MLB Player News

The Dodgers nearly signed starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a massive extension, as FoxSports.com reported Saturday. Kershaw and the Dodgers were close on a seven year extension worth $210 million earlier in the season, before the Dodgers backed away.

Talks are not expected to resume until the offseason, with Kershaw looking likely to win his second Cy Young award in three seasons. Kershaw is eligible for free agency in 2014. He leads the league in ERA at 1.72, the third season in a row he has been at the top of the leaderboard. 

Pirates starter Charlie Morton (5-3) stayed sharp as he earned his fifth win of the season Friday night against the Giants. The right-hander yielded one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 7 1/3 innings of a 3-1 victory.

Morton has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at home against Milwaukee.

Dodgers starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco (10-9) tossed eight scoreless innings, leading his team to a 2-0 victory and his 10th win of the season Friday night against the Dodgers. The right-hander permitted two hits and no walks while striking out six for the win.

Nolasco has allowed four earned runs combined over his last four starts (25 1/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against the Cubs.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (15-7) went the distance as he notched a complete game victory Friday night against the Braves. The right-hander yielded one run on six hits and no walks while striking out nine in a 3-1 victory.

Wainwright has allowed two earned runs over his last 16 innings pitched. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday against Cincinnati. He is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts against the Reds.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels turned in a solid outing but did not receive enough run support as he settled for a no-decision Friday night against the Diamondbacks. The left-hander permitted three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over seven innings of a 4-3 win.

Hamels has allowed five earned runs combined over his last two starts (14 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday against the Mets at Citi Field. He is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley tossed a quality start but did not factor in the decision Friday night against the Phillies. The left-hander permitted three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over six innings pitched.

Miley has allowed five runs combined over his last two starts (14 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against San Diego. He is 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in three starts against the Padres this season.

The Rockies recalled reliever Rob Scahill from Triple-A Colorado Springs Friday, to take Edgmer Escalona's spot in the bullpen. Scahill has a 4.26 ERA in 19 innings over 13 games between a few earlier stints with the Rockies this season. 

The Cubs acquired pitching prospect Neil Ramirez off waivers Friday, completing the Matt Garza trade with the Rangers as the player to be named later.

Ramirez was initially included in the deal before a biceps strain forced the Cubs to hold off on acquiring the 24-year-old.

Ramirez put up a 3.84 ERA in 103 innings for Double-A Frisco. The Cubs assigned him to Double-A Tennessee to finish out the season. 

The Cardinals have recalled touted prospect pitcher Carlos Martinez, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.

Martinez owns a 2.60 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A Memphis and will likely replace the injured Jake Westbrook in the Cardinals rotation. Martinez posted a 6.19 ERA in 16 innings with St. Louis earlier in the year, but five of his six appearances were out of the bullpen, an unfamiliar role as he only made one relief appearance throughout his entire minor league career.

The Padres have outrighted pitcher Sean O'Sullivan to Triple-A Tucson, MLB.com reports. O'Sullivan posted a 3.96 ERA but walked 14 batters against just 12 strikeouts in 25 innings with San Diego.