MLB Player News

Cardinals young right-hander Carlos Martinez had uneven results in his start against the Reds on Wednesday. Martinez allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out four, throwing 53 of his 93 pitches for strikes. He was left with a no-decision, as the Cardinals won the game 4-3 in extra innings.

Martinez left the game trailing 3-0, but the Cardinals were able to rally back and tie the game, before winning it in the 13th inning. 

He lowered his ERA a tick to 2.57 with the outing, as he was let down by a key error in a two-run third inning. This was a slight improvement over Martinez' previous start, in which he allowed five runs over 10 innings against the Rockies. 

Still, Martinez is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA six outings (five starts).

The contusion that forced Braves starter Williams Perez on the disabled list for five weeks apparently did more than hurt his left foot. It apparently also caused a problem on the mound.

Perez has not been the same since coming back. He was lousy again Wednesday against San Francisco, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits in six innings with two walks and two strikeouts for his second straight defeat.

His troubles began in the second inning on a hit batsman and three singles, including a two-run job by Kelby Tomlinson. They continued with an RBI single by Tomlinson in the fourth and concluded with a two-run double by Matt Duffy in the seventh that proved to be the knockout blow.

Perez has given up 14 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings since coming off the DL. His 4.48 ERA is at its highest point since May 20.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Chase Anderson will rejoin the rotation this weekend against the Reds, Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa told MLB.com. Anderson has been on the disabled list since July 19 due to a triceps injury.

The Pirates have shuffled their rotation for a three-game series this weekend against the Dodgers. 

Gerrit Cole will still start the series opener Friday, but Francisco Liriano and Charlie Morton swapped places. Liriano will now pitch Saturday and Morton has been pushed back to Sunday.

Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin retired just four of the 12 batters he faced, Tuesday against Washington. 

Corbin allowed six hits, including a home run, and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. He surrendered three runs. 

Arizona was able to rally, after Corbin left the game, allowing him to escape with a no-decision. 

Corbin has now allowed six home runs in his six starts. 

Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work in Los Angeles' 6-2 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday. Wood recorded eight strikeouts and just two walks in his Dodgers' debut. 

Wood ran into problems in the third when he allowed an RBI double to Odubel Herrera. Wood then loaded the bases in the seventh before getting pulled for Joel Peralta. He then allowed a grand slam to Maikel Franco, plating three runs against Wood.

Wood, now 7-7, moved his ERA to 3.65 in 125 2/3 innings of work this season. He will look to bounce back Sunday against the Pirates.

Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani evened his record at 7-7 with a win over St. Louis on Tuesday. 

DeSclafani won his second straight decision and stretched his undefeated streak to three games. He allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings, his third straight start lasting at least six. 

DeSclafani struck out a season-high nine batters.

Pirates reliever Rob Scahill will start a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday, manager Clint Hurdle said, per MLB.com.

Scahill has been on the disabled list since June with forearm tightness. 

Scahill is scheduled to pitch two innings or 35 pitches for the Pirates' Gulf Coast League team. After that, he'll return to Pittsburgh to throw for the coaching staff on Monday, then make a second rehab appearance next week, pitching three innings or 50 pitches at Double-A Altoona.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg is set to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, the next step in his recovery from an oblique strain. Strasburg threw an impressive rehab start on Monday, striking out 11 batters in 5 2/3 innings with Triple-A Syracuse.

"I felt good. My stuff is there," Strasburg said, per CSN Washington DC. "Just try to keep doing the same things and working on the stuff I’ve been doing. It’s going in the right direction."

Strasburg came out of that start feeling good, and the Nationals will determine whether he needs another rehab start or if he's good to return from the DL, following his bullpen session on Wednesday.

"When you have 11 strikeouts you’re doing something right," manager Matt Williams said. "It shows command for getting ahead in the count. We rely on the people that see him pitch, as well, beyond the stat sheet. Command for his breaking ball as there. Changeup off the fastball was there. And the fastball sat at 95, 96 and touched 98, so that’s all positive things for him moving forward. It means he’s feeling good and he’s got no apprehension letting the ball go."

This season, Strasburg is 5-5 with a 5.16 ERA in 13 starts for the Nationals. He has been on the disabled list twice so far this season.

Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester will make his next start Friday against the Giants after his outing was cut short Monday due to rain. Kyle Hendricks, who was slated to start Friday, will pitch Saturday.