MLB Player News

As expected, Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto has been activated from the 15-day disabled list.

Cueto was pegged to start Monday's game, and the move was expected. He'll take on the Mets, who will toss Shaun Marcum. It will be Cueto's first appearance since April 13. He left after just 4 1/3 innings with a lat injury. 

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto may alter his mechanics when he returns from the disabled list, according to Cincinnati.com. 

Cueto believes his delivery might be the reason for his recent oblique injuries. Cueto, who has a similar motion to Dodgers' great Fernando Valenzuela, said he would stop rotating as much if the injuries continue. Cueto's delivery requires so much rotation that he often completely turns his back to the hitter. He is slated to start against the Mets Monday.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran's velocity has jumped from 92.59 mph in April to 93.24 mph in May. He's been much better over his last four starts, two of which have come in May. Teheran has allowed eight earned runs in those starts. He has relied on his four-seam fastball more in May, increasing his usage three percent from April. 

Home runs and lack of strikeouts have been Teheran's biggest issues. Although the added velocity hasn't led to more strikeouts, Fantasy owners are probably happy to see Teheran turn things around. 

The Cardinals are preaching patience with pitching prospect Michael Wacha, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Wacha was passed over for lefty Tyler Lyons, who will make a start with the major-league club Wednesday. Although fans are wondering why Wacha wasn't promoted, general manager John Mozeliak said the team needs to be careful with the young starter. 

"We also want to make sure that we don’t put him into a situation where all of a sudden we are truly having to worry about his innings and his pitch count to the degree (of) young pitchers coming up in the past," Mozeliak said. Mozeliak also said the service time clock was playing a role in the team's decision.

The 21-year-old Wacha has a 1.89 ERA in 47 2/3 Triple-A innings. 

Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio, who gave up five runs his last time out, turned in a bounce-back performance during Sunday's series finale against the Giants.

Nicasio, who made his ninth start of the season, allowed just three hits as he struck out five and walked one over six scoreless innings of work. His ERA improved to 4.47 after picking up his fourth win of the season.

Nicasio (4-1) has allowed two runs and five hits over his last 11 innings of work at home. He'll face the Giants again Saturday night at AT&T Park. Nicasio is 2-1 with a 5.19 in five starts away from home.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Wade Miley was effective over six innings Sunday against the Marlins, but he ended up as the tough-luck loser in a 2-1 loss. Miley was outdueled by Ricky Nolasco, who struck out 11 in eight-plus innings.

Miley (3-3) was locked in a scoreless battle until the Marlins scored twice in the sixth inning. The left-hander was charged with two runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out six. Miley has lost three of his last four starts.

"I felt good out there," Miley said. "I was making pitches and throwing strikes. Just a couple of bad pitches cost you late in the game, especially in a game like that where it's 0-0. You've got to do better job."

Miley will pitch Saturday against the Padres. Miley lost to San Diego on May 3, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks in five innings.

Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco struck out 11 in eight-plus innings of a 2-1 win Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Nolasco was going for the complete-game shutout, but he was pulled in the ninth after allowing a leadoff double to Didi Gregorius, who would scored two batters later.

Nolasco (3-5), whose career-high for strikeouts in a game is 16, allowed a run on five hits and a walk. He threw 74 of 110 pitches for strikes. The right-hander had lost three straight starts coming entering Sunday.

"Good command of all the pitches," Nolasco said, per the Sun-Sentinel. "The curveball was really good today, so that helped a lot. I was able to spin it pretty much whenever I wanted to and (Jeff) Mathis did a good job of realizing that and we used it very well."

Nolasco will next start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. Nolasco is 7-10 with a 5.35 ERA in 19 career interleague starts.

Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio is 3-1 through eight starts, but his win-loss record doesn't tell the entire story. Nicasio has a 5.13 ERA and has made it through six innings just twice this season.

"He needs to start throwing the ball -- he's been trying to be too fine with his pitches, instead of just letting them go," Rockies backup catcher Yorvit Torrealba said to The Denver Post. "He's a power pitcher. He can throw his fastball by a lot of hitters. The secondary pitches? He needs to keep working on them, but instead of trying to be too fine, he needs to throw the 95, 96 mph fastball by them."

Manager Walt Weiss seems to be in agreement with Torrealba, who will be behind the plate Sunday for Nicasio's start against the Giants.

"It's just a matter of making pitches and not thinking too much about the hitter ... as opposed to pitching to his own strength," Weiss said. "I think in the bullpen, where there is no hitter there, you just do what you do."

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn was hit hard but did not factor into the decision in a 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Brewers Saturday.

Lynn allowed three runs in the third, including a two-run triple by Jean Segura. He was charged with four runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Lynn has allowed seven runs over his past 12 innings. The right-hander will start Friday at the Dodgers. He is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts at Dodger Stadium.

The Rockies optioned reliever Rob Scahill to Triple-A Colorado Springs Saturday to make room for starter Tyler Chatwood on the active roster.

Scahill had two scoreless appearances in which he struck out two and allowed two hits in 5 1/3 innings.