MLB Player News

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran earned a win Wednesday, giving up one earned run on three hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings while striking out four in his team's 3-2 victory over the Mets.

Teheran (13-9) has delivered three straight quality starts, picking up a win in each. His only damage Wednesday came on a second inning solo home run. Teheran owns a 2.90 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 160:43 K:BB ratio in 189 innings. He's scheduled to square off with Phillies Monday.

If you weren't already annoyed by Adam Wainwright's struggles -- his latest loss Wednesday makes him 3-5 with a 4.68 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break -- his explanation for those struggles might be enough to put you over the top. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he's going through a "dead arm phase," adding "one of these days it's going to click in, and its going to be real nice."

"Dead arm" is a fun little catch-all pitchers use to explain their struggles to the media. That's a cynical way of putting it, but you get the idea: It means almost nothing to you as a Fantasy owner. Occasionally, it's a precursor to injury, but more often, as Wainwright suggests, the pitcher eventually gets over it and we all live happily ever after.

Since the All-Star break, Wainwright's velocity and strikeout rate are slightly down, but hey, he has dead arm. All things considered, he's not doing so bad -- four of his last five starts have been quality starts -- so I wouldn't even move to bench him unless something more specific comes up.

He gave no indication he wouldn't pitch through the dead arm, so it must not be that bad.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said he felt no pain in a two-inning simulated game Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Ryu could return to the starting rotation Sunday or Monday. He's been sidelined since Aug. 13 while dealing with a strained right glute muscle.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha will begin his rehab assignment Sunday, according to St. Louis Baseball Weekly.

Wacha will make his start for the team's Double-A affiliate in Springfield. He's been out since June 17 due to a shoulder issue. Wacha has a 2.79 ERA over 90 1/3 innings. 

Struggling Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has blamed a dead arm for his recent problems, the latest of which came in a loss Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

Wainwright managed a quality start, but took the loss after yielding three earned runs on eight hits in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts.

The end of August could not come too soon for Wainwright. He has given up 22 earned runs in his last 38 1/3 innings pitched covering six starts. He is 2-4 during that stretch as his ERA has soared from 1.92 to 2.52.

"I've been through a dead arm phase," Wainwright told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Everybody does that. You have to find a way to get outs. Most of the time today I found ways to get outs. It's not pretty. ... One of these days it's going to click in, and its going to be real nice."

Phillies standout left-hander Cole Hamels appeared upset at being removed from the Tuesday night game against Washinton after 84 pitches and seven-plus innings in a no-decision.

Hamels was removed by Ryne Sandberg after yielding a game-tying homer to open the eighth. According to CSNPhilly.com, he clearly looked angry when Sandberg emerged from the dugout. He looked around in disgust, began walking off the mound before Sandberg arrived and handed him the ball.

Hamels, however, would not address the issue when asked about it after the game, eventually won by the Phillies. "Um, I just think it was a good game and we were able to win," he said in avoiding the question. "It was a good game that we won today," he later said. "See you guys."

Hamels has been victimized by a lack of run support this season, which explains a 7-6 record despite a 2.59 ERA that ranks fifth in the National League.

Diamondbacks southpaw Patrick Corbin could remain out until next June after undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 25, per the Arizona Republic.

"He'd probably punch me if he heard me saying that, but you're really going to take your time and make sure he's ready to go," Kirk Gibson said. "You're not going to expect him to come back and throw 220 innings. You kind of manage his rehab through innings and put him in position to finish strong. ... We're going to make sure we err on the side of very cautious."

Corbin emerged as a standout in 2013 with a 14-8 record, 3.41 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 208 1/3 innings.

Marlins pitcher Nathan Eovaldi took a loss Tuesday, surrendering six earned runs on 10 hits and one walk in just 3 1/3 innings while striking out four in his team's 8-2 defeat against the Angels.

Eovaldi (6-9) turned in his shortest outing of the season as he continues to deal with a rough second half. He gave up one run in the first inning Tuesday before the Angels racked up five more in the fourth inning. Eovaldi owns a 4.30 ERA and 117:34 K:BB ratio in 165 1/3 innings after owning a 3.61 ERA at the All-Star break. He's scheduled to face the Mets Monday.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto turned in a quality start Tuesday against the Cubs.

Cueto allowed three runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked two during the outing. Home runs proved to be the difference. Cueto allowed a solo shot to Anthony Rizzo in the first inning. He was then able to toss five scoreless innings before allowing another home run in the seventh. With a man on, Cueto allowed a two-run shot to Arismendy Alcantara. Cueto managed a strikeout during the inning, but out two additional men on, leading to him being taken out. 

With the loss, Cueto dropped to 15-8. He’ll take on the Pirates in his next start.

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, surrendering two earned runs on three hits and one walk in six-plus innings while striking out nine in his team's 5-2 win over the Cardinals.

Cole spun six scoreless innings but gave up hits to the first two batters of the seventh before being pulled, and both runners would come around to score later in the inning. He owns a 3.65 ERA and 93:34 K:BB ratio in 98 2/3 innings. Cole is scheduled to face the Cardinals again Monday.