MLB Player News

Lugo (5-6) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-0 victory over the Marlins, allowing three hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Only one Miami baserunner even reached scoring position while Lugo was on the mound. It's the right-hander's second straight quality start and fifth in his last seven outings, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 43:12 K:BB through 40.1 innings. Lugo will look to keep rolling in his next start, likely to come early next week in St. Louis.

Alcantara (6-11) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over 6.2 innings as the Marlins fell 4-0 to the Padres. He struck out three.

Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner didn't have his best stuff, managing only eight swinging strikes among his 105 pitches, but Alcantara was also backed by an offense that only managed four hits off San Diego pitching. Despite the stumble, the right-hander still sports a 3.02 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 50:11 K:BB through 56.2 innings since the All-Star break. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next start, likely to come at home next week against the Rays.

Abbott came away with a no-decision in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Angels, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks over four-plus innings. He struck out five.

The rookie southpaw stuck around long enough to see the Reds take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, but after he put the first two batters aboard in the bottom of the frame, Abbott got the hook and failed to qualify for the win in an eventual 9-4 victory. He's now failed to complete six innings in five straight starts, posting a 6.46 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB through 23.2 innings over that stretch. Abbott will try to get on track in his next outing, likely to come early next week in San Francisco.

Taillon allowed four runs on four hits across 5.2 innings and did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Tigers. He walked one and struck out six.

Taillon kept the Tigers off the board for five innings, but things came undone a bit in the sixth, as he allowed three singles followed by a grand slam to the red-hot Kerry Carpenter. That spoiled an otherwise good outing for the righty, who has been up and down this year with a 5.60 ERA. Taillon will look to avoid the big inning in his next start, which is tentatively set for Monday against the Brewers, which shapes up to be an important game as the teams fight for the NL Central title.

Ortiz (2-4) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and five walks over 3.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out five.

Ortiz struggled tremendously in his return to the Pirates' rotation, allowing back-to-back singles, followed by back-to-back walks in the first inning, which led to three runs coming across for St. Louis. Despite getting the leadoff man to go down on strikes in three of the four innings in which he appeared, the right-hander would still be tagged for five runs on the afternoon before being relieved by Yohan Ramirez. Ortiz has now allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts for Pittsburgh, lasting fewer than five frames on each occasion.

Lorenzen did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against San Francisco. He struck out four.

Lorenzen has struggled since throwing 124 pitches in his no-hitter against the Nationals, allowing 10 earned runs on 16 hits in his subsequent two starts (nine innings). Overall, he's 7-8 with a 3.69 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 98:36 K:BB across 22 starts (131.2 innings) this season. Lorenzen will look to get back in the win column in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week against the Angels.

Cobb did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings against the Phillies. He struck out four.

Cobb shut out the Phillies for five innings Wednesday before surrendering back-to-back home runs to Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to begin the sixth. Despite the rough finish, it was an encouraging outing from Cobb, who'd struggled to a 6.54 ERA over his previous six starts. Overall, the veteran right-hander is 6-5 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 117:34 K:BB across 24 starts (132.1 innings) this season. Cobb's currently in line for a home matchup with the Reds in his next outing.

Kennedy is scheduled to make his next start for the Reds on Friday in Arizona, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Kennedy would have been available to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Angels on his normal four days' rest, but he'll instead get some extra time ahead of his next start while the Reds presumably turn to Triple-A Louisville call-up Lyon Richardson to make a spot start during the twin bill. The Reds will hand Kennedy a second straight turn through the rotation after he held the Blue Jays scoreless over five innings while striking out two in a no-decision last weekend. Kennedy initially didn't appear to be in line for a lengthy stay in the Cincinnati rotation, but he could end up making multiple starts beyond Friday after lefty Nick Lodolo (tibia) suffered a setback that will push back his return from the 60-day injured list.

Greene will get an extra day of rest before his next start, which will come Saturday in Arizona, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Greene wasn't sharp in his first start back from the injured list Sunday versus the Blue Jays, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in three-plus innings, so a little extra rest couldn't hurt. Brett Kennedy will start Friday in what had been Greene's day to pitch.

Cueto (illness) was spotted playing catch on the field Wednesday prior to the Marlins' game in San Diego, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Cueto was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday after falling ill due to a viral infection, but the fact that he remained on the Marlins' road trip and is now playing catch just two days later offers hope that he'll be in line for a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The Marlins have off days coming up Thursday and next Monday and should be able to get by with a four-man rotation until Cueto potentially makes his return from the IL over Labor Day weekend.