MLB Player News

Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin worked seven shutout innings Saturday, scattering five hits while striking out five, to pick up his sixth win of the season.

It's his fifth straight quality start, and Corbin now has a scintillating 1.44 ERA, 0.989 WHIP and 25:2 K:BB ratio in 31.1 innings over that stretch. Corbin's next start will be a tough one though, on the road Thursday against the Dodgers in a matchup against Clayton Kershaw.

Mets starter Noah Syndergaard took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs on seven hits over six innings while striking out eight.

Two of those hits left the yard, and Syndergaard's 1.13 HR/9 rate is just about the only blemish on what's otherwise been a strong rookie campaign. His next start should come Friday in Cincinnati, although the Mets do keep juggling their rotation in an effort to limit the workloads of all their young arms.

Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff took a no-decision on Saturday against the Braves, giving up five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out five.

Eickhoff has now posted quality starts in five of his six trips to the mound in 2015. He has been in particularly impressive form in his last two contests, surrendering only one earned run and striking out 13 batters over his last 14 innings.

The 25-year-old right-hander also was able to successfully avoid the long ball Saturday for the first time since an Aug. 26 start against the Mets. Eickhoff's overall performance has served to provide hope for the future for a Phillies squad that has endured a forgettable 2015 season.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha took the loss Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over five innings while striking out seven against the Cubs.

This is now the third straight game in which Wacha has walked three or more batters, a strong hint that his career-high workload (172.1 innings on the season and counting) might be catching up to him. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at home against the Brewers, but with the Cardinals already having a playoff spot locked up, don't be surprised if the team tries to give Wacha a rest before the postseason begins.

Mets starter Jacob deGrom will be skipped in the rotation Tuesday with Logan Verrett getting the nod in his place, ESPN New York reports.

deGrom has a 6.41 ERA and .330 opponent batting average over his past five starts. The Mets believe that fatigue has resulted in a change in his release point, resulting in a loss in his normal pinpoint control, as his pitches have drifted up in the strike zone. The hope is that by skipping a start, it will relieve the fatigue and allow deGrom to close the season out strong.

Verrett started in place of Matt Harvey on Monday and now gets another opportunity to replace a core member of the team's rotation. He went five innings Monday and should be able to go longer if needed Tuesday.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson will receive the start Wednesday against the Dodgers, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. 

Anderson was temporarily dropped from the rotation after giving up five runs over two innings back on a Sept. 8 against the Giants, but starter Rubby De La Rosa's struggles versus the Dodgers this season will result in manager Chip Hale granting Anderson another opportunity.

The right-hander has been pummeled in eight second-half starts, producing a 6.08 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 40 frames.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson threw a four-inning simulated game on Friday and could make a start next week, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.

Anderson said that he is working on a cutter in his side work, which could diversify his repertoire. He threw his sim game on the same day that teammate Rubby De La Rosa took his regular turn, which could offer a tip about when Anderson would make his next start as manager Chip Hale previously suggested that De La Rosa may not make his next start against the Dodgers, against whom he has struggled.

If Anderson does face the Dodgers, it won't be an easy assignment, but it will be on the road in a more pitcher friendly ballpark than Chase Field.

Brewers starting pitcher Zach Davies (1-2) allowed three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four over six innings in Friday's loss to the Reds.

Davies notched his second quality start in four big-league outings, but has been a poor overall. The young right-hander has posted a 6.00 ERA in his four starts, largely due to an abysmal 5.14 BB/9 rate.

Reds starting pitcher Brandon Finnegan (4-0) gave up a run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings in Friday's win over the Brewers.

The Reds couldn't have asked for much more from Finnegan, who was making his first big-league start after 16 appearances out of the bullpen for Cincinnati and Kansas City this season. With the team looking to rest Raisel Iglesias, Finnegan may get a few more starts down the stretch.