MLB Player News

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright pitched his way into the ninth inning but did not factor in the decision Thursday night against the Angels.

Wainwright allowed a two-run single to Mike Trout in the third and a solo home run to Mark Trumbo in the fourth. He allowed a leadoff single to Albert Pujols in the ninth before he was pulled. Edward Mujica gave up a game-tying home run to Josh Hamilton. Wainwright permitted three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three over eight innings.

Wainwright has allowed just six earned runs over his last three starts (23 2/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against the Astros. The right-hander is 3-4 with a 1.84 ERA in seven starts at home.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez had a no-decision in his season debut with his new club Thursday night against the Braves.

Alvarez allowed a two-run single to Freddie Freeman and a run-scoring double to Brian McCann in the first inning. The right-hander settled down to allow three runs on five hits while striking out two over five innings.

Alvarez will get another crack at the Braves Tuesday night at Marlins Park.

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran fell an inning shy of another quality start as he failed to factor in the decision Thursday night against the Marlins.

Teheran squandered a 3-0 lead as he allowed a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna in the second, a run-scoring ground out in the third and an RBI single to Ozuna in fourth. The right-hander surrendered three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings.

Teheran has allowed five runs over his last four starts (23 1/3 innings). He'll get another shot against Miami Tuesday at Marlins Park. He is 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in eight road starts.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole lost Thursday against Philadelphia to fall to 4-1.

Cole allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five but couldn't get through a Phillies rally in the sixth inning. Cole has a 3.94 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings.

Phillies starter Cole Hamels allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings Thursday against Pittsburgh to improve to 3-11.

He struck out eight and didn't allow a walk. He threw 22 first-pitch strikes to 26 batters and had 18 swinging strikes. Hamels lowered his ERA to 4.38.

The Marlins recalled and reinstated pitcher Henderson Alvarez, who will make his season debut Thursday against the Braves. Alvarez, who was working his way back from a shoulder injury, allowed three runs over 24 1/3 innings through four minor-league rehab starts. He had a 4.85 ERA last season with the Blue Jays.

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke earned the win Wednesday against the Rockies, despite matching a career-high with seven walks.

Greinke struggled to find the strike zone throughout his five innings of work, and he racked up a big pitch count as a result. Greinke threw 59 of 107 pitches for strikes over the course of five innings, while the Rockies tagged him for five runs on six hits. 

Luckily, the Dodgers' offense showed up in the game, providing Greinke with plenty of support in a 10-8 win. The win is Greinke's third in a row, pushing his record to 6-2 on the season, with a 4.30 ERA. 

Greinke had not walked more than three batters in any one start prior to Wednesday, so he will try to get back on track in his next start, Monday in Arizona. 

Despite rumors swirling that he could be traded prior to the start of the game, Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco took the mound and excelled against the Braves Wednesday. 

Nolasco shook off the trade rumors and pitched through a light rain for much of the game, holding the Braves to just two runs in seven innings of work. Nolasco fell behind early, allowing a run in the third and fourth innings, the latter coming on a solo home run. He held Atlanta to six hits otherwise, only one of which went for extra-bases.

Nolasco struck out seven and walked none in the game, while throwing 62 of 96 pitches for strikes. He earned the victory in a 6-3 win, pushing his record to 5-8 on the season.

The Marlins' rotation is very much unsettled right now, as Henderson Alvarez is set to come off the disabled list Thursday and Nolasco is expected to be pitching elsewhere soon. For now, he carries a 3.85 ERA into his next start, which is currently set to be a rematch with the Braves Monday. 

Prior to throwing a complete-game shutout Tuesday at Colorado, Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw entered the start with a career 5.68 ERA at Coors Field. Kershaw threw the 36th shutout by an opponent and was just the third pitcher to throw a shutout without issuing a walk at Coors Field, according to MLB.com.

"Just don't walk guys," Kershaw said was the key to winning at Coors Field. "You never want to, but here it seems like they're going to score every time. Go right at guys. Let them get their hits. That's a lot harder than giving them walks."

The Marlins have been aggressively looking to deal starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco, but they might have been too demanding, according to FOX Sports.

Sources said the Marlins are looking for prospects that possess upside in return for the veteran right-hander. Sources added the Marlins also want the trading partner to absorb most or all of the remaining $5.7 million left on Nolasco's contract.

According to sources, the Rockies agreed to send the Marlins two quality prospects if the Marlins included cash in the trade. The Marlins balked and the Rockies lost interest.

Sources said the Dodgers are willing to absorb Nolasco's contract, but only at a minimal cost in talent. The Rangers, Giants and Padres have also expressed interest in trading for Nolasco, who the Marlins were looking to deal before his Wednesday start at Atlanta.