MLB Player News

Falter (7-5) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings in a 6-1 victory over the Tigers. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The southpaw delivered his first quality start since May 31 on an efficient 87 pitches (63 strikes) as he tied his career high in strikeouts. Falter has struggled since the beginning of June, and even after Wednesday's performance he carries a 4.89 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB over his last nine starts and 42.1 innings. He'll look to build on this effort in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in San Francisco.

Cease (3-10) took the loss against the Marlins on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Cease allowed a run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth that ultimately saddled him with the loss. The 29-year-old threw just 56 of 95 pitches for strikes but has now turned in back-to-back solid starts after giving up 10 earned runs across his first two July outings. He'll carry a 4.59 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 144:42 K:BB over 113.2 innings into a home matchup with the Mets next week.

Alcantara (5-9) earned the win against the Padres on Wednesday, allowing one unearned run on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts over seven innings.

Alcantara threw 67 of 98 pitches for strikes and generated 11 whiffs in his longest outing of the season. It was a step in the right direction after the 29-year-old allowed 22 earned runs over his previous four starts, though he's now failed to record more than four strikeouts in six straight. He'll carry a 6.66 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 77:39 K:BB across 104 innings into a road matchup with the Cardinals next week.

Strider (4-8) took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over five innings.

Strider was tagged for two homers in the fifth inning and managed just one clean frame, throwing only 59 of 104 pitches for strikes. It ends a run of four straight quality starts for the 26-year-old, though he's still allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine consecutive outings. He'll take a 3.72 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 89:30 K:BB over 72.2 innings into a road matchup with the Royals next week.

Verlander (1-8) earned the win against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing one hit and five walks while striking out three over five scoreless innings.

Verlander threw just 55 of 98 pitches for strikes and issued five walks for the second time this season, but he battled to earn his first win in 17 starts. It also marked the 42-year-old's first scoreless outing of the year, snapping a three-start stretch in which he allowed 14 runs (12 earned) over 11.2 innings. On the season, he owns a 4.70 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 70:33 K:BB across 84.1 frames and lines up for a home matchup with the Pirates next week.

Soroka (3-8) took the loss against the Reds on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Soroka gave up a run on a single in the fourth inning, but that proved to be all the Reds would need as Nick Lodolo spun a complete-game shutout. Since allowing seven runs to the Red Sox on July 4, Soroka has yielded just four earned runs over his last three outings. He'll carry a 4.85 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 83:24 K:BB across 78 innings into a road matchup with the Astros next week.

Lodolo (8-6) earned the win against the Nationals on Wednesday, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out eight over nine scoreless innings.

Lodolo filled up the zone, throwing 76 of 105 pitches for strikes and recording nine whiffs on his curveball. It's officially the southpaw's second complete game of the season, though the first was a rain-shortened, six-inning start against the Twins on June 18. He's now delivered four straight quality starts while yielding only nine earned runs over his past seven outings. Lodolo will carry a 3.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 112:23 K:BB across 122.2 innings into a home matchup with the Dodgers next week.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Sasaki (shoulder) threw a 39-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and is on track to face hitters at the team's spring training complex next week, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Sasaki resumed mound work in mid-July and he will throw another bullpen session this weekend before progressing to facing hitters. The right-hander reportedly was topping out at 90 miles per hour in previous bullpen sessions, which is notably down from the norm, but it's not clear what his velocity looked like Wednesday. Sasaki has been sidelined since mid-May with a right shoulder impingement.

McGreevy will remain in the Cardinals' rotation and start Sunday against the Padres, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Erick Fedde has been designated for assignment, officially clearing a spot in the St. Louis rotation. McGreevy is due for a long-term opportunity at the major-league level, having posted a 2.81 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 35:5 K:BB over 51.1 innings covering seven starts and two relief appearances with the Cardinals since last season. The 25-year-old has put up a 3.72 ERA and 78:15 K:BB over 75 frames this year at Triple-A Memphis. McGreevy is worth scooping up in deeper fantasy leagues where he's available.

The Cardinals designated Fedde for assignment Wednesday.

Fedde had been pummeled for 26 runs while posting an 8:11 K:BB over 17.2 innings over his last five starts, bringing his ERA up to 5.22 on the season. The veteran right-hander is likely to clear waivers and eventually become a free agent, with the Cardinals remaining on the hook for what's left of his $7.5 million salary. Michael McGreevy will replace Fedde in the St. Louis rotation.