MLB Player News

Braves pitcher Alex Wood had another impressive showing, but was unable to factor into the decision Saturday night in Miami. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings of a 4-3 win.

Over his last three starts covering 22 innings, Wood has allowed five earned runs. He owns a 2.90 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 152 innings. His next start will come Friday at Texas.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn earned a win Saturday, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks in six innings while striking out six in his team's 5-3 victory over the Brewers.

Lynn (15-8) surrendered two unearned runs in the first inning on a play that feature two separate errors from left fielder Matt Holliday. He was then able to keep the Brewers off the board until they broke through with an RBI double in the sixth. Lynn owns a 2.80 ERA and 156:67 K:BB ratio in 176 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Reds Thursday.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto earned a win Saturday, giving up just one earned run on six hits and two walks in seven innings while striking out eight in his team's 2-1 victory over the Mets.

Cueto (17-8) fell behind early after surrendering an RBI single in the second inning, but the Reds were able to deliver a pair of solo home runs in the middle frames to give Cueto a lead before his day was through. He owns a 2.23 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 213:58 K:BB ratio in 214 innings. Cueto is scheduled to face the Cardinals Thursday.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg pitched well enough to win Friday, but the bullpen let him down in a 9-8 extra-innings loss to the Phillies.

Strasburg got plenty of early help and appeared set to cruise to victory, as he allowed just one run in six innings of work. However, he was lifted after 95 pitches, and the bullpen proceeded to meltdown, forcing Strasburg to settle for the no-decision.

Strasburg struck out five batters and walked none in the game, his second straight without issue a walk. He has an 11-10 record and 3.43 ERA heading into his next start, set for Wednesday against the Braves.  

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez was able to toss a mostly pain-free session of catch Friday, and could throw a bullpen session by the end of the weekend, MLB.com reports.

Alvarez was already scratched from his scheduled start Sunday, after leaving his last start as a result of the injury. Manager Mike Redmond said Alvarez threw mostly without discomfort Friday, though it isn't clear when he might be able to return to the rotation.

"Pain was gone and just seemed to feel like he was ready to throw a bullpen, so that's good news," Redmond said. "It's just a matter now of when [he throws] it and how that goes as far as his availability for a start. We'll figure out where that will be."

Pirates pitcher Vance Worley could not make it through the fifth inning in Friday's start against the Cubs, as he left the game in line for a no-decision.

Worley tossed 4 2/3 innings in the game, allowing three runs  -- two earned -- before he was lifted after 90 pitches. Worley allowed the Cubs to tie the game before he was pulled in the fifth, after allowing five hits and four walks. He also struck out six batters before exiting the game.

Worley's ERA rose to 3.05 in the outing, as he failed to toss a quality start for the fourth time in five trips to the mound. He remains 6-4 on the season heading into his next outing, set for Wednesday in Philadelphia.

The Dodgers swapped pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu and Zack Greinke in the rotation for this weekend's series against the Diamondbacks, in order to split up the team's lefties in the next few days.

Greinke will now pitch Sunday to close out the series against the Diamondbacks, while Ryu will take the mound Saturday.  

The Dodgers have flip-flopped starters Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu for the weekend series against visiting Arizona. The former is set to start Sunday with Ryu going Saturday.

What was feared is now official - the Marlins have scratched right-hander Henderson Alvarez from the Saturday start against Atlanta with an oblique strain that forced him out of his Monday outing.

Alvarez has been struggling recently with 12 runs allowed in his last 14 2/3 innings, but he still owns a 10-6 record and 2.88 ERA on the season.

The Phillies have recalled right-handed reliever Sean O'Sullivan from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and placed lefty Mario Hollands on the 60-day disabled list with a left flexor strain.

Hollands was removed from the game Wednesday with the injury. He finishes the season 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 50 relief appearances.