MLB Player News

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio held the Giants to just one earned run on five hits and four walks while striking out one in five innings Wednesday but did not factor into the decision in his team's 4-3 loss.

Nicasio has allowed one run or less in four of his last five starts, but he's just 1-1 over that stretch. He takes an 8-7 record, 4.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 109:58 K:BB ratio into Tuesday's scheduled start against the Cardinals.

Marlins pitcher Nate Eovaldi is dealing with back tightness, which could cause him to miss Thursday's scheduled start against the Braves, MLB.com reports. If Eovaldi can't pitch Thursday, Brian Flynn will be moved up one day to take his place.

Eovaldi is 3-6 with a 3.80 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 63:32 K:BB ratio in 87 2/3 innings.

The Braves will skip starter Alex Wood's turn through the rotation Thursday, MLB.com reports. Wood has thrown 132 innings this season, just his second professional campaign, and so the Braves will give him some rest as they head down the stretch.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto threw a 60-pitch batting practice session without issue Wednesday morning, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Cueto said he is "feeling good, feeling ready." With the minor league season over, Cueto won't be able to go on a rehab assignment. He is expected to rejoin the team at some point in September, but it is unclear when or whether or not he will be a starter or work out of the bullpen.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran (12-7) turned in a solid outing as he pitched his way into the seventh inning and earned his 12th win of the season Tuesday night against Miami. The right-hander surrendered three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 victory.

Teheran has allowed four earned runs over his last 13 innings pitched. He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday at home against San Diego. He is 7-3 with a 2.62 ERA in 14 starts at home this season.

Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu remains on track to start Wednesday's game against Arizona, the Los Angeles Times reports. Ryu is returning from a stiff back. He's gone 13-5 this season for the Dodgers, his first in the majors, with a 3.02 ERA over 26 starts. 

Still have a shot at the title in your Fantasy Baseball league and don't want to blow it? Stay away from Lance Lynn for the next few weeks.

The Cardinals right-hander will be good again -- maybe even at some point this year -- but down the stretch, you can't hold out hope of him rediscovering his form. He's gone too long now without showing any signs of it, allowing four-plus earned runs in five straight starts for a 7.57 ERA.

And it's not like he was a world beater before then. In his last 17 starts -- or more than half his season so far -- he has a 5.56 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. In only five of those starts did he allow fewer than four earned runs.

At least Jeff Samardzija and Tim Lincecum throw in the occasional gem.

Even if Lynn shows signs of turning the corner next time out, he doesn't have enough time to regain my trust. The stakes are too high and the waiver wire is too plentiful, with pitchers like Sonny Gray, Marco Estrada, Martin Perez and Michael Wacha still available in many leagues.

A co-worker asked me Sunday if he should go with a two-start Gerrit Cole or a one-start Sonny Gray in Fantasy Week 24 (Sept. 9-15). Playing it safe, I opted for Gray, citing his cupcake matchup at Minnesota. Cole had been lacking in innings recently, had been lacking in strikeouts from the beginning and had a scary matchup at Texas to open the week.

So naturally, that's when he turns in his best start of the season.

The innings were there, and of greater note, the strikeouts were there. His nine strikeouts in seven innings represented just the third time in 16 starts that he had more strikeouts than innings. I never doubted he could do it -- the guy throws 100 mph -- but with the Pirates encouraging him to pitch to contact, I wondered how long before we'd see it.

Cole will be a strikeout pitcher. With his stuff, it's inevitable. Encouraging him to pitch to contact keeps him in the strike zone, keeping his pitch count down, but once he masters efficiency, whether or not the batter makes contact on that third strike is just a matter of pitch sequence. Cole's performance Monday has me thinking he's reached that stage of his development.

Which has me thinking he's a big-time breakout candidate for next year. If he ends 2013 still in a developmental stage, he's a gamble, but if he shows clear signs of taking that next step, I'm all-in.

Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he still plans to start Friday against the Cubs. Morton was forced to leave his previous start with a foot injury. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen Wednesday. If he can't make the start, the Pirates will likely use Brandon Cumpton as a backup option.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg had a long conversation with pitching coach Steve McCatty following his start against the Marlins Sunday, according to The Washington Post. 

Strasburg registered two balks during the game, which may have led to the talk. McCatty stressed that Strasburg needs to focus more with runners on base. He added that Strasburg sometimes focuses too much on the hitter, and doesn't think about controlling the running game. Strasburg has balked three times this season, which McCatty attributes to anxiousness. 

Strasburg has a 2.96 ERA in 28 starts.