MLB Player News

Senzatela (shoulder) allowed one earned run on four hits and a walk over five innings Tuesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Senzatela didn't record any strikeouts in the 63-pitch outing, but that's not out of the norm, as any success he finds is typically derived from inducing weak contact rather than making bats miss. Aside from allowing a solo home run, Senzatela was mostly able to steer clear of trouble Tuesday, and his ability to cover five innings should set him up for a return from the 15-day injured list for the Rockies' final game before the All-Star break Sunday against the Pirates. Over his 13 starts this season, Senzatela has turned in a 4.95 ERA and 1.80 WHIP across 60 innings.

Oviedo (2-1) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in 1.1 innings, earning the win Tuesday over the Dodgers.

Oviedo followed opener Jordan Hicks in this contest. Through five innings in July, Oviedo has yielded two runs, six hits and a walk with six strikeouts. The right-hander owns a 3.32 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB in 21.2 innings overall, though he's likely to remain in a multi-inning relief role. He's yet to record a save or a hold in 11 appearances.

Houser (elbow) was spotted playing catch in the outfield prior to Wednesday's game against the Twins, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Houser isn't on track to return from the 15-day injured list before the All-Star break, but his ability to resume throwing less than two weeks after landing on the shelf suggests he's dealing with a low-degree strain of his right elbow. He'll likely continue to increase his throwing distance in the next few days before advancing to mound work and then facing hitters. Jason Alexander will continue to serve as Milwaukee's fifth starter while Houser is on the mend.

Dunn (shoulder) struck out two and gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks over four innings Tuesday in his rehab start for Triple-A Louisville.

Dunn built up to 74 pitches (43 strikes) in the fourth start of a rehab assignment that began June 26. Since the Reds don't have a spot in the rotation available for Dunn at the moment, he'll likely make one more start for Louisville before the organization activates him from the 60-day injured list following the All-Star break. Dunn may need an injury to one of the Reds' other starters or a trade of Luis Castillo or Tyler Mahle prior to the Aug. 2 deadline before getting a look in the big-league rotation.

Keuchel (2-7) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Giants.

The Giants set the tone early and teed off for three home runs against Keuchel. The lefty has alternated between mediocre and awful in his first four games for the Diamondbacks, and he's doing little to prove himself worthy of a spot in the rotation. Through 50.2 innings between the Diamondbacks and the White Sox, he has an 8.53 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 38:27 K:BB. Arizona's off day Thursday likely means Keuchel won't pitch again until after the All-Star break.

Webb (8-3) allowed five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six shutout innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Diamondbacks.

Webb has allowed one or zero runs in five of his last six starts, and he's gone at least six innings in each of those contests. The right-hander had all the support he needed after the first inning as he continues to get back on a dominant track. He owns a 2.82 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 96:26 K:BB through 111.2 innings in 18 starts overall. Webb is tentatively lined up for a home start versus the Brewers this weekend.

Ashcraft gave up three earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings in a 4-3 win over the Yankees on Tuesday. He did not factor into the decision.

Ashcraft had to battle against the tough Yankees lineup, but he did enough to keep his team and within striking distance for a comeback victory in the ninth. The rookie right-hander thew 106 pitches over five frames to tally his highest number of pitches thrown this season. Ashcraft has a power cutter which averages around 98 mph, but he has only struck out 32 batters in 54.2 innings this season. It is worth keeping an eye on the 24-year-old to see if his strikeout rate in the majors can improve to where it was in the minors. Ashcraft had a 9.2 K/9 over 72.1 innings in Double-A last season. Ashcraft is tentatively expected to start at St. Louis on Sunday in the Reds' final game before the All-Star break.

Cavalli was removed from his start for Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday due to blister-like issue on his finger, Dan Glickman of Pickin' Splinters reports.

The right-hander exited Tuesday's start after showing a bit of discomfort, but there was apparently just a "small piece of skin that got pulled of his finger," and the coaching staff didn't want him to pitch through it. Cavalli, who is the Nationals' top pitching prospect, is unlikely to miss much time, if any, due to the issue.

Alexander allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one in four innings of a 6-3 win Tuesday in Minnesota. He did not factor into the decision.

Alexander gave up a solo shot to Jorge Polanco to lead off the second inning. In the fourth, he allowed a walk and two singles with two outs to account for the other run. He did not come back out for the fifth inning, having tossed only 73 pitches, following the game's second rain delay at the end of the fourth. The rookie has struggled of late, giving up 17 runs (15 earned) on four homers with a 10:8 K:BB in 17.2 innings over five appearances.

Clevinger (2-2) allowed four runs on five hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out four over 5.1 innings as he took the loss versus the Rockies on Tuesday.

Clevinger allowed just one hit through the first four innings, but the Rockies got to him for a run in the fifth before Charlie Blackmon swatted a three-run home run in the sixth. Both of Clevinger's losses this season have come in his last two starts, and they're also the only outings in which he's allowed four runs. The right-hander is at a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB through 40.1 innings in nine appearances (eight starts). He'll take those numbers into the second half of the campaign, as the Padres' six-man rotation makes it unlikely Clevinger will start again before the All-Star break.