MLB Player News

Urena (1-4) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five Tuesday against the Reds.

For a few moments, it looked as if Urena wouldn't make it through the first inning. After using eight pitches to get two outs, the righty proceeded to allow three singles, a walk and a grand slam. After his rough start, Urena settled down and worked five scoreless frames on just 62 pitches. The 24-year-old was believed to be making just a spot start Tuesday, but following the game, manager Don Mattingly confirmed that Urena will stay in the rotation and make his next start Sunday against the Pirates. In four starts this season, he is 0-3 with a 6.14 ERA.

Velasquez (8-5) threw 5.2 innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out 10.

Velasquez cruised through four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth, allowing home runs to Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley. He then saw more trouble in the sixth as Yasmani Grandal took Velasquez deep for a two-run homer before he was removed. The start was an improvement on his last outing, but that's not saying much, as the young flamethrower was roughed up for nine runs his last time out. Velasquez has now allowed three home runs in consecutive starts, after allowing just three homers in all eight of June and July starts put together. Velasquez's ERA ballooned to 4.14, and he'll look to right the ship against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Maeda threw six innings of two-run ball, striking out nine while allowing just three hits and a walk en route to a win over the Phillies on Tuesday.

Maeda was nearly perfect save for a pair of solo shots in the second and third innings, keeping the Phillies off the basepaths while the Dodgers' offense racked up 15 runs to secure a blowout victory. Maeda's nine strikeouts were his second-most in any start this season, and brought his total to 138 over 136.2 innings pitched. While Maeda's ERA remains a solid 3.29 on the season, that's up from 2.87 at the end of June. One reason why is the long ball, as Maeda has allowed a home run in seven of his last eight starts. He'll look to keep the ball in the yard when he travels to homer-friendly Cincinnati on Sunday.

Taillon allowed three runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision against the Giants.

Taillon continues his excellent run in his first major league stint, as Tuesday's outing extended his quality start streak to seven games. Although Taillon generated excitement as a power pitcher, his control has been the real outstanding aspect of his game over this hot streak. He has issued just four walks over 44 innings (0.8 BB/9) and struck out 37 batters in his past seven starts. Taillon's ERA sits at an even 3.00, and if Taillon can continue to pound the strike zone like this, there's no reason he can't sustain this performance.

Syndergaard (10-7) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings in a win Tuesday over the Diamondbacks.

Syndergaard had to labor for this one, as he needed 106 pitches to get through five innings and change. He helped his own cause as well with a two-run home run off his starting counterpart Braden Shipley in the third inning. Syndergaard was utterly nasty at times (16 swinging strike in 106 pitches) as he managed to keep his team in the game until his lineup could put it away with six runs combined in the fifth and six innings. He has now struck out at least six batters in each of his past six starts.

Hammel (13-5) tossed seven shutout innings, allowed just two hits and three walks, and struck out seven to earn the win in game two of Tuesday's doubleheader against Milwaukee.

Hammel dominated a weak Brewers lineup, as he induced 14 swinging strikes in 110 pitches. The only runner who even reached third base did so on a throwing error. Hammel is on a ridiculous hot streak, now with four consecutive quality starts and a 22-inning scoreless streak. His ERA is down to 2.75, making him one of four Cubs starters (Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester) with a sub-3.00 ERA.

Anderson left Tuesday's game with a left quadriceps bruise, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

A line drive off the bat of the Cubs' Kris Bryant caught Anderson in the leg, forcing Anderson from the game in the first and the Brewers' bullpen into early duty. The diagnosis of a bruised quad would seem to bode well for Anderson's chances of avoiding the DL but his status for this weekend's series in Seattle is up in the air.

Anderson left Tuesday's start after facing just two batters, as he was hit near the left knee by a line drive off the bat of Kris Bryant, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt reports.

The liner hit Anderson square on the inside of his left knee, and while he was able to pick up the ball and make the throw to first base, he limped off midway through the first inning. Jhan Marinez replaced Anderson in what will now turn into a bullpen game for the Brewers. Look for the team to provide an official diagnosis later in the game.

Bergman was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

With Tyler Chatwood being placed on the DL, Colorado needed another arm on the roster. The club has yet to indicate if they'll use Bergman as a starter or reliever during his upcoming trip to the MLB. After nine starts with Albuquerque, Bergman has posted a 1.34 WHIP and 4.23 ERA. He's appeared in nine games with the Rockies this season, however just one was as a starter. During said outing, Bergman pitched five innings and allowed two runs, both of which were home runs.

Stripling will make his next start for the Dodgers on Thursday in Philadelphia, Bill Plunkett of the OC Register reports.

Stripling has a respectable 4.07 ER in 66.1 innings for the Dodgers this year. It's tough however to forecast what to expect from him from start to start.