MLB Player News

Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin turned in a stellar performance as he picked up his fifth win of the season during Thursday's contest against the Phillies.

Corbin (5-0), who made his seventh start of the season, was charged with a run on a fielder's choice in the seventh inning for his only damage of the night. He allowed one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings of work in a 2-1 victory. He struck out four and walked two on 89 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Corbin became the first pitcher in franchise history to open the season with seven straight starts with six-plus innings and two runs or fewer. He has a 1.75 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over that span. The 23-year-old is scheduled to start Tuesday at home against Atlanta. He has allowed just three runs in 19 innings of work through his first three starts at Chase Field.

Dodgers starter Zack Greinke, on the 15-day disabled list, is expected to start his minor-league rehab assignment Friday night for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Greinke, who is four weeks removed from surgery to repair a fractured collarbone, threw 60 pitches in his last bullpen session and is hoping to reach 75 in his minor-league start. Barring any setbacks, Greinke could join the rotation as early as Wednesday against the Nationals at Dodger Stadium, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto threw 50 pitches (36 strikes) in his first rehab start with Class A Dayton, allowing one earned run on four hits in three innings while striking out four.

Cueto should make one more rehab start before being activated from the disabled list. If that's the case and he receives regular rest between each start without suffering any setbacks, he could make his return May 19 against the Phillies.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been far superior with Wilson Ramos behind the plate, according to the Washington Post. 

In three games with Ramos this year, Strasburg has a 1.80 ERA. With Kurt Suzuki, Strasburg has a 5.19 ERA. Strasburg seemed to indicate that he would prefer to throw to one catcher, but said this was part of the game. Over his career, Strasburg has thrown to seven different catchers, though Ramos' injury last season was a big reason for that. 

The difference in performance could be nothing more than a sample size blip, and the Nationals aren't prepared to give Strasburg a personal catcher just yet. Pitching coach Steve McCatty said he doesn't think it's a great idea to assign personal catchers. Manager Davey Johnson seemed to indicate he wasn't ready to make changes behind the plate yet. 

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw turned in his third straight quality start in Wednesday's series finale against the Diamondbacks. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings of work.

The left-hander made it through his first five frames unscathed before running into trouble in the sixth. In that inning, an error put the leadoff man on before he surrendered a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt.

Kershaw threw 72 of his 104 pitches for strikes and left with the game tied 2-2. He also struck out four and walked one in the no-decision.

The 25-year-old is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Nationals.

Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley picked up his first win since April 10 in Wednesday's series finale against the Dodgers. He allowed two runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings in the 3-2 victory.

Miley gave up all of his runs in the fourth when after Nick Punto hit an RBI double, Adrian Gonzalez drove in a run off the left-hander with a two-bagger. Miley was done after throwing 102 pitches, 75 for strikes.

Miley also struck out four with no walks while earning his third win.

His next start is scheduled for Monday against the Braves.

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio got his pitch count up early once again in his outing against the Yankees Wednesday. He allowed two runs on two hits over five innings of work.

The right-hander gave up a hit to the first batter he faced before surrendering a two-run homer to Vernon Wells later in the first. He would issue just a walk over his final four frames and left with the score tied at 2-2.

Nicasio, who threw 91 pitches, also struck out five in the no-decision. He has not lasted more than five innings since his season debut.

The 26-year-old is scheduled to make his next start Monday against the Cubs.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that pitcher Zack Greinke has reached 90 mph on the radar gun in his recent bullpen sessions.

He threw about 60 pitches during a session Tuesday and appears to be ahead of scheduled in his recovery from a fractured collarbone.

"I don’t know how I’d be throwing over 100 pitches, but throwing 50 to 75 should be pretty easy at this point," Greinke said. "I’ve just got to get consistency and be able to get hitters out. That’s what I’m working on in the bullpen, making good pitches. You take some time off, you’re a little rusty."

Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco fell to 2-4 on the year despite holding the Padres to just one earned run in seven innings Wednesday. He allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out nine batters.

Nolasco has held the opposition to four runs or less in all eight of his starts and two runs or less in four starts but is having trouble finding run support from a lackluster Marlins offense. He'll take a 3.72 ERA and 34:11 K:BB ratio into a home game against the Reds next week.

Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (elbow, shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday, according to MLB.com. Morton, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, left his rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis last Friday with discomfort in his shoulder.