MLB Player News

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke recorded his 100th career victory on Monday night in St. Louis. Greinke held the Cardinals to just two runs over 6 1/3 innings to move to 9-3 on the season.

Squaring off against Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, Greinke came out on top. He allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts and threw 105 pitches. His ERA is now at 3.40.

The 29-year-old won for the first time since July 13 against Colorado. That said, he's allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six outings. Pitching well, Greinke makes his next scheduled outing Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg put together a solid line Monday night at home against the Atlanta Braves. Strasburg had to settle for the no-decision in the end, however, as he left the game tied at two runs apiece.

Strasburg threw 112 pitches on the outing as he allowed the two earned runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out nine batters and lowered his ERA to 3.01.

The 25-year-old rebounded from giving up five runs in a loss at Detroit his last time out but has lost his last three decisions and hasn't won a start since July 7. Strasburg's record remains 5-9 despite his solid ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He will look for more positive winning results when he next starts Sunday against Philadelphia.

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was named NL pitcher of the month Monday. Kershaw went 4-1 with a 1.34 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in six July starts.

The wins, ERA and WHIP were all season-bests for the left-handed hurler. Kershaw struck out 43 batters and walked a season-low two hitters in 47 July innings.

Braves starting pitcher Alex Wood (2-2) stayed sharp as he earned his second win of the season Sunday night against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings pitched in a 4-1 win.

Wood has won back-to-back starts and has surrendered four earned runs over his last 13 innings pitched. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at home against the Marlins. He is 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA in eight appearances (two starts) at Turner Field.

Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio couldn't make it out of the fifth inning during Sunday's 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh. The right-hander was charged with four runs on six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings, while striking out four.

Nicasio (6-6) dropped a second straight start and has allowed 12 earned runs on 16 hits and six walks in his last 8 1/3 innings. 

Nicasio will look to end his losing streak when he returns to action Saturday in a rematch against the Pirates.

Command problems plagued Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler during a 6-2 loss to the Royals Sunday. The rookie right-hander tied a season-high with five walks, while striking out five.

Wheeler (4-2) was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings. Wheeler tossed three scoreless innings before Mike Moustakas tallied the first run of the game on a solo home run in the fourth inning. Wheeler lost for the first time in seven starts.

The Mets are returning to a five-man rotation until Jonathon Niese (shoulder) comes off the disabled list, so Wheeler will make his next start Saturday at Arizona.

Marlins starting pitcher Nate Eovaldi tossed seven strong innings Sunday against the Indians, but he couldn't get any run support in a 2-0 loss. Eovaldi (2-2) allowed one run on seven hits and one walk, while striking out two.

The only run scored off Eovaldi was Lonnie Chisenhall's one-out RBI single in the second inning. Eovaldi is winless in his last four starts (0-2) and has allowed a total of three earned runs in his last three starts.

Eovaldi is expected to make his next start Saturday at Atlanta. He is 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in five road starts this season.

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn struck out a season-high 11 batters and received plenty of run support during a 15-2 rout of the Reds Sunday. Lynn was given a 4-0 lead before even stepping onto the mound in the fourth inning and allowed his only runs on a Zack Cozart two-run homer in the second inning.

The right-hander allowed four hits and two walks in eight innings, while winning for the second time in three starts. Lynn has allowed a total of four runs in his last three starts (21 innings). Lynn has managed at least 10 strikeouts twice this season.

Lynn (13-5) will return to action Friday against the Cubs. He is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA in three starts against the NL Central rivals in 2013.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Sunday the plan is for rookie starting pitcher Gerrit Cole to pitch through September, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, Huntington said the team might give Cole an extra day of rest, pull him early from starts or skip a start to monitor his workload.

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (lat) said Sunday he hasn't started throwing and doesn't know when he will start, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Cueto hasn't pitched in a game since June 28.