MLB Player News

Morton gave up a hit and a walk with no earned runs over seven innings in a 4-3 loss to the Reds on Sunday. Morton struck out 10 and did not factor into the decision.

Morton was on top of his game Sunday, and his seven innings of shutout ball marked his best start of his season. He retired the first 12 batters of the game and struck out the side in the third. Morton leaned effectively on his curveball to garner swings and misses on pitches out of the zone. The 38-year-old veteran had a weak start to the season, posting a 7.00 ERA in April, but his statistics appear to be normalizing closer toward his career averages. The veteran has a career 4.03 ERA in 1705 innings pitched. Morton is tentatively expected to start on Friday against the Nationals.

Wheeler (7-4) earned the win Sunday over the Cardinals. He allowed four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.

All four hits Wheeler allowed were singles, and he didn't let a Cardinal advance past second base. The right-hander didn't have much swing-and-miss stuff with only 11 whiffs while throwing 72 of 108 pitches for strikes. Wheeler's logged quality starts in all but one of his last nine outings, and this was his fifth start of the year in which he didn't allow a run. He has a 2.66 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 99:20 K:BB through 88 innings in 15 starts overall. The Phillies' ace is projected for a road rematch with the Cardinals next weekend.

Wainwright (6-6) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five in 5.2 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Phillies.

Wainwright wasn't at his best Sunday, but he didn't get any help from his teammates, who mustered only six baserunners (four hits, two walks). This was the third time in his last four starts that Wainwright has failed to secure a quality start. It was also the second time he's allowed multiple home runs in a game this year. The 40-year-old right-hander has surrendered 12 runs in his last 23.2 innings, a rather mediocre stretch. He still has a 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 81:27 K:BB through 96.2 innings in 16 starts. He'll look to get back on track in a home rematch with the Phillies next weekend.

Gallen didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 6-5 loss to Colorado, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings.

Gallen cruised through the first five frames but encountered trouble in the sixth when C.J. Cron tagged him for a two-out, three-run shot that cut into the five-run lead. The bullpen would go on to blow the lead and prevent the 26-year-old from his first win since May 30 despite logging his fourth quality start during the six-game stretch. He'll try for his elusive fifth win next weekend with a rematch against Colorado currently on the schedule.

Matz (shoulder) made the second start of his rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Memphis, striking out three over three innings while allowing one earned run on four hits and no walks.

Pitching on three days' rest after making a two-inning rehab start for Memphis on Wednesday, Matz was capped at 45 pitches Saturday. He'll likely require at least one or two more outings in the minors to ramp up his pitch count before the Cardinals activate him from the 15-day injured list and reinstall him in the rotation.

Woodruff (7-3) allowed six hits over six scoreless innings Sunday, striking out eight and earning a win over Pittsburgh.

Woodruff allowed just one extra-base hit in Sunday's dominant outing. After a month-long stint on the injured list, the 29-year-old righty has won his last two starts while posting an 18:0 K:BB and allowing just one run. On the year, he's sporting a 71:13 K:BB with a 3.95 ERA through 54.2 frames. Woodruff is lined up for a rematch against the Pirates at home next week.

Dunn (shoulder) made the second start of his rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Louisville, striking out four over three perfect innings.

Dunn threw 36 pitches (26 strikes) in the outing, then tossed 14 more pitches out of the bullpen to reach his expected count heading into the night, according to Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Assuming the Reds are planning on having Dunn build up for starting duty, he'll likely require two more rehab outings before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

DeSclafani (ankle) said Sunday that he's out for the season, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

DeSclafani is scheduled to undergo a procedure July 12 to set a tendon in place in his right ankle, which has forced him to the injured list on two occasions this season. The right-hander will require 4-to-5 months to recover, so it seems likely that he'll be able to return to the field for the start of spring training in 2023. DeSclafani posted a 9.95 ERA and 2.05 WHIP in 19 innings over five starts this season.

Kershaw allowed four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over seven shutout innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Sunday.

Kershaw allowed only one runner to get past second base (Jose Azocar on a ground rule double) in a brilliant bounce-back performance. Through 10 games this year, Kershaw has permitted multiple runs only three times, and he's also tossed three starts of seven shutout innings. His eight strikeouts were also his second-best total of the year. The southpaw has a strong 2.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 59:12 K:BB through 56 innings. He's projected for a favorable home start versus the Cubs next week.

Gore allowed one run on five hits, four walks and two hit batters while striking out three over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Sunday.

Gore has walked at least three batters in each of his last six appearances after doing so just once in his first seven outings. For the second straight start, he was able to mitigate the damage despite putting a lot of traffic on base, as he's allowed just one run in 10.2 innings after giving up 14 runs over the two starts before this improved stretch. The rookie southpaw has a 3.18 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 68:32 K:BB in 65 innings overall, and he'll need to work on reining in his control next weekend against the Giants.