MLB Player News

Alexander didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 9-5 defeat at the hands of the Giants, allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings.

Alexander was originally tabbed to start Sunday's game, but manager Craig Counsell opted to go with Aaron Ashby instead with Alexander to follow. Ashby surrendered two runs in one plus innings and the 29-year-old was brought in during the second without much better fortune. He was sunk by a five-run third that opened with three straight hits and concluded with four two-out runs, then served up a two-run Brandon Belt homer in the sixth. Alexander has now been tagged for seven runs in two of his last seven appearances and ends the first half with a 5.60 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 45 innings across 10 appearances and seven starts.

Rogers (4-9) allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against Philadelphia.

Rogers turned in three scoreless innings to begin Sunday's contest. The Phillies broke out in the fourth, plating four runs in the frame, including a two-run shot from Yairo Munoz. It was the first time Rogers completed six innings since his April 28 win in Washington. The 24-year-old saw his ERA rise slightly to 5.46 with a 78:39 K:BB through 84 innings entering the All-Star break.

Webb (9-3) earned the win during Sunday's 9-5 victory over Milwaukee, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six-plus innings.

Webb shut down Milwaukee's offense following a Willy Adames solo home run in the first inning and cruised to an easy win on an efficient 88 pitches. The 25-year-old has now delivered seven straight quality starts -- during which he's pitched to a 1.37 ERA across 46 innings -- and ranks fourth in the league with 14 quality starts on the season. Webb wraps up the first half with a 2.83 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 101 strikeouts in 117.2 innings across 19 starts.

Nola (6-7) allowed four hits and a walk over 8.1 shutout innings Sunday, striking out 10 and earning a win over Miami.

Nola let just three Marlins reach base through eight innings before coughing up two more singles in the ninth. It was his eighth straight start of at least seven innings; during that stretch, he's sporting an impressive 2.25 ERA and 58:6 K:BB. He lowered his season ERA to 3.13 through 126.2 frames heading into the All-Star break. While the 29-year-old's 9.7 K/9 is his lowest since the 2019 season, Nola's 1.1 BB/9 is the best of his career and currently leads the National League.

Gomber registered a no-decision during Sunday's 8-3 loss to Pittsburgh, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings.

Gomber surrendered an unearned run in the first inning and two earned runs in the third after two walks came home on a two-out Jake Marisnick double. The 28-year-old has assembled a decent four-start stretch to open July -- featuring a 4.15 ERA across 21.2 innings -- after compiling a 6.55 ERA through his first 14 turns. Gomber concludes the first half with a 5.97 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 89 innings across 18 starts.

Heaney (shoulder) tossed 2.2 innings in a rehab appearance with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out two batters.

Heaney logged his first game action since June 19 and looked rusty in the minor-league start. He served up a pair of home runs in 2.2 frames after allowing just one long ball across 15.1 innings with the Dodgers this season. The left-hander is working his way back from a shoulder issue and is expected to make at least one more rehab start, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

May (elbow) still doesn't have a set date to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Friday that such a stint will happen "soon," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

May has been tossing live batting-practice sessions since late June and has been said to be "really close" to going on a minor-league rehab assignment since early July, but the right-hander remains without a set date for that to happen. Nonetheless, May hasn't suffered any setbacks in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last May. He'll likely need a few weeks of game action to ramp back up once the rehab stint begins, so May isn't likely to be back with the Dodgers until at least mid-August.

Matz (shoulder) and the Cardinals won't face the Reds on Sunday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz, who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Sunday, will thus have to wait until after the All-Star break to make his first start with the big club since May 22. The Cardinals and Reds will make up the postponed game Sept. 17 as part of a split doubleheader.

Ashcraft and the Reds won't face the Cardinals on Sunday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

As a result of the postponement, Ashcraft will have to wait until after the All-Star break to make his 11th start of the season. The rookie, who has gone 4-2 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 54.2 innings in the big leagues this season, is expected to be part of a six-man rotation coming out of the break with Tyler Mahle (shoulder) trending toward a return from the injured list for the Reds' first series of the second half.

Painter pitched four scoreless innings for High-A Jersey Shore on Saturday, striking out nine and allowing just two hits without a walk. He now has a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB through 12 innings in High-A.

Painter certainly hasn't been asked to do too much since being promoted, as the Phillies are presumably looking to monitor his workload in his first full professional campaign. He threw six innings in each of his final two Single-A starts, so we know Painter is capable of going deeper into games. For now, the important thing is that Painter is missing bats just as impressively as he did at the lower level. Collectively, he's struck out 88 batters while allowing just 28 hits in 50.2 minor-league innings this season.