MLB Player News

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran matched his career high with 11 strikeouts in a no-decision Monday night at home against the Marlins. The right-hander yielded one run on four hits and one walk over seven innings of work.

Teheran has limited teams to just one earned run in three of his past five starts. He owns a 2.64 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over 23 starts (143 1/3 innings). He will make his next start Saturday at home against San Diego.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez remains on track to make his next start on Thursday against the Braves in Atlanta, manager Mike Redmond told reporters on Monday, per the Sun Sentinel. Alvarez struck by a comebacker on his left shin Saturday against the Giants.

"He's been feeling better each day," Redmond said. "I haven't heard anything to be concerned about. We got lucky because it kind of caught him in between the muscle and the bone on the shin, and I think it got more muscle than bone. That's a big one for us. We can't lose anybody, but especially him."

Clearly, Odrisamer Despaigne's stock has improved since he first reached the majors in late June. Then, he was a 27-year-old mystery coming off a miserable seven-start showing in the minors. Now, he's nearly throwing no-hitters.

But while the shrinking walk rate and growing strikeout rate over his last two starts are both encouraging signs, something about his early success smells fishy to me.

For one thing, neither the walk rate nor the strikeout rate, even with the recent improvement, is all that good. For another, I actually saw him pitch this time. It's entertaining to watch, I must admit, but it also kind of reminds me of Freddy Garcia.

I hate to use the word "gimmicky," but like Garcia, Despaigne is a bit of a junkballer. He throws a wide variety of pitches -- many of them the slow, loopy kind -- and while it can catch teams off guard at times, as happened to the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS against Garcia last year, it doesn't have much staying power. As the scouting reports catch up to Despaigne, I think we'll see him get hit harder, especially since he's not exactly missing bats now.

It doesn't mean he's useless in Fantasy, but in standard 12-team leagues, I think you can do better off the waiver wire, especially if Rubby De La Rosa or Danny Salazar are still available.

Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game on Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Cole is two weeks into his second stint on the disabled list this season. He's expected to log in three innings against live hitters, reaching approximately 50-60 pitches. 

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha wasn't cleared to throw Monday after undergoing an MRI and CT scan, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

However, he's progressed enough in his recovery from a stress reaction in his right scapula that he will "ramp up" his pre-throwing program, according to general manager John Mozeliak.

The Cardinals are hopeful Wacha will begin throwing in two weeks. Mozeliak said once Wacha begins throwing, he probably won't pitch in a game until three weeks later. Wacha will likely need a rehab assignment before returning from the disabled list.

"This is positive," Mozeliak said. "This still could put him (pitching for the Cardinals) in early September."

It seems unlikely the Diamondbacks will trade shortstop Chris Owings, outfielder A.J. Pollock, catcher Miguel Montero and pitcher Wade Miley by the July 31 trade deadline, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Miley is drawing substantial interest, but general manager Kevin Towers said trading the left-handed starter "doesn't make a whole lot of sense since we're trying to acquire starting pitchers."

Officials with other teams also told Heyman that the Diamondbacks don't seem eager to trade veteran Martin Prado or reliever Brad Ziegler. One general manager interested in trading for Prado believes the Diamondbacks won't deal him because of his leadership and work ethic.

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha is confident he will be cleared to throw following an MRI on his right shoulder Monday morning, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"I’m definitely looking forward to it," he said. "I’ve been doing the rehab. My arm feels good and hopefully it looks a little bit better. I definitely have high optimism on throwing again this year."

The Cardinals have yet to reveal their for Wednesday, and although MLB.com suggested that Shelby Miller could make the start, the right-hander made a relief appearance against the Dodgers Sunday night.

Miller issued one walk and allowed two hits in a scoreless inning of work, and is now unlikely to start with only two days of rest.

Lance Lynn remains another option, considering he would be on normal rest. Lynn started the first game after the All-Star break. He is 11-6 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over 20 starts (120 2/3 innings).

For the second time this season, Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw was unable to factor into the decision in his team's 3-2 win over the Cardinals Sunday night. The left-hander yielded three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings of work.

It was Kershaw's first no-decision since May 11. Over his last two starts covering 16 innings, Kershaw has allowed four earned runs. He owns a 1.92 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP over 15 starts (103 1/3 innings). His next start will come Saturday against the Giants in San Francisco.

Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez had some struggles but managed to escape a rough outing with a no-decision Sunday night at home against the Dodgers. The right-hander was charged with three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings pitched. Of his 74 pitches, only 45 were strikes.

Over his last three starts covering 14 innings, Martinez has allowed 11 earned runs. He owns a 4.57 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP over 67 innings of relief. He will make his next start Saturday against the Cubs in Chicago.