MLB Player News

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen session on Friday at PNC Park, per The Washington Post.

Strasburg is on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique injury.

The Dodgers recalled relief pitcher Josh Ravin from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed starting pitcher Zack Greinke on the paternity list on Friday, per the Los Angeles Times.

Ravin tossed seven innings with Los Angeles earlier this season, going 2-1 with a 6.43 ERA.

Greinke is not with the team, instead, he is with his family as he awaits the birth of his first child. He is eligible to return off the paternity list on Saturday.

Pirates relief pitcher Rob Scahill threw a light bullpen session on Thursday, as he continues to work his way froma forearm injury, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Scahill also threw some pitches from flat groung earlier this week in Kansas City.

“It’s all loosened up, so it’s all good,” Scahill said.

Scahill will throw another bullpen session on Saturday before heading to the Pirates' facility in Florida for the beginning of a rehab assignment.

“That way it’s a little bit easier to get my throwing and stuff in,” Scahill said. “If they want me to throw a [simulated] game or something, then none of these guys have to stand in. It can just be against some minor leaguers. Do that maybe once or twice and then hopefully out on rehab after that.”

The Dodgers remain hopeful that star pitcher Zack Greinke will be able to make a start some time this weekend, according to the Orange County Register.

Greinke, who is in the midst of a 43 2/3 scoreless innings streak, is not with the team because he is with his family awaiting the birth of his first child. He was scheduled to throw on Friday.

“At this point, we’re hopeful that he’ll pitch here this weekend,” manager Don Mattingly said. “You never know what might happen with the birth of a child. We’ll see how it goes. We feel there’s a potential of that.”

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw was simply magnificent against the Mets on Thursday. Kershaw tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout, blanking the Mets 3-0. Kershaw did not walk a batter and struck out 11. He needed just 104 pitches (79 strikes) to go the distance, as he completely overmatched a poor Mets offense.

Kershaw (8-6) carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, but Curtis Granderson ended that thought with a lead-off single. That was a mere blip on the radar for Kershaw, who has now thrown three consecutive shutouts.

He has struck out a whopping 38 batters over his last three starts, without issuing a single walk over that stretch. Kershaw has become the first pitcher since 1900 to have three straight starts of 10 or more strikeouts with no runs allowed, according to Elias.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez is still being bothered by a shoulder issue and he will undergo further tests, reports the Miami Herald.

Alvarez is on the disabled list due to right shoulder inflammation. He has not pitched since May 22, but he was on a rehab assignment at Class A. 

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke is not with the team and it is unlikely that he makes his scheduled start on Friday against the Mets, according to the team.

Greinke and his wife are expecting their first child. He is also torching every team he faces as of late -- he hasn't allowed an earned run in an eye-popping 43 2/3 innings.

Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray was due for a dud. And he got one against the wrong mound opponent Wednesday.

Matched up against sensational Marlins left-hander Jose Fernandez, he gave up four earned runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. Ray walked three and fanned four.

His failures began in the second inning when a double and walk were followed by a J.R. Realmuto double, sacrifice fly and Fernandez double that made it 3-0. An Ichiro Suzuki triple and Martin Prado single tallied two more and all but ended his night.

Ray now owns a season-high 2.72 ERA.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn produced a quality start Wednesday, but he received a no-decision for his effort during the 3-2 win over the White Sox.

Lynn allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He also struck out eight and walked one. His ERA now stands at 2.80.

Lynn has earned a quality start in five of his last six starts

The Cubs are offering standout prospect Javier Baez and established shortstop Starlin Castro in an attempt to land Phillies prized pitcher Cole Hamels, a team executive has told ESPN.com senior baseball writer Jayson Stark.

Stark added, however, that the Phillies are not enthralled with either player. But the Cubs remain determined in their efforts to trade for Hamels.

"I don't think they'll be in the rental market," the executive who has spoken to the Cubs told Stark. "So the value to them, with Hamels, is the three years [left on his contract]. This isn't just about selling out to go for the wild card. It's about getting ahead of [the free-agent ace market] this winter."