MLB Player News

The Braves will have Alex Wood or Brandon Beachy prepared to replace Paul Maholm in the rotation if Maholm is unable to make his next start against the Mets Thursday, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Maholm exited Saturday's start against the White Sox with a sprained left wrist. He was charged with seven runs and seven hits in three innings, suffering his ninth loss. Manager Fredi Gonzalez told reporters he does not believe Maholm will require a stint on the disabled list. The left-hander has a 4.41 ERA through 20 starts.

Padres manager Bud Black opted to use pitcher Sean O'Sullivan as a long reliever Friday against the Cardinals.

O'Sullivan pitched the seventh and eighth innings Friday, allowing three runs and five hits. It was his first relief appearance since April 6, 2011 with the Royals. Black will continue to use the right-hander as a long reliever, in case a starter were to get into some early trouble.

"[Friday], I didn't feel very prepared for the situation," O'Sullivan said. "But I won't let that happen again."

O'Sullivan has a 6.43 ERA in seven innings this season.

Mets starter Zack Wheeler racked up a high pitch count early and had to settle for a no-decision in a 5-4 win over the Phillies Saturday.

Wheeler held the Phillies to two runs in four-plus innings but could not get out of the fifth due to his pitch count. Wheeler walked one -- the final batter he faced with two outs in the fifth -- while throwing 56 of 101 pitches for strikes.

Wheeler allowed seven hits and struck out five, the second time he has had more strikeouts than innings pitched in a start.   

Wheeler is 3-1 with 26 strikeouts and 18 walks. He has thrown at least 100 pitches in four of his six starts. He takes a 3.58 ERA into his next start, scheduled for Thursday against the Braves. 

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels struggled Saturday against the Mets, taking the loss in his first start after the All-Star break.

Hamels allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in the first inning. He was ultimately charged with four runs on seven hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss. He struck out five and walked two while throwing 60 of 94 pitches for strikes.

Hamels is 4-12 with a 4.16 ERA in 21 starts. He had a four-start unbeaten streak snapped and his next start is Friday against the Tigers. 

Dodgers pitcher Ricky Nolasco gave up two earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings in his team's 3-2 win over the Nationals Friday but did not factor into the decision.

Nolasco, who threw 90 pitches, hasn't thrown 100 pitches since his next to last start with the Marlins in late June. He brings a 6-9 record, 3.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 101:30 K:BB ratio into Wednesday's start against the Blue Jays.

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg posted a quality start in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, giving up two earned runs on on seven hits and one walk while striking out six in seven innings but not factoring into the decision.

Strasburg bounced back nicely from giving up seven runs in two innings in his final start before the break. He takes a 5-7 record, 2.97 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 115:38 K:BB ratio into Wednesday's start against the Pirates.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, who is on the disabled list due to a lat strain, has yet to resume throwing, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. He won't begin throwing for at least one more week, according to a team trainer.

Cueto is spending his third stint on the disabled list due to the lat issue.

Mets starting pitcher prospect Noah Syndergaard returned to the mound Wednesday for Double-A Binghamton after throwing a scoreless inning in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. Syndergaard allowed three runs on seven hits (two home runs) and three walks, while striking out five in five innings.

Syndergaard is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in five starts since his promotion from Class A St. Luice to Binghamton. He has 31 strikeouts to seven walks in 25 innings. But he has already allowed more home runs (four) than he did (three) in 12 starts for St. Lucie.

In a recent blog post, MLB.com's Mark Bowman surmised that the Braves could summon rookie Alex Wood to join their rotation by the end of July. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wood is getting stretched out to be a starter, so this could very well become a reality.

In his brief time in the majors, Wood has had no problem missing bats and inducing grounders, so he's a tantalizing stash option in most mixed leagues. Wood's promotion to full-time starter comes as a surprise, though, given that the Braves already have a numbers problem once Brandon Beachy completes his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Bowman suggested the team might move Kris Medlen to the bullpen, which would effectively clear a spot for Wood. Medlen has not fared well in his three July starts, and should that pattern extend to his next scheduled start against the Mets, manager Fredi Gonzalez could pull the plug on his tenure in the rotation.

Despite his recent slump, Medlen has been largely reliable this season, so it's too soon to drop him in Fantasy leagues. But his owners should keep a close eye on this situation.

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha hasn't had great results since he was skipped for two starts at Triple-A Memphis to rest his arm. Wacha is 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts since returning to the Memphis rotation.

Wacha has allowed six runs on 12 hits (one home run) and three walks in 10 1/3 innings in his last two starts. He has 12 strikeouts as well.

The right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.78 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 12 starts for Memphis. He has 52 strikeouts and 18 walks in 68 innings.