MLB Player News

Walker (9-3) allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings to earn the win Thursday over the Cubs.

Walker had an excellent June, allowing six runs over 36 innings across six starts. He also posted a 34:10 K:BB for the month, and he's now won five straight outings. After some uneven performances early on, he's settled down with a 3.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 77:33 K:BB over 89.1 innings through 17 starts on the year. Walker is projected to make his next start on the road in Tampa, which would be one of the biggest tests he's faced in a while.

Hendricks (3-3) allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four without walking a batter over seven innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Phillies.

Hendricks gave up a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarber to start the game and a two-run single to Bryce Harper in the third. Aside from those missteps, it was a solid outing for Hendricks, who earned his fourth quality start in seven appearances. His three-game winning streak was snapped due to the lack of run support. Hendricks now has a 2.81 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 41.2 innings this season. He's projected for a road start in Milwaukee his next time out.

Manager Oliver Marmol said that Wainwright will make his next scheduled start, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Wainwright was crushed for six earned runs across only 1.2 innings Thursday against the Astros to take his third loss of the season. That follows an outing in the London Series against the Cubs during which he allowed seven earned runs across three frames. Despite those significant struggles, it appears that the Cardinals will stick with Wainwright as a regular member of the rotation. He's currently projected to take the mound Tuesday at Miami.

Ortiz did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings against San Diego. He did not record a strikeout.

The Padres were able to get to Ortiz early, tallying three runs off him in the second inning as the rookie continued to leave pitches up in the zone. The right-hander allowed two home runs for just the second time in his 10 big league starts and also failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season. Ortiz came into the contest having allowed one earned run in back-to-back starts and in three of his previous five. However, he's now recorded one or fewer strikeouts four times in his rookie campaign and has made it past the fifth inning only twice.

Musgrove did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings against the Pirates. He struck out six.

Musgrove made it through the first three innings unscathed before allowing the Pirates' first run of the day on a sacrifice fly with two outs in the fourth. He surrendered only two runs on the afternoon despite the leadoff man reaching base in four of Musgrove's six innings of work, and the right-hander has now allowed two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. He hasn't lost a decision since May 20 against the Red Sox.

Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that May (forearm) has not resumed throwing and is still rehabbing, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Roberts announced Wednesday that May had resumed throwing, but he walked back those comments a day later. It's been six weeks since May received a PRP injection, though he has yet to make significant progress toward a return to the mound.

Kershaw acknowledged Thursday that he's dealing with left shoulder inflammation, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw said his shoulder got "cranky" toward the end of his last start Tuesday in Colorado, though he was able to cover six scoreless innings while notching his 10th win of the season. He received a cortisone injection and won't throw for the next few days, but the Dodgers aren't placing him on the injured list just yet and he could still fit in another outing before the All-Star break. When that outing would be is uncertain, and there probably won't be any more clarity on his schedule until after this brief shutdown period. "I'm not gonna be stupid about it," the veteran southpaw told reporters Thursday.

Cobb (oblique) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday versus the Mets, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cobb proved his health in a rehab start Saturday with Single-A San Jose, tallying nine strikeouts over 3.2 innings of one-run ball. He's been on the shelf since June 15 because of a mild left oblique strain.

The Dodgers optioned Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Grove gave up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks in a five-inning start Wednesday at Coors Field. The 26-year-old swingman heads back to the minors with a 7.54 ERA in 37 total major-league innings for the year.

Arizona recalled Pfaadt from Triple-A Reno ahead of his scheduled start Thursday against the Rays.

As expected, Pfaadt is back in the Diamondbacks' rotation as a replacement for Merrill Kelly, who went on the injured list earlier this week due to a blood clot in his right calf. There is no timetable for Kelly's return, so Pfaadt should have an extended chance to strut his stuff and perhaps rebound from his poor five-start introduction to the majors in May. The talented 24-year-old has worked to a promising 3.16 ERA and 28:5 K:BB across 25.2 innings (five starts) with Reno since his May 27 demotion and is worth another look in most fantasy formats.