MLB Player News

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg was lit up for six earned runs on eight hits and three walks in four innings while striking out five in his team's 11-2 loss to the Marlins Tuesday.

Strasburg (1-2) isn't one to have many poor starts in a season, especially against the Marlins, a team he dominated in his previous start. With the down outing, he owns a 6.00 ERA but also a 33:9 K:BB ratio in 21 innings. Strasburg will face off against the Cardinals at home Sunday looking for a better result.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw showed his best velocity since suffering his injury in Tuesday's bullpen session, MLB.com reports.

Kershaw threw 26 pitches in the session, spending time both in the stretch and with his regular windup. Despite the progress, he remains without a timetable to return.

You should never get too high or too low with Lance Lynn. When he underwhelmed in his first two starts, he was still Lance Lynn. When he struck out 11 in seven shutout innings, he was still Lance Lynn.

So who is Lance Lynn? He's shown exactly who over last two years: A hard-throwing, strikeout-per-inning type who pitches deep enough into games to pile up victories for a well-rounded Cardinals team but whose inconsistencies condemn him to a higher-than-average ERA and WHIP. Pretty simple.

And with that last start, his season-to-date numbers are pretty much spot on. It may not seem like it since he hasn't been that middle-of-the-road pitcher in any one of his three starts, but few players arrive at their final numbers through a series of alike performances.

In fact, Lynn takes the opposite route. After struggling in two of his first three starts last year, he compiled a 2.10 ERA over his next nine, followed by a 6.32 ERA over his next eight, followed by a 2.28 ERA over his next four, followed by a 7.57 ERA over his next five, followed by a 1.09 ERA over his final four. His 2012 season went much the same way.

What it means is he's more valuable in Rotisserie leagues than Head-to-Head, where you care more about the end result than the step by step. It also means you might consider selling high on him if he strings together a few more of these starts.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel was scheduled to take the mound Tuesday before his team's game against the Yankees was called on account of rain. He'll pitch the first of two games Wednesday as the teams play a day-night doubleheader to make up the rained-out game.

The rest of the Cubs rotation will remain on schedule.

Following Tuesday's rainout against the Phillies, the Braves announced they would be skipping David Hale in the rotation. Hale was expected to start Tuesday.

Therefore, the rotation will remain on schedule. Julio Teheran will start Wednesday and Alex Wood will finish off the series Thursday.

The Cubs/Yankees game scheduled for Tuesday was postponed due to rain. It will be made up as a day-night doubleheader Wednesday, with the first game starting at 1:05 p.m.

Jason Hammel and Masahiro Tanaka were scheduled to start Tuesday's game.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks in five innings while striking out three and not factoring into the decision his team's 5-4 loss to the Padres Monday.

Lyles threw just 48 of his 81 pitches for strikes, but he put together four scoreless innings before giving up all three runs in the fifth. He was still in line for a win until the Padres plated two runners in the eighth inning. Lyles takes a 4.32 ERA and 12:5 K:BB ratio into Saturday's matchup with the Phillies.

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler picked up a win Monday, giving up two earned runs on six hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings while striking out three in his team's 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Wheeler (1-2) finally notched one in the win column in his second quality start, giving up a run in the first inning and another in the third. After getting the first batter of the seventh inning out, he gave up a double and a walk before being lifted.

Wheeler owns a 4.67 ERA and 15:5 K:BB ratio in 17 1/3 innings. He's slated to take on the Braves Sunday.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn was remarkable in his team's 4-0 win over the Brewers Monday, giving up just three hits and three walks in seven scoreless innings while striking out 11.

Lynn (3-0) was fortunate to pick up a win in his previous start after giving up five runs in six innings, but that wasn't the case Monday, as he was able to work around three free passes and two doubles while throwing 114 pitches. He owns a 4.00 ERA and 22:4 K:BB ratio in 18 innings through three starts. Lynn is slated to face the Nationals on the road Saturday.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha turned in a decent outing on Sunday, and came away with his second win of the season in his team's 6-4 victory over the Cubs.

Wacha (2-0) surrendered a two-run home run to Anthony Rizzo in the opening frame and a run-scoring single to Welington Castillo in the fourth. He was charged with three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight over 6 1/3 innings pitched.

Wacha has allowed just four earned runs over his first 19 innings pitched through three starts. He'll look for win No. 3 Friday on the road against Washington.