MLB Player News

Morton (10-7) took the loss against Arizona on Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.

Morton had notched a victory in each of his previous five appearances coming into Wednesday, but that streak came to an end again Arizona. The veteran hurler surrendered his most runs since the Mets tagged him for four nearly six weeks ago, though he did manage to keep the ball in the park for the fourth time in his past five outings. Morton's season 1.37 WHIP is in line to be his worst over a full season since 2015, but he's still managed to put together a strong campaign with a 3.36 ERA and 119:46 K:BB over 109.2 frames through 19 starts.

Nelson (6-5) earned the win over Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters over seven innings.

Nelson didn't overpower the intimidating Atlanta offense, as he tallied just seven whiffs and five punchouts. However, the right-hander was efficient and effective during his seven frames, throwing 52 of 84 pitches for a strike and issuing just one walk. Two of the three hits against him left the park, but each was a solo shot, allowing Nelson to minimize the damage. He's gone seven or more innings in three of his past five outings, notching a quality start and a win in each of the three lengthy appearances. Nelson's 4.82 ERA on the campaign is far from spectacular, but it's partly the result of a handful of blow-ups, and he's given up two or fewer earned runs in nine of his 20 outings overall.

Stripling (0-3) took the loss against Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Stripling served up a three-run homer to Will Benson in the third inning that accounted for all of the runs against him. Though that was enough for Stripling to be tagged with the loss, this was mostly a positive outing for the veteran hurler. He tallied a season-high innings total -- prior to Wednesday, he hadn't gone more than five frames in any outing -- and worked up to 76 pitches, his most since May 7. Stripling has been eased back into action after missing over a month between late May and late June with a back injury, but he's been mostly effective despite the limitations since his return, posting a 3.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB over 19.1 frames covering five appearances.

Ashcraft (5-7) earned the win over San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over six-plus innings.

Ashcraft made it through four scoreless frames before the Giants tagged him for a run in the fifth. The right-hander tossed a 1-2-3 sixth but surrendered a solo homer to Blake Sabol leading off the seventh, which led to his removal. Though his outing ended on that sour note, it was another strong performance overall by Ashcraft, as he notched his fourth straight quality start. Over that span, he's recorded a standout 1.82 ERA over 24.2 frames, though his mediocre 14:9 K:BB across the quality-start streak is fair reason to question whether it is sustainable.

Rodon (0-3) took the loss against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing six runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings.

Rodon followed an unsuccessful pattern in each of the first two innings: issuing a free pass and giving up a home run to the next batter. He then walked the first two hitters he faced in the third, both of whom came around to score. Altogether, the left-hander issued five free passes, one short of a career high. Rodon has lost all three of his starts since coming off the injured list July 7, though this was easily his worst outing so far. He's yet to find his footing as a Yankee, posting a 7.36 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB while serving up four homers over 14.2 innings.

Freeland (shoulder) completed a 40-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Freeland has been sidelined since July 9 while dealing with a dislocated shoulder. He's hoping to let the injury heal naturally, and he took his first step back toward a return during an "aggressive" throwing session. The Rockies haven't provided a clear timeline for his return, though the fact that Freeland is throwing an extended bullpen session bodes well for his chances of being ready to go when first eligible to come off the 15-day injured list July 26.

Urquidy (shoulder) is expected to return to the Astros' rotation in early August, MLB.com reports.

Urquidy made his second rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, and he worked three innings while throwing 45 pitches. He'll now head to Double-A Corpus Christi, with his next outing slated for four innings. Urquidy's final rehab outing will come July 30, with the goal of completing five frames. That would put him in line to return to the big-league rotation at some point during Houston's weekend series against the Yankees from Aug. 3-6.

Castillo allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 11 over six innings in a no-decision during Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Twins.

Castillo's 11 strikeouts were a season high, and he earned his third quality start in his last five outings. He also gave up multiple home runs for the sixth time in eight starts, as Edouard Julien and Max Kepler tagged Castillo for solo shots in the fifth inning. The veteran right-hander is at a 3.04 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 133:30 K:BB through 118.1 innings over 20 starts. He's projected for a rematch with the Twins in Minnesota next week.

Maeda allowed two runs on three hits and struck out nine over 6.1 innings while taking a no-decision in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Mariners.

Maeda allowed just one hit, erased by a double play, over his first five innings. Tom Murphy got to him with a solo home run in the sixth inning, and Maeda was charged with another run in the seventh. This was still one of his best outings of the season, and just his second quality start in nine appearances. Maeda owns a 5.10 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 50:12 K:BB through 42.1 innings overall. He's projected for a rematch with the Mariners at home next week.

Hendricks allowed a run on five hits and struck out five without walking a batter over six innings while taking a no-decision in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Nationals.

Hendricks turned in a quality start Wednesday after getting tagged for nine runs on 18 hits over 10.1 innings across his previous two outings. While his winless skid reached five starts, he's walked just one batter over that span. The right-hander has a 3.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 42:10 K:BB through 64 innings over 11 starts this season. Hendricks is tentatively lined up for a road start versus the White Sox next week.