelsong and the Pirates. The right-hander has endured some struggles on the road this season, especially lately, but he's posted a minuscule 1.78 ERA in 12 home starts to this point.