MLB Player News

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg suffered the loss Saturday, giving up six runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings while striking out six in his team's 6-2 loss to the Braves.

It's the second straight game that Strasburg enjoyed an elevated strikeout rate despite allowing several runs on the scoreboard. He owns a 6.10 ERA and 16:5 K:BB ratio in 10 1/3 innings after two starts. Strasburg should see his next action in a rematch with the Braves Friday in Atlanta.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran moved to 1-1 by surrendering just two earned runs on three hits and four walks in seven innings while striking out six in his team's 6-2 win over the Nationals Saturday.

Teheran served up a two-run homer in the first inning after a few borderline ball/strike calls went the other way earlier in the frame. He was able to shut Washington down the rest of the way, throwing 111 pitches in the win. Teheran Friday in a rematch with the Nationals, this time in Atlanta.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto tossed a solid game against the Mets Saturday.

Cueto went seven strong innings, giving up five hits and three walks. He allowed just two earned runs and struck out nine batters. Cueto was in line for a win, but Reds closer J.J. Hoover melted down in the ninth inning. A walkoff grand slam ruined the chance at Cueto picking up his first win of the year. 

Cueto has now pitched two exceptional games to start the season, and has little to show for it. He'll look to earn his first win of the year against the Rays next week.

Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole tossed a quality start and earned his first win of the season Friday night against St. Louis.

Making his first start of the year, Cole (1-0) fired four scoreless innings before serving up a two-run home run to Matt Carpenter in the fifth. He surrendered two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over seven innings pitched in a 12-2 win. He tossed 108 pitches, 73 called for strikes.

Cole will look to keep rolling on Thursday against the Cubs in Chicago.

Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio pounded the strike zone and kept the Diamondbacks off balance all day in a season-opening 12-2 win Friday.

Nicasio allowed just five baserunners in his seven innings of work, walking one and allowing just four hits. He allowed one run on a fifth-inning solo home run by Mark Trumbo, but that was all the Diamondbacks would manage as he struck out six and threw 64 of 88 pitches for strikes.

Nicasio is looking for more success after posting consecutive seasons with a 5.00-plus ERA. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the White Sox. 

Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu's scoreless streak came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon, as he was pegged with the loss against the Giants.

Ryu (1-1) retired the first two hitters of the game before getting rocked for six runs while giving up six hits, including four in a row as the Giants batted around in the opening frame. The left-hander ran up his pitch count and lasted only two innings, surrendering eight runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and three walks while striking out two, raising his ERA to 3.86 through three starts.

Ryu has a 14:7 K:BB ratio over 14 innings. He'll look to get back on track in his next start against Detroit on Wednesday.

The Diamondbacks have transferred ace Patrick Corbin to the 60-day disabled list, which comes as no surprise. He is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton reported that he's fine after being removed from the Wednesday game when he was struck on the thumb of his glove hand by a Nate Schierholtz line drive, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Precautionary x-rays showed no fracture.

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn settled down after a rough opening frame and came out with his first win of the season Thursday afternoon against the Reds.

Lynn (1-0) surrendered back-to-back home runs to Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier in the first and finished his outing with four scoreless innings. He yielded three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven over five innings pitched. 75 of his 107 pitches were called for strikes.

Lynn will have a rematch against Cincinnati at home on Tuesday.

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler picked up the loss in his season debut Thursday against the Nationals.

Wheeler didn't pitch all that poorly, but was destroyed by Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman accounted for three hits against Wheeler, including a solo home run in the second inning. Other than that, Wheeler seemed to have some good stuff working. He struck out six batters in his first three innings.

Wheeler also cruised through the fourth relatively unscathed, but ran into some issues in the fifth. Singles by Denard Span and Jayson Werth put the Nationals ahead 3-2. Wheeler was able to pitch around two hits in the sixth, and was pulled following the inning. He was allowed to throw 114 pitches in his first start. 

Wheeler allowed seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six and gave up three earned runs. Wheeler's next start will come against the Braves.