MLB Player News

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom earned a win Tuesday, allowing just three hits in eight scoreless innings while striking out nine and walking none in his team's 2-0 victory over the Rockies.

deGrom (8-6) hasn't allowed an earned run in three straight starts, though he did surrender an unearned run in each of his previous two outings. Tuesday's win was the first time he's completed eight inning this season, and his nine strikeouts represent his third-best performance in 20 starts. deGrom owns a 2.62 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 121:39 K:BB ratio in 127 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Marlins Monday.

Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman was stuck with a loss Tuesday after allowing two earned runs on six hits in six innings and striking out one in his team's 2-0 defeat against the Mets.

Bergman (2-3) was outmatched by the opposing starter Tuesday, but he's managed to limit the opposition to two runs or less in each of his last three outings. He owns a 4.89 ERA and 17:9 K:BB ratio in 38 2/3 innings. Bergman is scheduled to face the Dodgers Monday.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez will start Friday's series opener against the Phillies, the Miami Herald reports.

Alvarez was scratched from Sunday's scheduled start with an oblique issue, but he completed a bullpen session Tuesday and appears ready to return. He owns a 2.88 ERA and 98:30 K:BB ratio in 159 1/3 innings.

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw put together another vintage performance, striking out eight over eight dominant innings to improve to 18-3 on the year. He allowed three runs -- one earned -- on three hits and two walks in a 9-4 victory. Of his 89 pitches, 64 were strikes.

Over his last three starts covering 24 innings, Kershaw has allowed only two earned runs. He has a 1.67 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP over 24 starts (177 1/3 innings). He'll make his next start Sunday at San Francisco.

Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne had a nightmare outing against the Dodgers on Monday, dropping to 3-6 on the year. He was shelled for seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 4 1/3 innings of a 9-4 defeat.

Over his last five starts covering 27 1/3 innings, Despaigne has allowed 16 earned runs. He owns a 3.55 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 14 starts (83 2/3 innings). He will make his next start Sunday at Arizona.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles wasn't a factor into the decision Monday night against the Mets at Citi Field. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings of work. Of his 110 pitches, 68 were strikes.

Over his last three starts covering 10 1/3 innings, Lyles has allowed 10 earned runs. He owns a 4.20 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over 19 starts (109 1/3 innings). His next start will come Sunday at St. Louis.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. If he makes it through the session without any issues, he'll rejoin the rotation Friday night in Philadelphia, according to Sun Sentinel.

The Mets removed starting pitcher Zack Wheeler after only 99 pitches Sunday at Cincinnati, the fewest he had thrown in 13 starts. According to the New York Post the Mets try to limit Wheeler to 110 pitches or so per start, but he had topped that in four of his previous five. In particular, the 335 pitches he threw over his final three starts in August caught the attention of the front office.

Wheeler is now at 170 1/3 innings, 1 2/3 more than he threw last season. As of now, the Mets have no plans to shut him down, but they may be extra cognizant of his pitch count going forward.

"We're trying to keep a close eye on him," manager Terry Collins said. "We've got to finish the season with this guy healthy. He's shown way too much promise here and we cannot go into (next) season with a sore shoulder or sore elbow."

Wheeler has indeed shown great promise this year, particularly in his last 13 starts. He has a 2.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings during that stretch.

With Rafael Montero expected to make a spot start Wednesday against the Rockies, the rest of the Mets starting rotation gets pushed back a day. Jonathon Niese, who will start Monday's game against the Rockies, won't start again until Sunday against the Nationals. Jacob deGrom, who will start Tuesday's game, won't start again until Sept. 15.

Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee and Zack Wheeler will start the other three games of this weekend's series against the Nationals, with Colon going on Thursday, Gee going on Friday and Wheeler going on Saturday.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke continued his dominance over Arizona in Sunday's 7-2 win. After allowing two runs on six hits over six innings, Greinke is 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last six starts against the Diamondbacks.

Greinke struck out four and walked three. Now 14-8 with a 2.73 ERA, Greinke will face the Giants in San Francisco on Saturday.