MLB Player News

Nicolino allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision Monday to the Pirates.

On the bright side, Nicolino has 10 strikeouts in his past two starts after managing just six across his first five combined. Unfortunately, he's now gone four consecutive starts without a quality start and owns a 4.50 ERA with a 16:12 K:BB in 40 innings; it's hard to see where the improvements he needs to become fantasy viable are going to come from.

Wood (1-4) took the loss on Monday, allowing two runs in five innings against the Cubs. He allowed seven hits and walked three while striking out seven.

Wood was able to make the start after being pushed back from Friday due to triceps soreness. The lefty closes out what was a successful month of May, allowing two runs or fewer in four of his five starts. Wood will carry a 3.99 ERA and 1.31 WHIP into his start Saturday against Atlanta.

Hammel (leg) is not expected to miss his next start after departing Monday's game with cramps, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Hammel was lifted prior to the third inning, but after the game manager Joe Maddon said he doesn't expect the right-hander to miss any additional time. Hammel, who was replaced by long reliever Travis Wood, is scheduled to make his next start Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Hammel exited Monday's game prior to the third inning with what appears to be cramping, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

Hammel was down on the ground stretching before the inning even started, and after attempting a few warmup pitches, was unable to go. He'll be replaced by long reliever Travis Wood in the contest after contributing two scoreless innings. Should the ailment prove to be a simple case of cramping, Hammel shouldn't be in much danger of missing his next start, but keep an eye out for the Cubs to confirm one way or another.

Martinez (5-5) tossed eight innings during Monday's win against Milwaukee, in which he only allowed five hits and a walk while fanning eight.

Martinez cruised against the Brewers, and the only thing that prevented him from going the distance was that he needed 104 pitches to complete eight frames. Still, this was Martinez's best start of the season, and he lowered his ERA to a very respectable 3.69 mark. He will try to keep it going in his next outing against San Francisco on Sunday.

Wood (triceps) has been confirmed as the starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Cubs, according to Andy McCullough of the LA Times.

Wood was pushed back from Friday to Monday after feeling soreness in his triceps, but it turns out a couple days to rest and recover was all he needed to get back on the mound. Cubs hitters in Monday's lineup have not seen much of Wood in their careers, as Anthony Rizzo is the only player listed among the starters to tally more than three at-bats against him.

Cueto is dealing with a side/back injury, but manager Bruce Bochy expects him to make his next start, Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly reports.

The report notes that it is too early to make a call on Cueto's status for his next start, but it appears there is a good chance Cueto will avoid missing any action due to his injuries. Although he did toss just six innings Sunday -- just the second time all season he has thrown fewer than seven innings -- Cueto did not show any signs of an injury, allowing just one earned run in an outing that came at Coors Field.

Kershaw allowed two earned runs with 10 strikeouts and zero walks across 7.2 strong innings Sunday versus the Mets. He did not factor into the decision.

Kershaw was pulled from the game with a man on base and a one-run lead with two outs in the eighth inning, but Adam Liberatore allowed the inherited runner to score, tying the game before L.A. won it in the ninth. Kershaw was exceptional yet again, tossing his fifth game this season with double-digit strikeouts and zero walks, which has led to an otherworldly WHIP of 0.65 through 86.2 innings. He will look to continue his potentially historic season Friday versus the Braves.

Teheran suffered his fifth loss of the season Sunday versus the Marlins, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks across just 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Teheran had allowed one or no runs in each of his last six starts entering Sunday, but he allowed a two-run homer in the sixth inning that put his team behind before his removal in the sixth inning. He also walked three batters after not issuing a free pass in his previous two starts, and will look to bounce back Friday at the Dodgers.

Cueto moved to 8-1 Sunday, allowing just one run with five strikeouts and just two walks across six quality innings at Colorado.

Cueto has been stellar during his current four-start winning streak, as he has lowered his ERA to 2.31 and moved into a tie for second in wins among National League starters. In short, he has been lights out of late, and should be deployed with confidence even when entering Friday's matchup with the Cardinals.