MLB Player News

With his trade to the Dodgers, Ricky Nolasco got a change of scenery and a potentially more potent lineup to support him. Those factors alone can boost a pitcher's Fantasy popularity, and having made a successful debut with his new team, Nolasco is, in fact, one of the most-added players in CBSSports.com leagues.

While it's true Nolasco has been a better pitcher this year than last, but it's his 2012 season that was the aberration, not this season. Last year's 2.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio aside, Nolasco has an established track record of posting high K/BB ratios with ERAs that fall short of expectations.

He normally doesn't have a problem with throwing strikes, but more often than not, he's given up too many hits and stranded too few runners. Nolasco is also posting his lowest ground ball rate in three years, so especially now that he won't pitch home games at Marlins Park, he could be due for a higher home run rate.

There's nothing wrong with using Nolasco in certain two-start weeks, and his current two-start week is partly responsible for the spike in his ownership rate. However, standard mixed league owners shouldn't hesitate to drop Nolasco once this week is done.

The Pirates are considering optioning starting pitcher Gerrit Cole to Triple-A Indianapolis during the All-Star break to make sure he stays on turn and avoids a 10-day layoff, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft is 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through his first six MLB starts.

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio is expected to replace Roy Oswalt in the rotation Friday, according to the Denver Post. 

Nicasio was scratched from his Triple-A start Wednesday, leaving him available for Friday's game against the Dodgers. Nicasio would face off against Clayton Kershaw if he's chosen to make the start. With the All-Star break approaching, Oswalt will have time to recover, which could lead to Nicasio having a short stay in the rotation. 

Through 16 starts, Nicasio has a 5.31 ERA. 

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran recorded his major-league leading seventh pickoff Tuesday at Miami. It's the most pickoffs in franchise history for a right-handed pitcher and the franchise record for pickoffs in a season is 16, which is held by left-hander Charlie Leibrandt. 

Teheran is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his last five starts. He's managed 33 strikeouts to six walks in 30 2/3 innings in that span.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels won consecutive starts for the first time this season Tuesday against the Nationals. After posting a 4.58 ERA in his first 17 starts, Hamels has a 1.20 ERA and .204 opponents' batting average through his first two July starts.

"His head has been clear the last two games and he's gone back to just throwing the ball," manager Charlie Manuel told MLB Network Radio Wednesday. "(He was) very aggressive last night."

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright turned in a dominant performance as he struck out nine and earned his 12th win of the season Tuesday night against the Astros.

Wainwright (12-5) permitted a run-scoring single to J.D. Martinez in the sixth inning for his only damage of the night. He yielded one run on five hits and one walk over seven innings in a 9-5 victory.

Wainwright has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his last 10 starts. He is scheduled to make his final start before the All-Star break Sunday against the Cubs. He is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts against Chicago this season.

Making his first start since being traded to the Dodgers, pitcher Ricky Nolasco earned the win in his team's 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks Tuesday, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five and walking none in seven innings.

Nolasco opened the game with six scoreless innings before the Diamondbacks pushed a runner across in the seventh. He's 6-8 with a 3.70 ERA and scheduled to face the Rockies Sunday.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole fell on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel Tuesday night against the Athletics.

Cole (4-2) served up a two-run home run to Brandon Moss in the third inning for his only blemish of the night. He surrendered two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings in a 2-1 loss.

Cole will not pitch until after the All-Star break. Manager Clint Hurdle has yet to release his second-half rotation. The right-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first six starts and owns a 3.94 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over that span.

Making his second start for the Marlins, pitcher Henderson Alvarez took the loss -- 6-4 to the Braves. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks while striking out five in six innings.

Alvarez threw 105 pitches after throwing 68 pitches in his debut. With the team off Thursday, Alvarez is unlikely to start again before the break.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran won his seventh Tuesday, a 6-4 victory over the Marlins. He allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in 7 1/3 innings.

Teheran (7-4) dropped his ERA to a season-low 3.09. He's scheduled to face the Reds Sunday.