MLB Player News

Before the Red Sox ended up acquiring starting pitcher Wade Miley in the offseason, one other team thought the left-hander might be a good fit for the AL East, according to WEEI.com. The Blue Jays also had siginificant interest in trading for Miley, a major-league source said.

However, the Blue Jays opted not to make the deal when the Diamondbacks asked for starting pitcher Daniel Norris -- who is considered the team's top prospect by Baseball America and MLB.com -- in return.

The Diamondbacks traded Miley to the Red Sox on Dec. 12 for Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and Raymel Flores. Miley is 1-3 with a 7.15 ERA in his first five starts with Boston.

Diamondbacks starter Chase Anderson allowed no runs, two hits, walked one and struck out seven in six innings of work Sunday for a no-decision against the Dodgers.

Adrian Gonzalez and Juan Uribe each singled once off Anderson.

Anderson’s outing was a complete turnaround from his last start, where he gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Anderson returns to the mound Friday against the Padres.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha didn't factor into the decision Sunday, giving up just five hits and two walks in 6 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out two in his team's 3-2 win in 14 innings.

Wacha had his first rough outing of the year in his last start but was still able to pull out a win, and he then bounced back with his first scoreless performance of the season Sunday. He gave up a leadoff single in the seventh inning but was able to record back-to-back outs on a sacrifice and flyout before coming out of the game with 100 pitches to his credit, though he was unable to win his fifth straight start to open the year after the Pirates tied the game in the ninth inning.

Wacha owns a 1.93 ERA and 18:8 K:BB ratio in 32 2/3 innings. He'll square off with the Pirates in Pittsburgh Friday.

Pirates pitcher Vance Worley wasn't a factor in the decision Sunday, giving up just one earned run on four hits and one walk in six innings while striking out five in his team's 3-2 loss in 14 innings.

Worley pitched well for the third time in his last four starts, with the only damage coming on a solo home run by Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter in the fourth inning. That was enough to keep him from a win, as the Cardinals managed to hold the Pirates scoreless until a Jung Ho Kang ninth-inning home run tied the game.

"This was my first time [throwing to] Stewart for more than one batter, and we had a good talk before we went out to play catch," Worley said. "We had a good game plan. We knew that against this lineup, we had to mix it up and not be predictable."

Worley owns a 3.90 ERA and 23:10 K:BB ratio in 30 innings. He'll square off with the Cardinals again Saturday, this time at home.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel wasn't a factor in the decision Sunday, allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk in six innings while striking out four in his team's 5-3 loss to the Brewers.

Hammel served up a solo home run in the second inning and followed it up by giving up a run in the third and another in the fourth, but his offense was able to bail him out by scoring two runs in the fifth. It's the second straight quality start of the season for Hammel, who has allowed three earned runs or less in four of his five starts.

"My feel wasn't there," Hammel said to MLB.com. "Today was a battle, grind it out, and try to keep it close. ... I kept us in it but it could've been a lot better."

Hammel owns a 3.73 ERA and 27:2 K:BB ratio in 31 1/3 innings. He'll square off with the Brewers again Saturday, this time in Milwaukee.

Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (labrum) made progress Saturday pitching in a simulated game at the organization's training complex and moved closer to rejoining the team's rotation, reports MLB.com. 

Morton, who's recovering from labrum surgery on Sept. 25, threw 93 pitches in a six-inning workout.

"Charlie threw all his pitches, and thought it went well," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Morton went 6-12 with a 3.72 ERA last season

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran earned a win Sunday, giving up just three hits and two walks in six scoreless innings while striking out six in his team's 5-0 shutout of the Reds.

Teheran (3-1) had struggled through three straight subpar outings since winning his first two starts of the season, but he was able to recapture success in a tough matchup against Johnny Cueto Sunday.

"My mindset coming in was to fight and really focus on this game," Teheran said to MLB.com. "I know that's something I didn't have a couple starts ago."

All three of the hits he allowed were singles, and at one point in the fourth and fifth innings he was able to ring up five straight batters on strikeouts.

"This was more of the Julio Teheran that we've seen in the past," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said after watching Teheran scatter three hits and notch six strikeouts.

Teheran owns a 3.82 ERA and 28:14 K:BB ratio in 33 innings. He'll square off with the Nationals on the road Saturday.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto took a loss Sunday, giving up five earned runs on nine hits and one walk in six innings while striking out two in his team's 5-0 defeat against the Braves.

Cueto (2-3) had allowed two runs or fewer in four of his first five starts coming into Sunday but couldn't find success against the Braves, who delivered an RBI double and two-run homer in the first inning to put the Reds starter in a quick hole. He then gave up another home run in the third inning before tacking on a fifth run in his sixth and final frame.

Cueto owns a 2.72 ERA and 40:6 K:BB ratio in 43 innings. He's slated to face the White Sox in Chicago Saturday.

Phillies pitcher Sean O'Sullivan (knee) will begin a rehab assigment with Class A Lakewood Thursday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

O'Sullivan threw 50 pitches during a simulated game Saturday and appears ready to take the next step, taking the mound for a start Thursday. He made just two starts this season before hitting the disabled list, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA and 7:3 K:BB ratio in 11 innings.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu will throw a second bullpen session on Sunday, per MLB.com. 

Ryu is on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. Manager Don Mattingly said Ryu would travel with the Dodgers on next week's road trip and throw to hitters.