MLB Player News

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard fell to 1-2 for the season after losing Friday night's game 4-1 to the Pirates. 

Syndergaard, the heralded 22-year-old, allowed four runs — three earned — in six innings of work. He gave up seven hits, struck out five and didn't surrender any walks. He now holds an ERA of 3.63 this season. 

After giving up five walks in his first two starts, it's a good sign that Syndergaard was able to prevent any from occurring against the Pirates. 

Though his stat line wasn't the best, his performance was solid enough for manager Terry Collins to keep him in the rotation. 

“Right now, he’s not going anywhere," Collins said, via the Wall Street Journal. 

Syndergaard's next start is projected for May 27 against the Phillies. 

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed only six hits in 111 pitches during Friday night's 4-1 victory over the Mets. 

Cole gave up one run though it was unearned. It was a result of a Josh Harrison throwing error. Other than that, Cole pitched a great game, striking out 10 batters while walking just one. He went 8 1/3 innings. 

"He brought energy. He brought focus to the game," manager Clint Hurdle said, per MLB.com. "It was a good shot in the arm for us."

Cole has had an exceptional start to the season as he's allowed only 13 earned runs in 48 2/3 innings. He'd posted eight strikeouts three times this year with his total of 10 on Friday being a season-high. 

Cole now boasts a 2.05 ERA for the season. 

His next start is projected for May 27 against the Marlins. 

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said the club is not sure when pitcher Neil Ramirez will be able to return to the team, reports CSN Chicago.

"Status quo," he said. "Nothing awful, nothing a lot better, pretty much still in that limbo state."

Ramirez is on the disabled list and he has not pitched since April 15 because of shoulder inflammation.

The Rockies will call up starting pitcher David Hale from Triple-A Albuquerque to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Giants, according to MLB.com. Christian Bergman is not available to make the start after warming up Wednesday and pitching in relief Thursday.

Hale, who last started May 17, is 0-3 with a 6.93 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in five starts for Albuquerque. He has 21 strikeouts and 13 walks in 24 2/3 innings.

Clint Hurdle has announced that the impending return to the mound of Charlie Morton has Pirates right-hander Vance Worley banished to the bullpen "for now."

Worley did not earn his rotation spot, giving up 49 hits in 41 innings and compiling a 4.17 ERA. He has allowed 11 runs on 30 hits in his last 20 innings pitched.

Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton has been named the starter for Monday against Miami, MLB.com has reported

Morton has been sidelined since last September and has been rehabbing from labrum surgery.

He was tearing it up at Triple-A Indianapolis to the tune of a 2-1 record and 1.33 ERA. He walked just six and fanned 22 in 20 1/3 innings.

Mets pitcher Dillon Gee (groin) is scheduled arrive in Pittsburgh Saturday and is expected to be activated from the disabled list shortly after joining the clubhouse. Manager Terry Collins told reporters that a decision on Gee's role has been made, hinting that both Gee and top prospect Noah Syndergaard could get starts in some form of a six-man rotation, per ESPN.

Gee allowed only one earned run over 10 1/3 rehab innings. He went 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts at the time he was placed on the disabled list. Syndergaard has a 3.18 ERA over his first two career starts. He will seek his second career win on Friday.

Braves starting pitcher Alex Wood was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Brewers due to a stomach virus. Eric Stults will start in his absence.

Wood headed into Friday's start with a 1-1 record and 3.50 ERA in three May starts. Although, he has struggled at home this season, going 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts.

Stults, who was moved to the bullpen earlier this week, is 1-4 with a 5.36 ERA in seven starts. The Brewers are batting just .201 against lefties in 2015, which is the second-lowest average in the majors. 

The Nationals activated pitcher Casey Janssen from the 15-day disabled list, per Nationals.com. 

Janssen has been out all season with shoulder inflammation. He made six minor league rehab appearances in Class A and Double-A. 

The team also placed LHP Sammy Solis on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 18. Solis is suffering from shoulder inflammation. He is 1-0 with a 5.00 ERA this season. 

Could the Marlins have rushed right-hander Henderson Alvarez back from the disabled list? Alvarez returned from the DL last weekend after suffering elbow tightness and shoulder inflammation, and had a rough start on Saturday against the Braves. But the Marlins needed him to come back with fellow starter Jarred Cosart placed on the DL with a bout of vertigo.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports that Alvarez has apparently been pitching with a 90-percent torn UCL for years, but has been able to get by without needing surgery.

Last year, Alvarez made 30 starts for the Marlins, and finished with a very impressive 2.65 ERA. It is worth wondering if Alvarez was in fact ready to return from his DL stint, or if the return will have any long-term ramifications.