MLB Player News

Nola (3-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out nine and walking only one in a victory against the Reds on Saturday.

The only run he yielded was a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Nola was sharp, throwing 71 of his 100 pitches for strikes, inducing 15 swing-and-misses. It's the second time this season he's recorded nine strikeouts. Nola will look to keep it going in his next start Friday against the Braves.

Ryu (shoulder) will throw two innings for High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, the Los Angeles Times' Andy McCullough reports.

This is a pretty huge step in Ryu's recovery, as he should slowly start to build up his pitch count against minor league hitters over the coming weeks before theoretically rejoining the Dodgers. The time to stash Ryu is now, as he has No. 3 starter upside when fully healthy.

Stripling earned his first win of the season Friday versus the Cardinals, allowing four runs with two strikeouts and three walks across five innings.

It wasn't Stripling's prettiest outing by any stretch, but he pitched well enough to get the W and received a boost from the Cardinals' poor defense, which cost them four unearned runs. Stripling now has a 4.26 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP through seven starts this season and he will look to improve on his personal performance Wednesday versus the struggling Angels.

Martinez (illness) has been confirmed as Saturday's starter against the Dodgers, SB Nation's Eric Stephen reports.

This was fully expected and now daily league owners can safely plug him in as one of the top two starters on Saturday's evening slate, along with Aaron Nola of the Phillies. Martinez is working on seven days' rest Saturday against the Dodgers and should have no pitch count restrictions.

Wacha allowed six runs (two earned) on eight hits and three walks across just four innings Friday versus the Dodgers. He struck out two and was handed his fourth loss of the season.

The 24-year-old was let down by his defense Friday, as the Cardinals committed four errors on the night. Wacha has now suffered four consecutive losses, but his 3.23 ERA on the season suggests that he has pitched better than his record reflects, and he will look to get back in the win column Thursday versus the Rockies.

DeSclafani (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, the Cincinnati Inquirer reports.

It will be the first bullpen session for DeSclafani since being shut down due to a lingering oblique injury. "It's turned into the injury we were trying to avoid, and that's one that has lasted as long as it has lasted," manager Bryan Price said. "We thought we had it licked the last time and we obviously didn't." DeSclafani remains without a return timeline, but the team figures to exercise caution considering he's already aggravated the injury twice.

Gray (1-1) won his first career MLB game, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking one in a 5-2 victory over the Mets on Friday.

The 24-year-old threw seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit, in his last outing versus the Giants, but that wasn't good enough to win. Fortunately, Rockies gave him enough run support to win Friday. Gray struck out the side in the first inning, then gave up two runs in the second, but after that, no one else reached third base. After allowing 11 runs in his first two starts this season, he has yielded just four runs in the last 20 innings. Gray will look to keep it going in his next start Thursday versus the Cardinals.

Teheran (0-4) pitched well enough to win, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits over seven innings but lost against to the Royals 5-1 on Friday.

The right-hander hasn't allowed more than one run in four straight outings, yet he is still searching for his first victory. The Royals scored an unearned run in the first and then added an earned run in the next frame, and that was all they needed. Atlanta is scoring an average of two runs per game with Teheran on the hill, which is the third-lowest run support for a starter in the league. Hopefully he can get some more run support in his next start Wednesday against the Pirates.

Finnegan allowed three runs on four hits, walking five and striking out four, but lasted just four innings in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia on Friday night.

Finnegan (1-2) has an attractive ceiling, but he has to throw strikes for his best stuff to play up. He needed 85 pitches (just 43 for strikes) and only managed 4-of-19 first pitch strikes in this one so he pitched behind in the count throughout the contest. He'll try to be more efficient in his next start at home against cross-state rival Cleveland.

Glasnow struggled Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and a season-high five walks in five innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.

He threw only 50 of 98 pitches for strikes. Glasnow has now walked three batters or more in seven starts. His inconsistent control could push Jamison Taillon ahead of him in the race to be recalled by Pittsburgh.