MLB Player News

Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman will miss six weeks due to a broken bone in his hand, according to the Denver Post. 

The bone is said to be near Bergman's thumb. He was considered likely to make Wednesday's start, but that is no longer the case. Bergman had a 7.20 ERA over three starts. 

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn believes he may have been tipping his pitches earlier in the season, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Lynn and team coaches determined he may have been tipping his pitches during his June 6 start based on how hitters were reacting to his breaking balls. Lynn worked to eliminate any differences in his windup, and focused on positioning his hand the same way no matter what pitch he was throwing. 

Lynn has been excellent over his last three starts, allowing two earned runs over 22 innings.

Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman is likely to make his scheduled start Wednesday after his injured left hand and wrist made dramatic progress Monday, MLB.com reports.

Bergman underwent an MRI Monday and will undergo further testing Tuesday, but it appears that the line drive that caught him on the base of the glove in his last start won't cost him any time. He is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in three starts.

Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne had a major-league debut to remember Monday, giving up just four hits in seven scoreless innings while striking out one and walking none to earn a win in his team's 6-0 shutout of the Giants.

Despaigne (1-0) struggled in his five starts with Triple-A El Paso, posting a 7.61 ERA and 2.07 WHIP while striking out 29 in 23 2/3 innings. He had a diametrically opposite performance in his Padres debut, consistently pitching to contact but keeping the opposition off the scoreboard. If he sticks in the rotation, he could be called upon to pitch Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn was brilliant in a win Monday, giving up just three hits and no walks in eight scoreless innings while striking out seven in his team's 8-0 victory over the Rockies.

Lynn (8-5) was dominant in the thin Colorado air, retiring 16 straight batters after giving up a one-out single in the first inning. After giving up two more singles with two outs in the six, the St. Louis starter retired the final seven batters he faced. Lynn owns a 2.90 ERA and 89:35 K:BB ratio in 99 1/3 innings after Monday's gem. He's set to face the Dodgers Saturday.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke was saddled with a loss Monday after giving up a season-high five earned runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings and striking out four in his team's 5-3 defeat against the Royals.

Greinke (9-4) was incredibly hittable against his former team, giving up 11 hits for the second time in his last four starts. After entering June with a 2.18 ERA, Greinke now owns a 2.89 ERA and 101:20 K:BB ratio in 96 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to square off with the Cardinals Saturday.

Marlins pitcher Nate Eovaldi picked up a win Monday after giving up six hits and one walk in 6 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out two in his team's 4-0 shutout of the Phillies.

Eovaldi (5-3) struggled in his previous two starts, giving up 11 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings, but he was able to turn things around considerably Monday. The only extra-base hit he surrenderd was a fourth-inning double that put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but he was able to escape with the shutout intact.

Eovaldi owns a 3.52 ERA and 76:17 K:BB ratio in 99 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the A's Saturday.

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole threw 84 pitches during a six-inning simulated game Monday, and manager Clint Hurdle said the throwing session went well, MLB.com reports.

"I thought it went very well," Hurdle said. "The volume of work -- six ups, 84 pitches. Threw his two-seamer, his four-seamer, his curveball -- probably more than his slider -- his changeup was good, the finish to his fastball was firm and solid. We'll see how he feels tomorrow, but I thought it was a very good next challenge that, from at least the perspective of today, he was able to meet and do well with."

Cole could possibly return from the disabled list in time to start Saturday's game, but the team has yet to set the weekend rotation. He's working his way back from shoulder fatigue.

Carlos Martinez is a talented pitcher with a bright future in the majors, and now that Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia are both on the DL with shoulder injuries, he has a rotation spot to call his own. Given his relief pitcher eligibility, you'd think I'd take this opportunity to hype him to the hills.

But with Chase Whitley only 56 percent owned, I don't see the point.

He's the more attractive SPARP (starting pitcher as relief pitcher -- Head-to-Head owners know what I mean) right now, having dominated in 13 starts before the majors and minors so far. Considering he entered the season with only eight career starts as a professional, we haven't really seen him fail in the role.

But while Whitley has issued just 0.9 walks per nine innings, which would rank second among starting pitchers if he had the innings to qualify, Martinez has issued 3.9 overall and 5.0 in his two starts. He's a talented pitcher with a bright future, sure, but he's also a work in progress.

So while adding him certainly isn't a problem if you have ample roster space, I wouldn't consider it a top priority right now -- not with some of the pitchers, SPARPs included, available on waivers.

The Padres officially recalled pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne from Triple-A El Paso Monday after placing starting pitcher Andrew Cashner on the 15-day disabled list due to right shoulder soreness. 

Despaigne will take Cashner's spot in the rotation, with his MLB debut coming Monday against the Giants.