MLB Player News

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha could begin a rehab assignment in a week or so, according to KMOX.

General manager John Mozeliak told the station that Wacha feels great and is taking steps to return soon. He added that he wouldn't be surprised if Wacha went on a rehab assignment in about two weeks. 

The rollercoaster stretch for Marlins starter Nathan Eovaldi continued Wednesday against lowly Texas.

Eovaldi followed three strong starts with a dud. He suffered through three straight poor outings previous to that.

The right-hander yielded five runs to the Rangers in the first two innings. He surrendered six hits in those frames, including doubles by J.P. Arencibia and Alex Rios that combined to plate four runs. Eovaldi settled down to pitch three shutout innings thereafter, but still lowered his record to 6-8. He has just one win since June 23.

He is set to start again Tuesday against the host Angels.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton is hoping to get back on the mound despite a sports hernia that could require offseason surgery, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Morton was placed on the disabled list Sunday.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly indicated after Tuesday's game that pitcher Zack Greinke wasn't a certainty to make his scheduled start Thursday, the Orange County Register reports.

It was reported before the game that Greinke was dealing with minor elbow soreness, and there's a possibility Greinke's availability is linked to his elbow issue. Mattingly said that starting Greinke Thursday is a "possibility."

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu played catch Tuesday, testing out his strained right gluteus, MLB.com reports.

"[Ryu's] doing better, feeling better," manager Don Mattingly said. "He's basically playing catch, keeping his arm moving. He'll be doing more things underneath, working out. He's doing good right now. Timetable-wise, I don't know if we're going to have that. ... Right now, I feel pretty good about that."

Ryu was placed on the disabled list Friday with the injury. He has yet to work on his lower body while sidelined.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg earned a win Tuesday, allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk in eight innings while striking out three in his team's 8-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Strasburg (10-10) needed just 95 pitches to blow through eight innings, locking things down after serving up a home run in the first inning. It was his second straight excellent start after a seven-run implosion on Aug. 8. Strasburg owns a 3.41 ERA and 198:38 K:BB ratio in 171 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Giants Sunday.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson recorded just six outs in a loss Tuesday, allowing six earned runs on five hits and three walks in two-plus innings and striking out two in his team's 8-1 defeat against the Nationals.

Anderson (7-5) let the first six batters of the third inning reach base and left with his team down 3-1 and the bases loaded. The next pitcher in gave up a three-run double before striking out the next three batters. Anderson owns a 3.71 ERA and 76:31 K:BB ratio in 87 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Padres Sunday.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday that pitcher Zack Greinke is dealing with minor elbow soreness, MLB.com reports.

Greinke is not on the team's medical update list, and the manager indicated that the issue was just part of pitching over the course of a season. Greinke walked five batters in his last start but didn't surrender any earned runs.

Mets manager Terry Collins indicated Tuesday that pitcher Jacob deGrom is lined up to return to the rotation Saturday against the Dodgers, Newsday reports.

deGrom has been sidelined since Aug. 7, but his shoulder injury looks looks to be keeping him out a minimal amount of time. He owns a 2.87 ERA and 94:33 K:BB ratio in 100 1/3 innings.

Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman is "in the discussion" to make Sunday's start against the Marlins, the Denver Post reports.

Bergman has given up 12 earned runs in 15 innings over three starts with the big-league club this season. He's on the 60-day disabled list while recovering from a hand injury.