MLB Player News

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom was stuck with a loss Thursday, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings while striking out four in his team's 8-2 defeat against the Nationals.

deGrom (2-3) took a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning but saw three runs cross the plate on just two walks, an error and a single, along with a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout. He then left the sixth inning with two more runs home and two men on base, and came close to being charged with another before Ryan Zimmerman was thrown out at home on a flyout.

deGrom owns a 3.34 ERA and 23:7 K:BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Orioles Wednesday.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg picked up a win Thursday, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven in his team's 8-2 victory over the Mets.

Strasburg (2-2) fell behind by giving up two runs in the second inning but was otherwise solid, and his offense racked up three runs in the third inning to take the lead, one the team would not relinquish.

Strasburg owns a 4.60 ERA and 30:8 K:BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings through five starts. He's slated to face the Marlins Tuesday.

After Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright underwent surgery Thursday morning to repair a torn Achilles, general manager John Mozeliak said the team expects Wainwright to make a full recovery, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"Everybody I've spoken to is expecting a full recovery," Mozeliak said. "He's young and he's healthy. People usually come back from this and do well. The doctors feel, that his age, he'll recover fine."

Wainwright, 33, is expected to need 9-12 months to make a full recovery, which Mozeliak said was the initial diagnosis.

"No surprises," Mozeliak said, "which probably was the best news. [The doctors] didn't have to use any extra material to reattach the tendon, so now it's rest and recovery for probably the next six-to-eight weeks."

He added that he hopes Wainwright can be ready for spring training next season.

"The message right now is just to be patient," Mozeliak said.

The Cardinals officially purchased the contract of left-hander Tim Cooney and optioned catcher Cody Stanley down to Triple-A Memphis. Adam Wainwright, who had season-ending Achilles surgery, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, per the team's official website. He's expected to return in 10-12 months, per USA Today.

Cooney will get the start Thursday afternoon against the Phillies. He was 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in three starts (17 2/3 innings pitched) for Memphis this season. He won a Pacific Coast League-best 14 games last season.

The Braves are convinced there's something wrong with ace-to-start-the-year Julio Teheran. But the right-hander insists it's not physical.

"If there's anything wrong with my arm, I wouldn't want to be out there and do something to make it worse," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Fredi Gonzalez and pitching coach Roger McDowell met on Wednesday with Teheran, who assured them he's healthy. Gonzalez believes his primary problem is pitch selection. And he plans on Teheran turned around in that area.

"He manages his fastball, both sides of the plate, elevates it and sinks it and his other stuff is off the fastball," Gonzalez said. "For whatever reason in the last couple starts he's doing it the other way around. (Thursday) when he throws his side (session) he's got to get back to that: four-seam (fastball), two-seam and locate his fastball and pitch off of his fastball."

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke needed 110 pitches to get through six innings Wednesday but was able to earn the win in his team's 7-3 victory over the Giants.

Spotted to a 4-1 after the end of the first inning thanks to three Dodgers home runs, Greinke (4-0) gave up a home run of his own in the fourth but was able to make it through six innings to pick up a quality start. He gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

Greinke owns a 1.93 ERA and 27:7 K:BB ratio in 32 2/3 innings. He's slated to face the Brewers in Milwaukee Wednesday.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles took the loss Wednesday, giving up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and five walks in five innings while striking out one in his team's 9-1 defeat against the Diamondbacks.

After giving up a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, Lyles (2-2) issued his first home run of the season in the fifth inning to cap a five-run frame. It's the second time in his last three starts he's issued five walks.

Lyles owns a 4.25 ERA and 15:16 K:BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Diamondbacks again Tuesday, this time in Colorado.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez threw a bullpen session Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list on April 13 with right shoulder inflammation and elbow tightness, MLB.com reports.

"We'll see how he feels [Thursday] and move forward," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Wednesday. "He's been long-tossing so he's been ready for this."

Redmond would not speculate on if or when Alvarez would make a rehab start. The Marlins' Opening Day starter posted a 4.50 ERA and 5:1 K:BB ratio in 12 innings over his first two starts before hitting the disabled list.

The Phillies remain in no rush to deal ace Cole Hamels and closer Jonathan Papelbon as teams suffer rotation injuries around the league, MLB.com reports.

"What people don't understand is nobody is holding a gun to our head to trade a player," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday. "Typically, if a team wants a player they typically will try to go get that player. If you really wanted to make a trade with the Phillies or any other club you would be the aggressor."

Amaro has been in discussions with multiple teams about his players.

"We have continued dialogue with a lot of clubs on several fronts," he said.

Amaro is waiting until some team comes to him with the right deal for one of his two star pitchers.

"I have no mandate to trade players," he said. "These are not financial deals. These are baseball deals. That's the beauty of the flexibility our ownership group is giving us. This is really about doing baseball deals. We don't have to move money."

Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks took a loss Wednesday, allowing two earned runs on five hits and three walks in five innings while striking out six in his team's 8-1 defeat against the Pirates.

"I threw pretty well overall, to be honest with you. I had my sinker back, which is the No. 1 key I was working on this week, so I was happy with that," Hendricks said after the game, per MLB.com. "They just had a good approach tonight at the plate, honestly. Laid off some good pitches. That fifth inning just too many pitches, too many deep counts."

Hendricks (0-1) entered the game having issued just one walk in three starts but showed a little wildness Wednesday, and one of the runs he surrendered came on a bases-loaded free pass to Starling Marte. The Pirates were able to tack on four runs in the sixth inning, strengthening the chances that the starter would earn his first loss of the season.

Maddon can see Hendricks making progress despite Wednesday's poor results.

"We've talked about the peripherals. He's really not pitched all that badly," Maddon said. "I guess a lot of inherited runners have scored against him, and that really makes your numbers look worse. His WHIP is actually really good. I think he's throwing the ball well. I think it's a matter of time until it comes together in regard to results, but process-wise, we're really happy with him. He's been fine."

Hendricks owns a 5.23 ERA and 19:4 K:BB ratio in 20 2/3 innings. He's on track to face Cardinals in St. Louis Tuesday.