MLB Player News

Reds pitcher Brandon Finnegan (1-2) surrendered eight hits, three earned runs and two walks in five innings in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Nationals. He also struck out three. 

The young southpaw suffered his second consecutive loss, and has now surrendered at least one homer in each of his three starts in 2015.

The 83 pitches he threw Monday were a season high, but Finnegan managed to only get 47 of them in the strike zone, and induced only five swings-and misses overall.

Finnegan certainly offers plenty of potential, with a mid-90s fastball as part of his repertoire. He figures to get one more opportunity to take the mound in 2015, likely this coming Saturday against the Pirates.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright (Achilles) threw another simulated game Monday, Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest reports.

Wainwright continues to progress in his recovery from an Achilles issue, and it's expected that he will pitch in relief at some point this week. With Carlos Martinez (shoulder) out for the season, it would be beneficial if Wainwright could start in the postseason, but it seems more likely he will be limited to relief.

Dodgers SP Zack Greinke (calf) has been cleared to start Monday's game against the Giants, the Associated Press reports.

After the calf issue forced him to miss his previous start, the NL Cy Young front-runner endured no problems during his bullpen session over the weekend, clearing the way for him to take the hill again.

Greinke will have a chance at reducing the Dodgers' magic number for clinching a playoff spot to one, if he's able to put the clamps on the Giants.

Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood struggled Sunday, giving up eight runs on 11 hits and two walks through 5 1/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Rockies.

Wood had been on a mini tear as of late, giving up just two runs and posting a 11:0 K:BB in his previous 14 1/3 innings, a trend which he appeared to carry over through three innings against the Rockies. The wheels fell off in the fourth inning, however, as the 24-year-old gave up four runs --- three from a Nolan Arenado home run --- and was removed shortly thereafter.

While nothing has been announced, Wood's latest debacle may have given Brett Anderson the No. 3 spot in the postseason rotation.

Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola will not pitch again in 2015, but should have no innings limit in 2016, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.

The lack of a 2016 innings limit isn't a surprise, as Nola went from 171.2 innings pitched in 2014 between college and the minors to 187 innings in 2015 across the minors and the big league club. He'll wrap up an encouraging rookie year in which he threw 77.2 innings with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.197 WHIP. Whatever the Phillies' long-term plan is, the 22-year-old is likely a key part of them.

Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Phillies will decide Sunday if rookie starting pitcher Aaron Nola will make another start this season, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Nola, who threw just 67 pitches in his start Saturday, would like to keep pitching. He is up to 187 total innings this season between the majors and the minors.

Marlins starter Justin Nicolino (4-4) surrendered only two hits and an earned run over seven innings in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Braves. He also walked three.

The rookie southpaw continues to demonstrate considerable promise, with Saturday's effort serving as an impressive rebound from the worst start of his young career. After surrendering seven earned runs in a Sept. 20 appearance against the Nationals, Nicolino was highly efficient Saturday in neutralizing the Braves lineup over seven frames, throwing only 80 pitches during that span.

He also did not surrender a homer after giving up at least one in his last three starts. While his 2.82 K/9 rate is exceedingly below average, Nicolino has helped his cause and limited damage by inducing double-digit ground balls in seven out of his 11 starts. Nicolino will look to close out his largely successful rookie campaign with a strong outing in his final start.

Braves starter Julio Teheran (10-8) surrendered six hits, two earned runs and four walks in six innings in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Marlins.

Teheran was blown up in an Aug. 30 start against the Yankees, giving up eight earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. Since then, the young right-hander has posted five consecutive quality starts, although he only has a 1-1 record over that span to show for it. Teheran's control continues to plague him-- Saturday's start was the third one in September in which he has surrendered four walks--but he has posted a sparkling 1.91 ERA over his five appearances this month. The 24-year-old will look to close the season on a positive note in his final trip to the mound later in the coming week.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg was dominant again in a no-decision Saturday, striking out 13 Phillies while allowing just one run on three hits and a walk over eight innings.

His final line on the season won't look so bad, as Strasburg now has a 3.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 148:25 K:BB ratio in 121 1/3 innings, but his 5.16 ERA in 13 starts before the All-Star break likely helped ruin a lot of fantasy seasons, not to mention the Nats' playoff hopes. He'll get one more chance to pad those numbers Thursday in Atlanta.

Phillies rookie starter Aaron Nola tossed five shutout innings in a no-decision Saturday, giving up six hits without walking a batter and striking out five.

He threw just 67 pitches as the Phillies keep a careful eye on the rookie's workload. If Nola makes one more start this season it will come Friday, at home against the Marlins.