MLB Player News

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels has the Blue Jays as one of the teams on his no-trade list, FOXSports.com reports.

The Blue Jays are looking to strengthen the rotation, but Hamels appears to be a longshot for the team. He owns a 2.84 ERA and 91:29 K:BB ratio in 88 2/3 innings.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez was not a factor in the decision Tuesday, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and one walk in seven innings while striking out three in his team's 5-4 win over the Braves.

Alvarez gave up a run in the first inning and another in the fourth but was able to pitch well enough to win before the bullpen blew the lead in the eighth inning. He hasn't surrendered more than two earned runs in any of his last eight starts and now owns a 2.33 ERA and 67:21 K:BB ratio in 108 innings. Alvarez is slated to face the Cardinals Sunday.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg cruised to a win Tuesday, giving up just one earned run on five hits and one walk in 7 2/3 innings while striking out eight in his team's 7-1 victory over the Rockies.

Strasburg (7-6) was excellent through seven innings before serving up a solo home run in the eighth and also walking the last batter he faced. He delivered an impressive rebound performance after surrendering seven runs in his previous start. Strasburg owns a 3.53 ERA and 131:24 K:BB ratio in 112 1/3 innings. He's slated to face the Orioles Monday.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley wasn't a factor in Tuesday's decision after giving up two earned runs on four hits in eight-plus innings and striking out 10 in his team's 3-2 loss to the Pirates.

Miley was brilliant through most of the game, giving up just two hits in eight scoreless innings going into the ninth, when he surrendered singles to the first two batters of the inning and was removed. The bullpen allowed both inherited runners to score. Miley owns a 4.61 ERA and 106:34 K:BB ratio in 113 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Braves Sunday.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Tuesday "there's a possibility" top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard will not be promoted to the majors this season, per MLB.com. When asked why, Collins replied, "[Stuff] happens."

The Phillies announced Tuesday pitcher Sean O'Sullivan cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. O'Sullivan was designated for assignment Sunday.

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler didn't factor into the decision Monday after giving up just one earned run on four hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings and striking out four in his team's 5-3 loss to the Braves.

Wheeler was able to work around the wildness during the first four innings before the Braves scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but it would be all the offense the Mets pitcher would allow before the bullpen blew the lead in the eighth inning. He owns a 4.25 ERA and 95:42 K:BB ratio in 95 1/3 innings. Wheeler is on track to face the Rangers Sunday.

Braves pitcher Alex Wood wasn't a factor in the decision Monday, giving up three earned runs on six hits and one walk in six innings while striking out seven in his team's 5-3 win over the Mets.

Wood surrendered a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning and gave up one run in each of the second and third innings, but he was able to gut it out to pick up a quality start. He owns a 3.19 ERA and 74:17 K:BB ratio in 73 1/3 innings. Wood is slated to take on the Diamondbacks Sunday.

The Phillies are going to be one team heavily mentioned in trade rumors in July, particularly players like closer Jonathan Papelbon and starting pitcher Cliff Lee. However, it doesn't appear you will hear Cole Hamels' name come up very often, according to FOX Sports.

"We’re not going to be in a five-year plan, be really bad for five years. I don’t believe we’re in the market to do that, and where we have to do that," general manager Ruben Amaro said. "Guys like Cole, Chase (Utley) and some of the others can help make the transition faster. Having them be part of the transition would probably be more beneficial to us unless we can get two, three or four pieces that we know can be part of our core going forward.

"In this day and age, how many teams have that? Very few. And how many teams are going to give that up?"

Padres starting pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne has been pretty solid through his first two MLB starts, which has been an interesting turnaround after he went 1-3 with a 7.61 ERA in five starts for Triple-A El Paso. 

"The feedback we got was that there were a number of at-bats that looked like big-league pitching, a number of innings that looked like big-league pitching," Padres manager Bud Black said, per U-T San Diego. "Where this guy is in his career, where he's come from -- not that he wasn't challenged in Double-A or Triple-A -- but maybe he needed that bigger stage to totally focus."

Teammate Cameron Maybin also offered his explanation for the rookie's success.

"What he really does well is he changes speeds with his fastball," Maybin said. "He's got a few different arm angles. It seems like he never throws two fastballs in a row at the same speed. One may cut, one may sink, and he's got a four-seamer that can get up to 93, 94. He pitches in and out really well. He and (catcher Yasmani Grandal) have been on a really good pace the last two times out. It's been fun to watch from centerfield. The guy really has a clue about what he's doing out there."