MLB Player News

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright was not at his best Saturday, but he was good enough to beat the Cubs with plenty of help from his hitters.

Wainwright gave up four runs on seven hits in seven innings for the win. His control was impeccable - he walked none and fanned eight.

It marked his third straight seven-inning outing to start the season. He has surrendered just 15 hits in 21 innings and owns a 2.57 ERA. His next outing is scheduled for Thursday against Washington.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu got back on track with his start Friday against the Diamondbacks, earning his second win of the season, 6-0.

Ryu logged his third shutout outing of the season, allowing just two hits. He allowed only one other baserunner as well, as he walked one batter and struck out a season-high eight in seven innings of work.

Ryu now has a 2.57 ERA in four starts, with all eight of his runs allowed coming in one disastrous start. He has 22 strikeouts and just eight walks in 21 innings of work, and carries a 2-1 record into his next start, set for Wednesday against the Wednesday against the Giants. 

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran didn't get much help from the defense in his start Friday against the Nationals, though the team went on to win 7-6 in extra innings.

Teheran was tagged for five runs in six innings of work, but only two of them were earned. The three unearned runs came on a Ryan Zimmerman home run in the fifth inning, after the frame was extended by a two-out error by Dan Uggla.

Teheran wasn't at the top of his game even without the defense's issues, as he allowed two earned runs while giving up 10 hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out just one batter, while throwing 53 of 84 pitches for strikes.

Teheran is off to another solid start with a 2.84 ERA through his first three outings, however he does have just nine strikeouts to six walks in 19 innings of work. His next start is set for Wednesday against the Phillies. 

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto tossed a quality start on Friday, but was not backed by enough run support, suffering his second loss of the season in a 2-1 defeat to the Rays.

Making his third start, Cueto (0-2) surrendered a run-scoring single to Evan Longoria and a solo home run to Matt Joyce for his only damage on the night. He yielded two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six over seven innings pitched. He tossed 119 pitches, 71 of which were strikes.

Cueto has 2.14 ERA and a 23:8 K:BB ratio over his first 21 innings pitched. He'll make his next start Wednesday against Pittsburgh.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles is expected to remain in the rotation and will start Monday against the Padres. With Tyler Chatwood (hamstring) expected to return from the disabled list Sunday, the team will move Franklin Morales to the bullpen, manager Walt Weiss told reporters on Friday, the team announced.

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels will make his next rehab start Saturday for Class A Clearwater, according to MLB.com, rather than Friday. The plan after that will likely be for him to start again Thursday, before potentially being cleared to return to the rotation, after opening the season on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. 

With Tyler Chatwood (hamstring) expected to return from the disabled list and make his first start of the season Sunday against the Giants, the Rockies could keep Jordan Lyles in the rotation but Franklin Morales could be the odd man out in the rotation, according to the Denver Post on Friday.

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg put together a dominant outing on Thursday, striking out 12 and earning his first win of the season at home against the Marlins.

Strasburg fired six scoreless innings of two-hit ball before serving up a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna in the seventh. He yielded one run on three hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings of work in a 7-1 victory. He tossed 98 pitches, 71 of which were strikes.

Strasburg has struck out at least 10 in two of his first three starts. He's posted a 4.24 ERA and 28:6 K:BB ratio over 17 innings pitched. He'll face the Marlins again Tuesday in Miami.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole was more lucky than good Thursday against the Cubs.

Not that he pitched poorly. He surrendered three earned runs on five hits in six innings with 10 strikeouts, the second-highest total of his career. But he left the game with a 4-0 deficit after giving up three runs in the fourth.

A loss or no-decision at best seemed inevitable for Cole, but the Pirates exploded for five runs in the seventh and held on to give him a victory and 2-0 record.

Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels could be in line to return for an April 22 start from a shoulder ailment. That schedule is valid if he requires only two more minor league rehab starts, as team officials have indicated, according to MLB.com.