MLB Player News

Marlins pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was ejected for the first time in his career Thursday night against Milwaukee.

DeSclafani plunked Milwaukee slugger Carlos Gomez in the elbow, which prompted the ejection by home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg. He tossed six pitches and did not retire a batter before the ejection. DeSclafani owns a 7.14 ERA over 29 innings.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto turned in a fantastic performance Thursday against the Cardinals. 

Cueto allowed three hits over eight scoreless innings. He struck out seven and walked one during the outing. Cueto didn't give up his first hit until the third inning. He put two men on during the inning, but managed to work his way out of the jam. Cueto gave up his final hit in the fourth inning. Over the next four innings, Cueto tossed four perfect innings.

With the win, Cueto improved to 18-8. He'll take on the Cubs in his next start.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn took a hard luck loss Thursday against the Reds.

Lynn allowed one run on three hits over eight innings. He struck out six and walked one during the outing. Lynn was exceptional during the appearance, tossing seven scoreless frames to open the game. He gave up his only run in the eighth inning. After a walk and a single, Lynn gave up a run on a force out. He was able to escape the inning without giving up any more runs.

Despite the strong start, Lynn couldn't pick up a win. The Cardinals were powerful to score against Johnny Cueto. With the loss, Lynn dropped to 15-9. He'll take on the Brewers in his next start.

Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks had a rough game Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Hendricks gave up four runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two during the outing. A sac fly was responsible for the first run of the game against Hendricks. He really ran into trouble during his final inning. After two singles led to another run, Hendricks was able to record two outs. With a man on second, another single brought in the third run against Hendricks. He then walked the next batter, and gave up an RBI-double, making the score 4-0. 

With the loss, Hendricks dropped to 6-2. He’ll take on the Reds in his next start. 

Pirates pitcher Vance Worley earned a win Wednesday, giving up three earned runs on four hits and two walks in five innings while striking out four in his team's 6-3 victory over the Phillies.

Worley (7-4) wasn't hit hard Wednesday, with the Phillies scoring a run on a second-inning single and two more on a single in the fourth inning. The Pirates came back from a 3-1 deficit in the fifth to give the starter the lead. Worley owns a 3.18 ERA and 70:22 K:BB ratio in 96 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Red Sox Tuesday.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg took a loss Wednesday, giving up three earned runs on seven hits in six innings while striking out eight in his team's 6-2 defeat against the Braves.

Strasburg (11-11) pitched four scoreless innings before surrendering a solo home run in the fifth, and the Braves were able to tack two more runs on in his sixth and final frame. On a positive note, he didn't walk a batter for the third straight start. Strasburg owns a 3.46 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 223:40 K:BB ratio in 195 innings. He's scheduled to face the Braves again Monday.

Clint Hurdle has indicated that Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton is more likely to return as a potential starter than as a reliever. The team, however, has not ruled out the possibility of using him out of the bullpen.

Morton, who has been out since Aug. 15 with a sports hernia, appears to be closing in on a full recovery. He threw five innings and 86 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday in Philadelphia. Hurdle and his staff will discuss his future role Monday.

"It needs to be asked," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The other things with Charlie is the preparation just to go out and pitch. He's not a guy in the bullpen like [Jared] Hughes and a number of others who's going to be ready in nine pitches. It would be a challenge at the end of an inning to get him up and have him ready by the start of the next because he's started for such a long volume of games."

Morton indeed has started all 25 games in which he has pitched this season. He's 5-12 with a 3.84 ERA.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley took a loss Tuesday, lasting just two innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits and four walks and striking out one in his team's 5-1 defeat against the Giants.

Miley (7-11) walked in a run with the bases loaded twice, once in the first inning and once in the second, ensuring his night would be a short one. The Diamondbacks have lost each of his seven starts since the beginning of August. Miley owns a 4.28 ERA and 169:68 K:BB ratio in 185 innings. He's scheduled to face the Giants again Monday.

Cubs pitcher Neil Ramirez was hung with a loss Tuesday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning and striking out one in his team's 9-2 defeat against the Blue Jays.

Ramirez (2-2) entered the game with one out and a man on in the seventh and promptly gave up a single and a walk to load the bases. After striking out the next batter, he surrendered a bases-clearing double to put his team behind for good. Despite the bad outing, Ramirez owns a 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 50:15 K:BB ratio in 39 innings.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha took a loss Tuesday, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks in four-plus innings while striking out three in his team's 9-5 defeat against the Reds.

Wacha (5-6) surrendered a two-run home run in the first inning and an RBI double to the opposing pitcher in the fourth. He then put the first three guys of the fifth on base, with one reaching on an error, before exiting the game. Wacha owns a 3.14 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 89:30 K:BB ratio in 97 1/3 innings. He'll look to bounce back Sunday against the Rockies.