MLB Player News

McDonald (3-7) allowed eight runs on 11 hits and a walk while failing to record a strikeout over 2.1 innings as he took the loss Tuesday versus the Blue Jays.

After posting six innings of one-hit ball versus the Diamondbacks to begin July, McDonald followed it up with his worst start of the season. Consistency has been an issue for McDonald, as this was the third time in 12 starts he's allowed five or more runs. He's now at a 5.46 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB through 59.1 innings this season. McDonald is tentatively lined up for a home start versus the Rockies over the weekend.

Marquez (4-2) earned the win over Arizona on Tuesday, allowing an unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Marquez threw just 56 pitches over three innings out of the bullpen in his return from a forearm injury last Thursday, so it wasn't clear how much depth he'd be able to give San Diego on Tuesday. The veteran hurler ended up covering five frames on 82 pitches, 51 of which were strikes. That he was able to go long enough to qualify for the win was especially notable given how poorly his outing started; Marquez needed 32 pitches to get through a first inning that began with three consecutive Diamondbacks hitters reaching base. Meanwhile, Jhony Brito, who was called up from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday and was expected to work in bulk relief, ended up throwing just 17 pitches across 1.2 perfect frames. It remains to be seen how San Diego will deploy the two hurlers moving forward, and it's possible they'll work in some sort of a piggyback situation the next time the rotation spot comes up, presumably this Sunday versus Toronto.

Senga did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Royals, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four over three innings.

Senga entered following a scoreless inning from opener Cionel Perez. After surrendering a two-run homer to Tyler Tolbert in the second inning, Senga allowed a two-run double to Lane Thomas in the fourth. The right-hander has now allowed at least one home run in each of his last eight appearances. In eight innings as a bulk reliever, Senga has given up six runs. He remains in search of his first win while sporting an 8.92 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 46:27 K:BB across 38.1 innings this season.

Robinson cleared waivers Tuesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Robinson went 2-for-23 at the plate with the Dodgers before losing his place on the 40-man roster Monday. No other team was interested in bringing him in off waivers, so he'll remain at Oklahoma City as organizational depth.

Wilson cleared waivers Tuesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa.

Wilson was DFA'd by the Cubs on Saturday, but he'll stick with the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 28-year-old gave up seven earned runs in 7.2 innings during his time with the Cubs and will likely spend most of what's left of the season in the minors as organizational depth.

Duran earned the save Tuesday against the Reds, allowing one hit while striking out three in a scoreless ninth inning.

Duran was unsurprisingly called upon to protect a two-run lead and worked around a Spencer Steer single to secure his 22nd save of the season. He has now gone nine straight appearances without allowing a run, collecting 15 strikeouts and six saves during that stretch. Duran trails only Mason Miller (23) for the National League lead in saves and now owns a 1.47 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 48:22 K:BB across 30.2 innings this season.

Abbott (5-5) took the loss Tuesday against the Phillies, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out eight over six innings.

Abbott allowed all three of his runs in the third inning, including a two-run homer from Kyle Schwarber. The southpaw bounced back nicely afterward, retiring 10 of the final 12 batters he faced while striking out six. Abbott turned in a quality start and set a season high with eight strikeouts, but it wasn't enough to counter Zack Wheeler's dominant seven-inning, 14-strikeout performance. After an ugly start to the season, Abbott has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since April 24, posting a 2.86 ERA with a 62:32 K:BB over that stretch. He is scheduled to make one final start before the All-Star break at home against the Cubs.

Wheeler (9-1) earned the win Tuesday against the Reds, allowing one run on four hits while striking out 14 over seven innings.

Wheeler did not issue a walk and generated a dominant 20 swinging strikes while matching his career high with 14 punchouts. He recorded multiple strikeouts in five of his first six innings before Eugenio Suarez spoiled the shutout with a solo homer on the first pitch of the seventh. Wheeler has now won five straight decisions since suffering his lone loss of the season May 29 against the Dodgers. The right-hander has piled up 24 strikeouts over his last 11.2 innings and is scheduled to make one final start before the All-Star break against the Tigers. He owns a 2.28 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 98:20 K:BB across 87 innings this season.

Bowlan recorded one out to pick up a hold Tuesday against the Reds.

Bowlan tends to be deployed in middle relief, but he was called upon to get the Phillies out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning and struck out Eugenio Suarez for his lone out. Through 27.2 innings, the 27-year-old right-hander has a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB with three holds and no saves in three chances.

Alvarez (2-2) took the loss against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing five runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three across 5.2 innings.

Alvarez returned to a starting role after serving in a bulk-relief role against the Red Sox last Wednesday. He ended up pitching five-plus innings for the first time this season, but he also gave up a season-high five runs in the process. The Nationals have an off day Thursday, so Tuesday's outing figures to be Alvarez's last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break. He has a 3.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 51:21 K:BB over 47 innings this season.