MLB Player News

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has been announced as the starting pitcher for the NL All-Star team. The veteran right-handed hurler is 12-4 with a 1.83 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 19 starts for St. Louis.

It has not been a banner year for Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who many projected would be in the majors by now and potentially a major contributor to the Mets' rotation.

Alas, Syndergaard continues to toil in the minors, leaving doubt about a 2014 promotion to the majors. Still, Syndergaard has his mind set on getting the call this season.

"I'm still 21 years old. I still got time,'' Syndergaard said Sunday while attending the Futures Game, per Newsday. "There's really no rush. I'm just hoping I can get up there pretty quickly, contribute to some wins and hopefully a playoff push.''

Syndergaard is 7-4 with a 5.31 ERA in 16 starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, but he is coming off one of his best starts, allowing one run and striking out eight in seven innings.

Syndergaard said the last time out showed his progression as a pro and his ability to adapt to advanced hitters. Catcher Kevin Plawecki, who recently joined the roster at Las Vegas, attributed the strong performance to Syndergaard relying on his best pitch.

"You got a guy throwing 98 to 100, I don't know why you wouldn't want to throw it more,'' Plawecki said. "We utilized his fastball a whole lot more in his last start. I think that showed him where he's going to make his bread-and-butter.''

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu put together a quality start along with 10 strikeouts for the win Sunday afternoon at home against the Padres. The left-hander permitted two hits and no walks while striking out 10 over six innings of a 1-0 victory.

Ryu enters the All-Star break with a 10-5 record, along with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 18 starts (104 2/3 innings). He will make his next start Monday at Pittsburgh.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran was not at his best, but bounced back with a win Sunday afternoon against the Cubs in Chicago. The right-hander yielded four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over seven innings a 10-7 victory.

Teheran (9-6) heads into the break with a 2.71 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over 20 starts (136 1/3 innings). His first start after the break has yet to be determined, as the Braves have yet to announce their post-break rotation plans.

Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez was roughed up Sunday afternoon against Milwaukee, dropping to 2-4 on the year. The right-hander was shelled for four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over four innings of an 11-2 defeat.

Martinez enters the All-Star break with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP over 63 innings of work. His next start remains to be seen, as the Cardinals have yet to announce their post-break rotation.

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto capped his first half with a win Sunday against the Pirates. The first-time All-Star allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out seven in six innings.

Cueto (10-6) opened with three scoreless innings before Neil Walker had an RBI groundout in the fourth inning. Josh Harrison came back with an RBI single in the fifth inning and Walker hit a solo home run leading off the sixth inning. But Cueto left with a 6-3 lead, which the bullpen held.

The right-hander won for the fifth time in seven starts. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in his last seven starts. Cueto is expected to pitch in the first series after the All-Star break against the Yankees.

Nationals manager Matt Williams announced following Sunday's game against the Phillies that starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg will start the second-half opener Friday against the Brewers. He will be followed by Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister in the three-game series.

Williams added Jordan Zimmermann, who left his last start Friday due to a biceps injury, will throw on the side Thursday. If all goes well, then he could rejoin the rotation July 21 at Colorado. Tanner Roark is expected to start either July 21 or July 22 depending on Zimmermann's status.

Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom received plenty of run support Sunday against the Marlins, but he pitched pretty well regardless during a 9-1 win. He allowed one run on five hits and two walks, while striking out eight in seven innings.

deGrom (3-5) allowed just one walk and one single through three scoreless innings to begin the game. Though, he ran into some trouble in the fourth inning. After retiring the first two batters, Casey McGehee singled, Garrett Jones doubled and Marcell Ozuna gave the Marlins their only run on an infield single. deGrom stranded two runners, however, by striking out Ed Lucas for the final out in the fourth inning.

Following Ozuna's RBI single, deGrom allowed just a single and walk over the final 11 batters he faced. It was his second straight win. deGrom hasn't allowed more than three runs in five straight starts. He has at least eight strikeouts in his last three starts.

The Mets have not yet announced when deGrom will make his first start in the second half because they are waiting on the status of Jonathon Niese (shoulder) before finalizing their rotation plans.

The Red Sox scouted Phillies lefty Cole Hamels last week, reports the Boston Globe. Hamels has four years left on his deal at $22.5 million annually and is not known to be on the trading block.

Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy will be on the hill for the second-half opener Friday against the Mets, the team announced Sunday. Tyson Ross will pitch Saturday and Odrisamer Despaigne will finish off the three-game series next Sunday.

The Padres have not announced their rotation plans after the Mets series.