MLB Player News
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Edward Cabrera SP | CHC
Cubs' Edward Cabrera: Rebounds for fourth victory
Cabrera (4-3) notched the win over Colorado on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings.
After being pounded by the Giants for eight runs over 3.2 frames in his first start back from the injured list in his previous outing, Cabrera looked better against the Rockies. The right-hander did give up two more homers, but they were both solo shots, and Colorado couldn't put any other runs on the board. Cabrera tossed 51 of 83 pitches for strikes and secured his first victory since April 28. The five long balls he's allowed across his past two appearances are certainly a concern, but Cabrera is lined up for a more promising matchup in his next start, which is scheduled to be a rematch against the Rockies -- this time in Chicago.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Finishes strong after early trouble
Wacha (4-5) allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out two batters over seven innings in a loss against Texas on Thursday.
Wacha looked like he could be in for a short outing after giving up three runs on five hits over the first three innings. The veteran righty was able to settle down thereafter and surrendered only one more run, but the Royals' offense was never able to catch up. Wacha notched just seven whiffs on 102 pitches and tied a season low with two punchouts, but he at least managed to spare a thin KC bullpen by covering seven frames. He has once again provided a reliable arm for the Royals, posting a 3.58 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 69:27 K:BB through 88 innings across 14 starts.
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Doesn't finish fifth frame
Rocker allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Thursday.
Rocker was great through three innings, holding the Royals scoreless on one hit. However, the right-hander faded in the fourth, yielding two runs on three hits and a walk. Rocker returned for the fifth and retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a Bobby Witt single and subsequently being pulled. Though it was far from a disastrous outing, Thursday marked the first time since May 8 that Rocker was unable to complete five frames. He holds a 3.56 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 52:28 K:BB over 65.2 innings spanning 13 appearances (12 starts).
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Pitches well but gets no support
Kelly (5-5) took the loss against Miami on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one batter over six innings.
Kelly didn't allow any extra-base hits and was efficient in getting through six frames on 74 pitches. However, the two runs he allowed were enough to saddle him with the loss, as Arizona managed just three hits and no runs against five Marlins hurlers. Kelly did notch his fifth quality start of the campaign and rebounded well after yielding seven runs over five innings against Washington in his previous outing. He'll carry a 5.46 ERA and 1.45 WHIP into his next start, which is scheduled to be at home against the Angels.
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Hagen Smith SP | CHW
White Sox's Hagen Smith: Could start Saturday for Sox
Manager Will Venable said Thursday that the team is considering promoting Smith to start Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
The White Sox don't currently have a probable pitcher listed for Saturday's contest, but Smith could get the nod after posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while striking out 79 batters in 52.2 innings at Triple-A Charlotte. The 22-year-old southpaw has found consistent success on the mound throughout his minor-league career, though that consistency would certainly be put to the test while making his MLB debut against one of the league's most dynamic offenses. Venable noted there is also a chance the team keeps Smith in the minors for a while longer and relies on its bullpen to get through Saturday.
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Noah Schultz SP | CHW
White Sox's Noah Schultz: Completes bullpen session
Schultz (knee) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Manager Will Venable said that Schultz will throw at least one more bullpen session before the White Sox potentially plot out a rehab assignment for the rookie left-hander, who has been on the shelf since May 26 due to right knee patellar tendinitis. Prior to landing on the injured list, Schultz went 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 33:22 K:BB across 38.2 innings.
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Dean Kremer SP | BAL
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Nearing rehab games
Kremer (quadriceps) threw another live batting practice session Thursday at the Orioles' spring training complex and could soon be cleared to begin a rehab assignment, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Kremer threw 35 pitches -- which included two "ups" -- and also went through pitchers' fielding practice drills. The veteran hurler has been shelved since late April with a right quad strain but looks to be tracking toward a return in early July, assuming he continues at his current progression.
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Christian Scott SP | NYM
Mets' Christian Scott: Gives up three homers Thursday
Scott did not factor into the decision in the Mets' 5-4 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
Scott struggled to keep the ball in the park Wednesday -- he surrendered four runs on three homers in the first two innings. Coming into the day, Scott had given up just one home run this season and none in his previous starts (29.2 innings) leading up to Wednesday, so the long ball isn't a major concern despite New York's power display. The right-hander now sports a 3.10 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 47:19 K:BB across 40.2 innings this season. Scott is tentatively lined up to face the Reds on the road in his next outing.
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Zebby Matthews SP | MIN
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Tagged for seven runs in loss
Matthews (2-4) took the loss Thursday against the Tigers, allowing seven runs on nine hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.
It's the second time in three starts that Matthews has given up seven earned runs. The 26-year-old right-hander was hurt by the long ball Wednesday -- he gave up a season-high three homers in an eventual 11-0 loss to Detroit. After firing seven scoreless frames in his season debut in mid-May, Matthews' ERA now sits at 5.20 with a 1.18 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB through his first six starts (36.1 innings) this year. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to come on the road against the Rangers.
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Keider Montero SP | DET
Tigers' Keider Montero: Blanks Minnesota in win
Montero (3-4) earned the win Thursday over the Twins, allowing four hits and a walk over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out four.
It was an impressive performance from Montero, who was provided with more than enough run support in an 11-0 Tigers' win. It's the third time this year that Montero has held opponents scoreless for six or more innings, though it's just his second quality start in his last six outings -- the right-hander had posted a 5.13 ERA across 26.1 innings in five starts prior to Wednesday. Overall, Montero sports a 3.61 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 48:17 K:BB across 72.1 innings this season. He's tentatively lined up to face the Astros on the road his next time out.