MLB Player News

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley turned in a dominant outing but was not backed by enough run support as he settled for a no-decision Sunday afternoon against the Pirates at PNC Park. The left-hander yielded two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over eight innings pitched.

Miley has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Friday at Philadelphia. He is 4-6 in 15 starts with a 3.86 ERA away from home this season.

Dodgers starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco took a no-decision Sunday against Philadelphia despite a sharp start against the Phillies.

Nolasco went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out five. Nolasco's ERA is down to 3.60 on the season and he has yet to allow more than three runs in a start with the Dodgers. However, Sunday marked just his third quality start -- he has failed to go six innings five of the eight times he has taken the mound for Los Angeles.

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran tossed six scoreless innings Sunday, securing his 10th win in a 2-1 victory against Washington. Teheran (10-6) allowed five hits and three walks, while striking out five.

Teheran has won three of his last four starts. He has allowed one or no earned runs in six of his last eight starts.

The right-hander will be back on the hill Saturday against the Cardinals. Teheran took a no-decision July 27 against the Cardinals, allowing no runs in seven innings.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha has adjusted well to his new role as reliever. He's tossed three perfect innings since joining the bullpen, striking out seven of nine batters.

"He was pretty impressive, came in and did a nice job," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Wacha's one-inning outing Saturday against the Cubs. "We knew we had to get him exposed at some point to some higher-leverage situations, and that was nice to get him in there and get us some big outs, more than anything else."

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels recovered from a 2-0 deficit to take a no-decision Sunday against the Dodgers. The left-hander was charged with two runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out eight in seven innings.

Hamels fell behind 1-0 in the second inning on Andre Ethier's solo home run. The deficit grew to two runs on Jerry Hairston's RBI single in the fourth that scored Ethier. Though, Hamels wouldn't allow another run the rest of the way and took his third no-decision in four starts. He has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his last nine starts.

Hamels will make his next scheduled start Friday against the Diamondbacks. Hamels lost to Arizona May 9, allowing two runs in six innings during a 2-1 loss.

Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton tossed seven strong innings Sunday against the Diamondbacks, but he just didn't receive enough offensive support. Morton settled for a no-decision after he left a 2-all game.

The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings before Arizona scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the game. Morton was charged with two runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out six. He's settled for two straight no-decisions and has allowed two earned runs in three straight starts.

Morton returns to the hill Friday at San Francisco. Morton lost to San Francisco in his season debut June 13, allowing four runs (two earned) in five innings.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Sunday he's been impressed with how rookie starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has been able to keep the ball down in the strike zone, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"A lot of the big throwers, at least in my experience, spray the ball. And when they spray it, it's up top," Hurdle said. "That hasn't been the case with Gerrit at all. He really gets out and down with his delivery. It's a quick arm (action) at the end. It's down angle."

Cole has a 49 percent ground-ball rate.

"It's probably the way he's been built since he's been on a mound," Hurdle said. "The low drive, the big legs. He's got that build where -- you hate to use the term -- but it's almost a drop-and-drive type delivery."

The Braves realigned their rotation Sunday after starting pitcher Kris Medlen had to toss three innings during Saturday's 15-inning loss against the Nationals.

Brandon Beachy will start for Medlen during Tuesday's series opener at N.Y. Mets, and Alex Wood will then finish up the two-game series Wednesday. Mike Minor will open a four-game series at St. Louis Thursday before Medlen rejoins the rotation Friday. Julio Teheran will pitch Saturday before the rotation resets.

Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez struggled in just one inning Saturday, but it was enough to saddle him with a 6-4 loss.

Alvarez allowed runs in just one of his seven innings in the game, as the Giants jumped on him for four runs on three hits and a pair of walks in the fourth inning. He allowed just three baserunners otherwise in the game, finishing with four runs on four hits and four walks in seven innings.

Alvarez ended up throwing 101 pitches in the game, while striking out four batters. His record fell to 2-2 on the season, while his ERA rose to 3.41. He has gone at least six innings in eight straight starts, but has surrendered four runs in each of his last two outings. 

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw continued his dominance Saturday, in a 5-0 win over the Phillies.

Kershaw was never in serious jeopardy of losing the game, as he limited the Phillies to just four baserunners in the game. He did not allow a runner to reach until the fifth inning, when Domonic Brown singled -- and was subsequently picked off.

Kershaw faced just three batters over the minimum, allowing three hits and one walk. He struck out eight over eight innings of work. He lowered his ERA to 1.80, while improving his record to 12-4 in a 5-0 win.

Kershaw leads the National League in innings (190 1/3), strikeouts (182), WHIP (0.85) to go with his league-best ERA, heading into his next start, scheduled for Thursday against the Marlins.