MLB Player News

Braves left-hander Alex Wood was not at his best in a start against the Mets on Friday. Wood pitched into the seventh inning, but gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six, as he inflated his ERA to 3.56 in the 5-3 loss.

Wood got into an early hole when he allowed a solo home run to Wilmer Flores in the second inning, and then a two-run shot to John Mayberry in the fourth. After the Braves scored a pair in the top of the fifth, Wood gave up another run in the each of the sixth and seventh innings.

Wood (4-4) has now lost in back-to-back starts following three straight victories. He'll look to turn things around in his next start, scheduled for Wednesday at home against the Red Sox.

Cubs starter Jason Hammel labored through five innings Friday, but wound up getting a no-decision when his team rallied in an eventual extra-inning loss. 

Hammel gave up seven hits and four runs, although only two of them were earned. He was all over the plate during his 103-pitch outing, striking out four and walking three. 

The five-inning outing was Hammel's shortest appearance since April 22, when he also gave up four runs in the same time frame. 

"I was just out of sync today," Hammel said, per MLB.com. "I wasn't on top of the baseball like I have been, and it cost me a lot of deep counts and basically I battled for five innings. The fact we had a chance to still be in it and win was nice because it could've been a lot worse."

Johnny Cueto had a steady, if not spectacular, start for the Reds on Friday, but he wasn't involved in the decision, as it took extra innings for Cincinnati to prevail over the Cubs. 

Cueto went seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He did strike out nine batters to remain among the top 10 in strikeouts in the NL. 

"He battled his tail off, as always," Reds manager Bryan Price said, per MLB.com. "He doesn't shy away from pitching in close games at all."

The Reds' ace has gone at least seven innings in four of his last five starts, but the four runs were the most he's allowed since a May 9 victory over the White Sox. 

The Cardinals announced Friday they have placed starter Lance Lynn on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain and recalled left-hander Tyler Lyons from Triple-A Memphis to make Lynn's start Saturday. 

Lynn experienced tightness in his forearm during last Sunday's start against the Dodgers and after treatment and exams, the Cardinals decided to place him on the DL. 

According to MLB.com, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said Lynn could have pitched through the injury but that the team wants to be cautious. Lynn was 4-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 12 starts this season for the Cardinals, who have been hit hard by injuries this season. 

Stephen Strasburg, who has been sidelined with a trapezius sprain since May 30, threw a live batting practice session for the Nationals on Friday, another positive step in his recovery from the injury, per MLB.com. 

Earlier in the week, Strasburg proclaimed himself fine after throwing a bullpen session and manager Matt Williams indicated the BP might be the final stage before sending Strasburg out on a rehab assignment. 

Strasburg is 3-5 with a 6.55 ERA in 10 starts this season, and had allowed 16 runs in his last 13 innings before heading to the DL. 

Dillon Gee is headed back to the Mets rotation for at least one start, as the team announced Friday he will start Sunday against the Braves. Noah Syndergaard, who was scheduled to start Sunday, has been pushed back to Monday against the Blue Jays.

Matt Harvey is now the probable pitcher for Tuesday, and he is expected to be followed in the rotation by Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Jacob deGrom.

The Mets are going to use a "light" six-man rotation, meaning they will slot in Gee when they can, according to ESPN.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson once again faced the question Thursday on why starting pitcher prospect Steven Matz isn't in the major-league rotation yet, despite continued success in the minors.

"He continues to pitch at (Triple-A) Las Vegas and if you've noticed, his innings have been cut back a little bit," Alderson said, per NJ.com. "So there's a little bit of management going on that that level as well which is easier to do frankly than it might be here. So there are a couple of different things going on but he's going to benefit from the experience."

Alderson wouldn't say if the Mets would make room in the rotation for Matz, once the team deems him ready for the majors. 

"We'll address that when the time comes," he said.

Matz is 6-4 with a 1.94 ERA through 12 outings (11 starts) for Triple-A Vegas. The 2009 second-round pick is 23-20 with a 2.24 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in his career.

Reds starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen git roughed up during his team's 6-3 loss to the Cubs on Thursday.

Lorenzen threw 4 1/3 innings, but allowed five earned runs and three walks in the loss. His command was spotty, but he was able to zone in occasionally as he did manage to strike out six batters. 

Lorenzen (1-2) has a 5.23 ERA in 32 2/3 innings this season.

Bravers right-hander Julio Teheran was left with a no-decision in his start against the Padres on Thursday. Teheran pitched seven innings, and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, while walking three and striking out seven.

The performance lowered Teheran's ERA to 4.78, but it's the third time in his last four starts that he's given up at least four runs. Teheran got into an early hole when he gave up an RBI single in the top of the first. 

Then, after the Braves took a 4-1 lead, Teheran gave up three runs in the eighth to tie the game. He took the no-decision as the Padres got the win in extra innings.

"I don't think he ran out of gas; he just got himself in some trouble," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, per MLB.com. "I think that's the third start in a row, going back to San Francisco, that we can't get him through an inning there late in the game when we needed to."

Teheran will try for better results his next time out, scheduled for Tuesday against the Red Sox in Boston.

Dodgers reliever Juan Nicasio had his relief appearance cut short Wednesday against the Diamondbacks due to a cracked nail on the middle finger of his right hand, per MLB.com.

"We knew that he had torn a little bit of that nail, but they had been working on it and he said he felt good," manager Don Mattingly said. "The fastball was coming out fine, but he couldn't throw the breaking ball. You can't be out there without all your weapons. It's hard enough with all of them."

Nicasio said he has been dealing with the nail issue for about a week.

"The last three games it's bothered me a little bit," Nicasio said. "Hopefully once we go to San Diego [on Friday], I think it'll be OK."