MLB Player News

Ritchie allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus St. Louis on Sunday.

Ritchie had to come in earlier than expected after opener Danny Young allowed a run and left two men on base with two outs in the first inning. Ritchie got out of that jam and then turned in a strong performance of his own, running into trouble only in the fourth inning. Ritchie has allowed two runs over 8.2 innings across three appearances in July. He's now at a 4.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 44:30 K:BB through 49.1 innings over 11 games (seven starts) in the majors. Ritchie's role remains in flux -- he could return to the bullpen full-time or get demoted Triple-A Gwinnett if Martin Perez (forearm contusion) is ready to go after the All-Star break.

Cavalli took a no-decision Sunday against the Yankees, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Cavalli cruised through four scoreless innings initially Sunday, but the Yankees were able to tag the hurler for a pair of runs in the fifth frame. It was still the third quality start in the 27-year-old right-hander's past four outings and eighth of the campaign overall. Cavalli has put together a solid first half of play, posting a 3.83 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 110:32 K:BB over 98.2 innings (20 appearances).

Abbott did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out three.

It was a short outing for Abbott, who failed to make it through five innings for the first time in his last 14 starts. It's also the first time that the left-hander's given up more than three earned runs in a start over that span -- he'd posted a 2.86 ERA across 72.1 innings in his previous 13 outings. Abbott will head into the All-Star break with a 4.11 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 84:48 K:BB over 20 starts (105 innings) this season.

Boyd (5-1) earned the win Sunday against the Reds, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk across 6.1 innings. He struck out three.

All four of the runs charged to Boyd came in the third inning, capped by a Eugenio Suarez two-run homer with two outs. However, the Cubs would rally for four runs of their own in the seventh, giving Boyd his third straight win. Since returning from the IL in late June, the left-hander has pitched to a 2.08 ERA in four starts (22 innings). Overall, his ERA sits at 4.50 with a 1.28 WHIP and 47:13 K:BB across nine outings (46 innings).

Wheeler (10-1) earned the win Sunday over the Tigers, allowing two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out 10.

It was another dominant performance from Wheeler, who's now logged double-digit strikeouts in three straight outings -- he's totaled 34 strikeouts over 17.1 innings in that span. The star right-hander will head into the All-Star break with a 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 108:22 K:BB across 15 starts (93 innings).

Thornton struck out five and allowed two hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision during Sunday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox.

The Mets called Thornton up from Triple-A Syracuse to step in as their fifth starter, after the team had previously opted for a bullpen day when the fifth spot in the rotation last came up Tuesday. In what was just his third big-league start, Thornton delivered an eye-opening performance, needing just 82 pitches to record his 21 outs while limiting the damage to just two free passes and a pair of base hits. After Thornton's excellent outing, interim manager Andy Green told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com that the rookie will retain a spot in the big-league rotation to open the second half. The Mets have already locked in Christian Scott, Sean Manaea, Nolan McLean and Freddy Peralta as their starters for the first four games out of the All-Star break, so Thornton will presumably make his next start July 21 in Milwaukee.

The Diamondbacks recalled Bratt from Triple-A Reno to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

The left-hander is coming up to start in place of Zac Gallen (elbow), who was placed on the injured list Sunday. Bratt made his major-league debut versus the Cardinals in late June and allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks over three innings. The 23-year-old has been an effective rotation piece at Triple-A this year with a 2.41 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 51:14 K:BB across 52.1 innings, and another quality showing Sunday could help him secure a longer look in the rotation.

The Diamondbacks placed Gallen (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Sunday.

The right-hander was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday against the Dodgers due to elbow inflammation and will be out for at least the next couple weeks. The severity of the injury hasn't been disclosed, so it's unclear if Gallen will be ready to return when first eligible in late July. Mitch Bratt was called up Sunday in a corresponding move.

Ritchie is slated to work in bulk relief behind opener Danny Young during Sunday's game in St. Louis, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Young is unlikely to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Ritchie, who has re-entered the Atlanta rotation following Hurston Waldrep's recent demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. Ritchie's workload is still expected to be monitored carefully Sunday, as the young righty will be taking the hill on just two days' rest after covering 1.1 innings in a 35-pitch appearance Thursday.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Lowder will rejoin the starting rotation after the All-Star break, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The right-hander was shifted to the bullpen last week after Hunter Greene was cleared to come off the injured list and will now re-enter the rotation following Nick Lodolo's (finger) placement on the injured list Sunday. Lowder -- who will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the Cubs -- has pitched well in his two relief outings with just one run allowed over five frames. He posted a 5.31 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over his 13 starts.