MLB Player News

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (10-6) turned in another impressive performance as he earned his 10th win of the season during Friday's series opener against the Reds. The left-hander yielded one run on six hits and no walks while striking out eight over eight innings pitched in a 2-1 win.

Kershaw is 5-1 with a 2.19 ERA over his last six starts. He struck out 45 and walked three over that span. The 25-year-old is scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (13-6) endured another rough outing as he suffered his sixth loss of the season Friday night against the Braves. The right-hander allowed four runs -- three earned -- over seven hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings pitched in a 4-1 defeat.

It was his first loss since June 23. Wainwright has allowed three runs in three of his last five starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at Pittsburgh. He is 8-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 13 starts away from home this season.

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels (4-13) tossed a quality start but was pegged with his 13th loss of the season Friday against the Tigers. The left-hander yielded two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six over seven innings pitched in a 2-1 defeat.

Hamels has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at home against San Francisco. He is 2-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 10 starts at home.

Henderson Alvarez (1-1) pitched six scoreless innings for his first victory as the Marlins beat the Pirates in the opening game of a three-game series Friday night. The right-hander surrendered only two hits and one walk while striking out five in a 2-0 victory.

Alvarez has not allowed a run over his past two starts (13 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against the Mets. He owns a 2.64 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP through his first five starts this season.

As recently as Tuesday, I expressed little confidence in rookie Alex Wood staying in the Braves rotation, so you'd think after his underwhelming start Thursday at the Mets, I'd stick with that stance. But now with Tim Hudson out for the year, it seems a good bit more plausible.

And again, I really like Wood's potential. He doesn't have the pedigree of a Kevin Gausman or Zack Wheeler, but neither did Tony Cingrani. And like Cingrani, Wood's plus fastball and funky left-handed delivery have allowed him to put up some killer numbers in the minors: In 24 career starts, he has a 1.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Of course, the Braves still have room for only three of Wood, Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Paul Maholm in their starting rotation, but right now, Wood is one of those three. And with two starts coming up in Fantasy Week 18 (July 29-14), he deserves the benefit of the doubt in Fantasy, especially if you can slot him at relief pitcher.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke fell to 8-3 after surrendering four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four in seven innings in his team's 5-2 loss to the Reds Thursday.

Greinke had allowed just one earned run in 22 innings over his previous three starts heading into Thursday. He brings a 3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 75:31 K:BB ratio into Wednesday's scheduled start against the Yankees.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley survived a scare when he was struck in the leg by a comebacker in the third inning of Thursday's 3-1 win over the Cubs, staying in to pitch 7 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run on five hits and three walks, striking out four while picking up the win.

Miley, who hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since June 15, moves to 7-8 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 93:42 K:BB ratio. He's scheduled to face the Rays Wednesday.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn picked up his 12th win of the season in Thursday's 3-1 victory over the Phillies, allowing just one earned run on five hits and four walks while striking out six in seven innings.

It was just Lynn's second quality start in five July games. He brings a 12-5 record, 3.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 122:48 K:BB ratio into Tuesday's start against the Pirates.

Marlins pitcher Nate Eovaldi allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out four in six scoreless innings Thursday but did not factor into the decision in his team's 5-3 win over the Rockies.

It was the second time in seven starts that Eovaldi has held the opposition scoreless and the sixth time that he has completed six innings. He is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB ratio heading into Tuesday's scheduled start against the Mets.

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio was terrific in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Marlins, striking out nine batters in seven scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and walking one. However, he did not factor into the decision.

Nicasio has surrendered just one earned run in 19 innings over three July starts while lowering his ERA from 5.31 to 4.40. He bring a 6-4 record, 1.31 WHIP and 71:34 K:BB ratio into Tuesday's scheduled start against the Braves.