MLB Player News

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is in line to start Sunday, according to MLB.com. 

Ryu has been working his back from a glute injury. He's been able to get through simulated games without any issues. Ryu has a 3.28 ERA over 137 1/3 innings.

Cardinals starting pitcher Justin Masterson is looking for a solution to his ongoing woes, and he told the St. Louis Dispatch his next start will feature a drastic change.

After trying it out during a bullpen session Wednesday, Masterson told reporters he will pitch exclusively out of the stretch in his start against the Cubs. The decision comes after Masterson has allowed 19 runs in his first 23 innings since the Cardinals acquired him, and the hope is that simplifying his deliver will lead to better results.

"For the most part, I was pitching out of the windup, and things would get better out of the stretch at times," Masterson said. "So we simplified it. I went only out of the stretch (in the bullpen). Less moving parts. You don't have to worry about step back, turn around, ready to throw."

Masterson feels like he can pitch out of the stretch without sacrificing velocity or overall effectiveness. He has struggled mightily with out of the stretch this season, however, allowing a .312/.414/.455 line with runners on base. 

Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton went four innings during a rehab start Thursday.

Morton allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. He struck out six and walked one during the outing. Morton threw 73 pitches. He's working his way back from hip inflammation. Morton has not pitched since August 15 due to the issue. 

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles tossed a quality start Thursday against the Giants.

Lyles allowed three runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked three during the outing. The Giants were able to tag Lyles early, but he settled in after briefly stumbling. After giving up a single to lead off the second inning, Lyles allowed Gregor Blanco to belt a two-run homer. He would settle in at that point, keeping the Giants off the board over the next three innings. He couldn’t keep San Francisco off the board in the sixth. After a leadoff single, Lyles walked two batters, loading the bases. Hunter Pence managed to bring home another run on a sac fly. Despite walking the next hitter, Lyles was able to get out of the inning without giving up any more runs.

With the loss, Lyles fell to 6-2. He’ll take on the Giants in his next start.

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio was stuck with a loss Wednesday, allowing a walkoff two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth in his team's 4-2 defeat against the Giants.

Nicasio (5-6) wrapped two strikeouts around a single before Buster Posey deposited a pitch over the left-field wall to end the game. He's surrendered six earned runs in 10 innings since rejoining the team in early August. Nicasio owns a 5.86 ERA and 55:28 K:BB ratio in 83 innings.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez took a loss Wednesday, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings while striking out three in his team's 6-1 defeat against the Angels.

Alvarez (10-6) watched a four-start winning streak end Wednesday, allowing three runs in the third inning before serving up solo home runs in the fourth and seventh innings. He's now given up four home runs in his last two starts combined. Alvarez owns a 2.75 ERA and 97:29 K:BB ratio in 157 innings. He's scheduled to face the Mets Monday.

Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne didn't factor in the decision Wednesday, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk in seven innings while striking out nine in his team's 3-2 win over the Brewers.

Despaigne delivered a season high in strikeouts in the outing, tossing six scoreless innings before the Brewers broke through with two runs in the seventh. He owns a 3.24 ERA and 50:25 K:BB ratio in 72 1/3 innings. Despaigne is scheduled to face the Diamondbacks Tuesday.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw earned a win Wednesday, giving up just an unearned run on six hits and two walks in eight innings while striking out 10 in his team's 3-1 victory over Diamondbacks.

Kershaw (16-3) became the majors' first 16-game winner with his latest gem, delivering his third straight double-digit-strikeout performance while lasting eight innings for the fourth straight start. He's easily the league's ERA leader with a 1.73 mark, and he also owns a 194:23 K:BB ratio in 161 1/3 innings. Kershaw will face the Nationals Tuesday.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley took a loss Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and four walks in six innings while striking out six in his team's 3-1 defeat against the Dodgers.

While Miley (7-10) had trouble keeping runners off base throughout the entire start, he managed to limit all three runs to the third inning and deliver five scoreless innings otherwise. He's turned in four straight quality starts but hasn't earned a win since the end of July. Miley owns a 4.30 ERA and 163:62 K:BB ratio in 176 innings. He's scheduled to face the Padres Tuesday.

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler took a loss Wednesday, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks in seven innings and striking out seven in his team's 3-2 defeat against the Braves.

Wheeler (9-9) has been on a roll since late June, surrendering three earned runs or less in each of his last 11 outings (and two earned runs or less 10 times during that stretch). He surrendered a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning, his only home run allowed in the last three starts. Wheeler owns a 3.44 ERA and 155:68 K:BB ratio in 159 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Marlins Monday.