MLB Player News

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel worked eight scoreless innings in Chicago's 4-0 win over the Pirates Monday. Hammel worked a nearly perfect start, only allowing one baserunner to reach third base.

"It all comes off the fastball," Hammel said, per MLB.com. "If you can't locate the fastball, you're going to be in big trouble. For me, it's especially important. I have to use my tall frame and use the downhill plane — sinkerballers, we have to establish a strike zone first and then you get swings early after that. I just worked on getting glove side and making sure I’m in counts that will make me succeed."

In the fifth inning, Hammel allowed a single to Francisco Cervelli, then Jordy Mercer reached on an error, moving Cervelli to second. After a sacrifice got Cervelli to third, he was left stranded on a Josh Harrison strikeout, one of Hammel's seven in the game.

"He kept hammering the strike zone, getting the first hitter out," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He was in control of the game."

Hammel, now 2-1, lowered his ERA to 3.55 on the year. He will look to keep rolling Sunday against the Brewers. 

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Monday that pitcher Adam Wainwright has been diagnosed with a torn Achilles in his left foot, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright will undergo surgery Thursday and miss the remainder of the season, the team announced. He suffered the injury while stumbling out of the batter's box during an at-bat in his last start. The recovery time for the procedure is nine-to-12 months, and the team is optimistic about his return.

Wainwright's season comes to a close after four starts. He went 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 18:3 K:BB ratio in 25 innings.

The Cardinals are expected to look internally to fill the rotation hole the injury presents. Marco Gonzales and Jaime Garcia are two long-term options to enter the rotation, but both are currently dealing with injuries.

With starter Adam Wainwright likely done for the season with an Achilles injury, the Cardinals will initially look at internal candidates to replace the pitcher, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said that to fill Wainwright's spot in the rotation Thursday, the team will look to either lefties Tyler Lyons and Tim Cooney or righthander Zach Petrick . 

That would seem to eliminate the Cardinals making a move for a veteran pitcher like the Phillies' Cole Hamels, at least for now. 

"If you get into May and early June and you don't feel like the internal options are the solution you were hoping for, then you might have to look outside," Mozeliak said. 

Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin continues to progress his way back from Tommy John surgery last season. The righty missed the entire 2014 season with the injury and is scheduled to make his second simulated game Tuesday before throwing three innings in an extended spring training appearances May 4, according to MLB.com.

If all goes well, Corbin is expected to build his stamina to 90 pitches for a minor league start in mid-May. Manager Chip Hale is targeting June 5 for Corbin to return, according to the report.

"I was just looking at the schedule," Hale said. "[Corbin's] going to throw that simulated on Tuesday. It looks like the first week of June he'll be back pitching on our club."

Corbin can't wait to get back with the team.

"I'm excited, yeah I am," said Corbin. "I'm feeling great. Just can't wait to get back. It has been awhile. It's been 14 months on our calendar since the surgery on Monday. So it will be about 15 months when I come back."

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn was rocked in a loss Sunday, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits and one walk in five innings while striking out six in his team's 6-3 defeat against the Brewers.

Lynn (1-2) was facing a Brewers lineup without Carlos Gomez, Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett but couldn't find success, giving up three runs on a triple and a home run in the third inning and then allowing three more runs during a fifth inning that featured three doubles.

Lynn's first rough outing of the season gives him a 3.63 ERA and 26:7 K:BB ratio in 22 1/3 innings. He's slated to face the Pirates at home Friday.

Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was stuck with his first loss of the season Sunday, giving up five runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks in five innings while striking out five in his team's 5-2 defeat against the Cubs.

DeSclafani (2-1) surrendered a solo home run in the second inning then watched the Cubs plate four runners in the fourth as his defense committed two errors in the inning. The Reds starter has yet to surrender more than two earned runs in any of his four starts while posting a 1.04 ERA and 21:6 K:BB ratio in 26 innings. He's slated to face the Braves in Atlanta Friday.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a bullpen session Sunday for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury, MLB.com reports.

"He throws where he wants," manager Don Mattingly said. "It's like he hasn't missed a beat. It's a matter of getting him strong. He didn't feel anything, he's had no problem. The process is going good and we'll let it play out."

Ryu hasn't pitched since March 17 due to a shoulder impingement. He'll throw again Tuesday and remains without a timetable to return to the team. As Ryu will essentially have to use his rehab assignment to build up his arm strength, it's possible he won't make his season debut until late May.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel will remain the scheduled starter for Monday's series-opening game agains the Pirates, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Inclement weather caused Saturday's scheduled game to be postponed, with scheduled starter Jake Arrieta being pushed to Sunday. Travis Wood, who was initially scheduled to start Sunday, will now make his start Tuesday against the Pirates, with Kyle Hendricks following him for the series finale Wednesday.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will see a doctor Monday after exiting Saturday's start with an Achilles injury, but the expectation is that he'll miss the remainder of the season, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports.

The Cardinals placed Wainwright on the 15-day DL Sunday with what's being called a low left ankle and Achilles injury. In his place, the team has recalled catcher Cody Stanley.

Wainwright appeared to suffer the injury during one of his own at-bats, stumbling out of the batter's box. The Cardinals announced that the pitcher suffered an ankle injury, and the pitcher himself said after the game that the injury was in the back of the ankle.

"Obviously, anytime you're dealing with an Achilles, it's not good, whether it's a strain or a tear," general manager John Mozeliak said, per MLB.com. "Either way, he's missing time. I'll wait until he sees the doctor tomorrow before making a [definitive] statement [about how long he'll be out]. But clearly, it's not good news."

Wainwright is 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 18:3 K:BB ratio in 25 innings. With Jaime Garcia (shoulder) and Triple-A starter Marco Gonzales (pectoral) still on the mend, the team could turn to Triple-A pitcher Tyler Lyons or long-reliever Carlos Villanueva to fill Wainwright's rotation spot for the immediate future, with Garcia or Gonzales likely to enter the rotation when healthy if Wainwright is dealing with a season-ending injury.

"I just know that we have different guys who are ready to take whatever responsibility comes, whatever role comes," manager Mike Matheny said. "When I say we need someone to step up, there's going to be an opportunity for someone to start. And there's going to be some opportunities for leadership, too. Even during this DL time, I know Adam is still going to be around. But it's different every time you take someone away or add someone. We have to make sure that things are getting taken care of, work is getting done and leadership is there. We have all the pieces to make that happen."

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright was forced to leave Saturday's game against the Brewers after stumbling out of the batter's box and needing assistance to get off the field, according to MLB.com. Wainwright suffered a left ankle injury and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to St. Louis, the team announced.

Wainwright allowed three hits in four scoreless innings in the game and added four strikeouts to his totals.

"What I've been told is don't even think anything until the doctor tells you what it is," he said to MLB.com. "I've not gotten my hopes up or down. I'm just going to try to be a positive influence here today and tomorrow and see what happens. … Everything right now is just speculation."

Wainwright did not have significant swelling even though his ankle was in a walking boot.

"I thought I got hit by something," said Wainwright, who confirmed it was the back of his ankle. "If you look at the replay, I get out of the box and I looked back to think the catcher's mask must of hit me or the bat must've hit me, something must've hit me."