MLB Player News

German allowed three hits and four walks over six scoreless innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Rangers. He struck out four.

Making his first start this season, German was excellent, blanking the Rangers over six frames despite allowing at least one baserunner in five frames. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed just two runs through 12 innings this year with the Pirates, posting a 1.00 WHIP with eight strikeouts. However, with Jared Jones (lat) nearing a return, German figures to head back to a swingman role in Pittsburgh.

Manaea allowed three runs on three hits over seven innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Orioles. He struck out nine.

Manaea got off to a stellar start Wednesday, setting down the first 17 batters he faced. However, he hit Jackson Holliday with a pitch with two outs in the sixth inning before surrendering a two-run homer to Austin Slater, Baltimore's first hit of the game. Manaea has now gone seven innings in four of his last five outings, pitching to a 2.61 ERA in that span (31 innings). Overall, the left-hander is 9-5 on the year with a 3.48 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 138:52 K:BB across 137 innings. Manaea is currently lined up for a road matchup with the Diamondbacks early next week.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Nelson is tentatively scheduled to start Friday's game against the Red Sox, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Nelson will be available in relief Wednesday in Miami, if needed, but the Diamondbacks seemingly prefer to stay away from him so that he can take the hill Friday. Though Lovullo has previously stated that Arizona eventually plans to condense to a five-man rotation, Nelson has made it tough on the Diamondbacks to demote him to the bullpen. He's posted a 2.73 ERA and 55:11 K:BB over 56 innings since the beginning of July, and another strong outing Friday could prompt Arizona to keep him in the fold for another turn through the rotation.

Yamamoto (triceps) will throw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday, per MLB.com.

This will be Yamamoto's second sim game since he landed on the injured list in mid-June. In his first, the Japanese hurler threw 17 pitches in St. Louis on Aug. 16. Yamamoto is expected to follow Wednesday's simulated game with a three-inning sim game before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. He could return to the Dodgers' rotation in early September.

Assad (6-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in a 3-1 victory over the Tigers. He struck out seven.

The seven Ks were the most for the right-hander since June 17, and Assad tossed 59 of 95 pitches for strikes as he fell just short of his fifth quality start of the season. He has yet to give up more than three runs in an outing since he recovered from a forearm strain and rejoined the Cubs' rotation just before the All-Star break, delivering a 3.30 ERA over his last 30 innings despite a worrying 20:17 K:BB and 1.60 WHIP. Assad will try to keep walking that tightrope in his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Miami.

Jones (lat) struck out 10 and allowed one hit and no walks over five scoreless innings Tuesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis.

While making the third start of his rehab assignment for Indianapolis, Jones showed that he's likely ready to make his return from the 15-day injured list. The lone hit he allowed on the night was an infield single, and Jones generated 15 swings and misses among his 73 pitches (53 strikes) while throwing a fastball that averaged 97.6 miles per hour, per Jack McMullen of JustBaseball.com. Assuming the Pirates are comfortable with how Jones is feeling physically coming out of the rehab start, he could be activated from the 15-day injured list and rejoin the big-league rotation as soon as Monday's series opener versus the Cubs. Jones has been on the shelf since July 4 with a Grade 2 right lat strain.

Keller (11-7) picked up the win Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over the Rangers, scattering three hits over seven-plus scoreless innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

After getting hammered for 15 runs in 12 innings over his last two trips to the mound, Keller was razor-sharp Tuesday, firing 73 of 98 pitches for strikes and retiring the first 11 batters he faced. All three hits off the right-hander were singles, and none of the runners even managed to get to second base. The quality start was Keller's 13th of the year, while the nine strikeouts tied his season high. He'll take a 3.76 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 134:40 K:BB through 148.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.

Fedde (8-7) took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks over 5.2 innings as the Cardinals fell 3-2 to the Brewers. He struck out two.

The right-hander tossed only 53 of 95 pitches for strikes, and his inefficiency left him one out short of his 11th quality start of the season. Fedde has had a bumpy beginning to his St. Louis tenure after being acquired at the trade deadline, going 1-3 in his first four starts for the team with a 4.98 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB through 21.2 innings. He'll look to get on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Minnesota.

Buehler did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's win over the Mariners, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one over four innings.

Buehler struggled once again Tuesday and recorded his lowest strikeout total of the season. The Mariners got to him early with two runs in the first and another run in the third. One positive from the outing was that Buehler did not allow a home run, which is something he's done only one other time this season. The 29-year-old now sits at a 6.09 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB in 44.1 innings. Buehler's spot in the rotation is safe for now, but he could be at risk of being moved to the bullpen for the postseason. He lines up to make another start against the Orioles next week.

Montas (6-8) picked up the win in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Cardinals, allowing one hit and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out three.

The 31-year-old right-hander retired the first 10 batters he faced before Alec Burleson poked a single up the middle in the fourth inning, and Montas never even let a runner get into scoring position before exiting after 89 pitches (56 strikes). He's been an astute trade deadline pickup for the Brewers so far, posting a 2.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB through his first four starts and 21 innings with his new team. Montas will carry a 13-inning scoreless streak into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Oakland against one of his former clubs.