MLB Player News

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (8-5) received more than enough run support as he matched his career high with 11 strikeouts and earned his first win back from the All-Star break Thursday night against the Rockies at Turner Field.

Teheran allowed a sacrifice fly to Corey Dickerson in the second for his only blemish of the night. The right-hander surrendered one run on five hits and two walks over five innings of an 11-2 win.

Teheran also helped his cause with two hits, including an RBI double in the second. He has allowed two earned runs combined through his first three second-half starts (18 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday at Washington.

Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton (3-3) ran into trouble against the Cardinals as the Pirates dropped the finale of their five-game series, 13-0, on Thursday night at PNC Park. The right-hander yielded five runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings for the loss.

Morton has allowed three earned runs or more in four of his last five starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against the Pirates. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- over five innings during his previous meeting against Miami on July 27.

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels did not see a ton of run support in Thursday’s contest against the Giants as he pitched eight scoreless innings and received a no-decision in a 2-1 defeat. The left-hander gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out five, improving his ERA to 3.87 on the year.

Hamels has yielded two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against the Cubs. He is 2-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts at home this season.

Padres pitcher Sean O'Sullivan was reinstated from the paternity list Thursday. O'Sullivan is likely headed to the bullpen with San Diego acquiring Ian Kennedy from Arizona.

Although he doesn't have a win in two second-half starts, Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran has been impressive since the All-Star break. Teheran has a 0.69 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in his last two starts.

Teheran credits his recent success to his confidence in throwing his curveball.

"The last two games, I feel like my curveball has been my best pitch," Teheran said, per MLB.com. "I feel like I can throw it even if they know it's coming, and they can't hit it."

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was brilliant Wednesday against the Yankees, but was forced to settle for a no-decision in a 3-0 loss.

Kershaw allowed just five baserunners in the game, all on singles, over the course of eight shutout innings. Despite the strong outing, in which he struck out five and walked none, Kershaw had to take a no-decision. The Dodgers would go on to implode in the top of the ninth inning, as the bullpen let up three runs in the loss.

Kershaw lowered his National League-leading ERA to 1.87 with the outing, but his record still stands at 10-6 in 23 starts. He has thrown seven straight quality starts, and finished the month of July with a 4-1 record and 1.34 ERA in six starts.  

Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez threw his fourth quality start in a row Wednesday, in a 3-2 win over the Mets.

Alvarez tossed a season-high 7 1/3 innings and limited the Mets to two runs on six hits and a pair of walks in the outing. He was a groundball machine, racking up 17 of 22 outs by way of the groundball. He struck out one hitter, while throwing 66 of 100 pitches for strikes.

Alvarez has pitched well since returning from the disabled list, posting a 2.61 ERA and 2-1 record in six starts. He has gone at least six innings in five of those starts, and will look to keep his solid run up in his next outing, scheduled for Tuesday against the Pirates. 

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright was unable to make an early lead stand up and had to settle for a no-decision in a 5-4 loss to the Pirates Wednesday.

Wainwright allowed four runs on eight hits in seven innings of work, while throwing 108 pitches. He struck out six and walked just one batter. He had a 4-2 lead after three innings, but allowed one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to spoil his shot at a win. 

Wainwright remains 13-6 on the season, though his ERA rose to 2.61 in the outing. Wainwright's next start is set for Monday against the Dodgers.  

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Wade Miley struggled with his control a bit Wednesday, but had was able to keep the Rays off the scoreboard in a 7-0 win.

Miley allowed just two hits in 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball, but he did walk five batters. Despite shutting the Rays out, he was inefficient as a result of his high walk total, needing 116 pitches to finish his six-plus innings. Miley struck out eight batters, his highest total since his season debut April 5.

Miley is now 8-8 on the season with a 3.68 ERA, though he is 4-1 over his last five starts. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Rays at home.  

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto is still not throwing as part of his recovery from a strained right lat, and according to MLB.com, there is no target date for the beginning of a throwing program.

"He's doing strengthening stuff and building up endurance through exercise, but not throwing," Reds pitching coach Bryan Price said. "I think in his situation, there has to be a definite confidence amongst all medical and training staff that the injury itself is healed and that we can begin the throwing program without huge concern he's going to re-injure it."

Cueto has been on the disabled list since June 29 due to the injury, one that has forced him to the DL three times already. The team has consistently stated that they will take his recovery from the injury slowly, given how many times it has recurred.