MLB Player News

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez was forced out of Monday's start against the Marlins with a strained left oblique, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Alvarez had his back wrapped during pregame and his velocity topped out at 93 mph before leaving the game in the third inning. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- on three hits and walk while striking out one over 2 1/1 innings of work. Of his 40 pitches, 28 were strikes. The team has listed him as day to day, leaving his status up in the air for Sunday's start against Atlanta.

The Cardinals have demoted pitcher Justin Masterson to the bullpen for the final month of the season, MLB.com reports. He allowed four-plus runs in five of his first six starts with his new club. He owns a 6.03 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP on the year.

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis in time for Monday's start against the at St. Louis. He owns a 3.65 ERA and 93:34 K:BB ratio in 98 2/3 innings. 

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha began a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Springfield. Wacha got the start and allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out one over two scoreless innings of work. He's been out since June 17 due to a shoulder issue. Wacha has a 2.79 ERA over 90 1/3 innings.

Braves pitcher Alex Wood bounced back with a dominant effort, matching a career-high 12 strikeout for the win Sunday afternoon at home against Miami, improving to 10-10 on the year. He allowed five hits and no walks over eight shutout innings of a 1-0 victory.

Over his last two starts covering 15 innings, Wood has allowed three earned runs. He owns a 2.92 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 145 innings of work. His next start will come Saturday against the Marlins in Miami.

Marlins pitcher Nathan Eovaldi pitched well but was not backed by any run support in a tough-luck loss to the Braves in Atlanta on Sunday, dropping to 6-10 on the year. He allowed one run on nine hits and one walk while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings of a 1-0 defeat.

Eovaldi has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last six starts. He owns a 4.19 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP over 28 starts (172 innings). He'll get another crack at the Braves, this time at home on Saturday.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson bounced back with the win at home on Sunday against the Rockies, improving to 8-6 on the season. The right-hander permitted one run on five hits and no walks while striking out eight over six innings of a 6-2 victory.

Anderson allowed one earned run in a start for the first time since Aug. 8. He owns a 3.75 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 18 starts (98 1/3 innings). His next start will come Friday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu dominated the Padres on Sunday, scattering one run on four hits over seven innings of work to improve to 14-6 on the year. The left-hander struck out seven and did not issue a walk in a 7-1 victory.

Over his last four starts covering 26 2/3 innings, Ryu has allowed only six earned runs. He owns a 3.18 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 24 starts (144 1/3 innings). His next start will come Saturday at home against Arizona.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto put together another dominant outing on Sunday, going eight innings strong for the win over the Pirates to improve to 16-8 on the year. The right-hander yielded two runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out six in a 3-2 victory.

Over his last two starts covering 14 1/3 innings, Cueto has allowed five earned runs. He owns a 2.26 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP over 29 starts (207 innings). His next start will come Saturday at home against the Mets.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny didn't commit to Justin Masterson making his next start Thursday against the Brewers. In fact, he hinted Marco Gonzales and Tyler Lyons could be the leading candidates to start Thursday, per MLB.com.

"(Marco is) a possibility. Tyler (is) a possibility. Justin's a possibility. We'll see," Matheny said. "We've talked a lot about this stuff. It just hasn't been talked about with everybody else, and this isn't the time or place to start making those statements. We just want to put the guy out there that's going to give us the best chance to win. It's going to be how it matches up with other teams and how they look. We'll be willing to make that statement soon, just not right now."