MLB Player News

Hammel (6-1) allowed just one run on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 7.1 innings in Tuesday's win over St. Louis.

Hammel bounced back from a rough start last time out against Milwaukee, as he didn't allow a run until he started to run out of gas in the eighth inning. He induced 13 swinging strikes and nine ground balls as he efficiently worked through the Cardinals lineup. Hammel now has six quality starts in nine times out this season, and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start other than the aforementioned road bump against Milwaukee.

Teheran allowed only one run on three hits and struck out 12 in seven innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday.

The 12 punchouts were a season high for the Colombian hurler, but it wasn't enough to lead his team to a win. Despite Atlanta's struggles, Teheran has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball during the past month with an 0.80 ERA over the past five starts. He'll look to extend this recent run of success on his next start against the Marlins on Sunday.

Taillon's next start for Triple-A Indianapolis will be skipped as part of the organization's plan to keep his pitch count down this season, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports.

General manager Neil Huntington said Taillon is healthy, and this is just part of the plan to allow him to pitch later in the season. There is no official innings cap on Taillon for 2016, but obviously his fantasy owners would prefer him to use whatever innings he has left in the big leagues, as he appears to be in cruise control at Triple-A. Taillon, who boasts a 1.82 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 51:5 K:BB in 49.1 innings, is worthy of a stash in most mixed leagues at this point, as a call-up could be coming in the first half.

Lyles was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Lyles has started five games during his in the majors in 2016, earning a dismal 8.55 ERA and 2.05 WHIP over 20 innings pitched. He was sent down to the minors when Jorge De La Rosa (groin) was reinstated Tuesday to make his first start since injury against the Red Sox. Lyles will spend some time in Triple-A making adjustments, but he could be called up again later in the year if he's needed.

Lively struck out three while giving up three earned runs, four hits and a walk during six innings of work on Sunday in a win.

The 24-year-old is touting a 7-0 record with a 1.87 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP with Double-A Reading this season. Lively has improved his numbers across the board from last season with Reading, and has only allowed 11 runs in 53 innings during 2016.

Velasquez allowed three runs on nine hits over four innings against the Tigers on Monday. He struck out two and walked two.

The three runs all came on solo home runs. Manager Pete Mackanin pulled Velasquez after he allowed two of those home runs in the bottom of the fifth. He was already at 95 pitches due to poor command. Despite the tough outing, Velasquez's overall numbers still look good -- 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA and a 61:17 K:BB in 52.1 innings.

Cueto (7-1) allowed just two hits while striking out six in a complete-game shutout of the Padres on Monday.

Cueto allowed just one run on four hits while going the distance in his previous start, but found a way to one-up that effort against the same foe in this one. He has allowed just one run over 27 innings in three starts against San Diego, making his 3.55 ERA against all other competition look downright astronomical by comparison. The Domincian's next matchup offers a much greater challenge, as he is scheduled to suffer the unlucky fate of pitching in Coors Field against the Rockies on Sunday.

Kershaw (7-1) threw a two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and one walk in Monday's win over the Reds.

Although Kershaw's incredible streak of six double-digit-strikeout games in a row ended Monday night, it was still one of the most dominant starts of his season. No Reds runner made it to third base and Kershaw retired the last 17 hitters consecutively. He induced 13 swinging strikes and, most impressively, 16 groundball outs as the Reds had no answer for any of his pitches. The lefty now owns an absurd 95:5 K:BB as he makes his case for his fourth Cy Young Award.

Finnegan (1-3) gave up a run on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts over eight innings in a loss Monday to the Dodgers.

Finnegan also worked around three Reds errors, stranding all the extra runners. The bread and butter for Finnegan was the groundball, as he induced 13 outs on the dirt, including four double plays. Unfortunately, he was matched up against Clayton Kershaw, who was almost perfect in a two-hit shutout. Finnegan lowered his ERA to 3.97 with the effort, but he continues to play with fire with the walks. He now has 27 in 56.2 innings, a 4.3 BB/9 that ranks sixth-worst among the 52 qualified National League starters. He'll have to tighten things up if he wants to keep rolling quality starts like this one.

Rea is scheduled to throw 3-to-4 innings for Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Manager Andy Green says Rea will make at least one or two of these abbreviated starts as part of tapering his workload for the overall season. This is simply a precautionary appearance for the young pitcher, who will likely return to the majors in short order. Rea has already eclipsed 50 innings this season, a number the Padres don't seem inclined to push.