MLB Player News

Ashcraft (4-1) earned the win during Friday's 4-2 victory over San Francisco, allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings.

Coming off two subpar starts, Ashcraft regained his previous form with the best outing of his short career. The 24-year-old was staked to an early lead and cruised through seven easy frames while recording an impressive eight strikeouts despite averaging just 3.2 per start through his first six turns. Manager David Bell opted to stick with Ashcraft for the eighth and the young righty showed poise by inducing a double play and permitting just one run after putting two runners on with none out. He now sports a 3.27 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and is projected to pitch again midweek against the Cubs.

Nola (4-5) took the loss during Friday's 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Padres, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Nola and MacKenzie Gore engaged in a pitcher's duel and Nola was the first to break when he surrendered an Austin Nola RBI single in the sixth that proved to be the difference. The 29-year-old tossed 70 of 98 pitches for strikes with a whopping 18 of the swinging variety in matching a season best with 10 strikeouts. It seemed Nola had put the poor luck behind him as Philadelphia reigned in each of his last five starts; however, Nola has permitted just one run in 15 innings over his last two turns and doesn't have a win to show for it. He's slated to take the mound next against Atlanta midweek.

Gore didn't factor into the decision during Friday's 1-0 victory over Philadelphia, allowing three hits and four walks with four strikeouts in five scoreless innings.

Gore started strong by retiring the first six Phillies but was lucky to strand all seven batters he put on in the third through fifth innings. The scoreless outing is the 23-year-old's fifth in 15 starts, though he's now walked at least three batters in each of his last five turns after totaling 11 in his first 10. Gore owns a solid 3.34 ERA and 1.33 WHIP and will be tested with a road start against the Dodgers scheduled for next weekend.

Kelly (6-5) took the loss during Friday's 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Tigers, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

Kelly pitched well aside from the third inning, when he put the first three batters on followed by a Javier Baez grand slam to fall in line for the loss. The 33-year-old fired 68 of 99 pitches for strikes and has now walked no more than two batters in 11 of 15 turns. Kelly currently sports a 3.64 ERA and 1.30 WHIP and is in line sup to start again next week in Colorado.

Houser (4-8) allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings, taking the loss Friday versus the Blue Jays.

It's the fifth time in his last six starts that Houser's allowed at least three runs. The Blue Jays did all their damage against him in the second inning, with a three-run Matt Chapman double accounting for most of it. Houser saw his ERA rise to 4.50 with a 1.45 WHIP and 57:30 K:BB across 74 innings in 14 starts. The right-hander's had a rather mediocre season so far, but he may have some streaming appeal in next week's projected road start versus the Pirates.

Hendricks (3-6) allowed just five hits and a walk with six strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Cardinals.

This was the third time this year Hendricks has completed at least seven innings without allowing a run. He was able to make Nico Hoerner's two-run home run in the second inning stand as all the Cubs needed in the victory. Hendricks still has a lackluster 4.90 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 55:21 K:BB through 75.1 innings in 14 starts. The 32-year-old hasn't been able to sustain success over more than a couple of outings at a time, but he's in line for a decent home matchup next week versus the Reds.

Marquez (4-5) allowed three hits and five walks with two strikeouts in 7.2 shutout innings to earn the win Friday over the Twins.

Marquez's five walks were a season high, but he offset that with the three hits matching a season low. He got only one run of support, but it was enough to pick up his third win in his last four starts. In that span, he's allowed nine runs across 25.2 innings. The right-hander still has a brutal 5.58 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 68:29 K:BB across 80.2 innings in 14 starts overall, but two of his best starts this year have come in June. Marquez projects for a tough home start versus the Dodgers next week.

Lodolo (back) is scheduled for another minor-league rehab start Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The 24-year-old covered four scoreless innings during his previous rehab outing Thursday with Triple-A Louisville, and he'll remain in the minors for at least one more rehab appearance. Lodolo is expected to throw about five innings and 85-to-90 pitches in what should be his final start before rejoining the Reds' rotation.

DeGrom (shoulder) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

The 34-year-old faced live batters for the first time Tuesday, and he'll continue ramping up his workload. Assuming he avoids any setbacks, deGrom could require a couple more sessions of live BP before advancing to a minor-league rehab assignment, which could happen within the next week or two.

Manager Oliver Marmol said that Matz (shoulder) will throw a "vigorous" bullpen Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Matz threw a bullpen session last weekend, and he'll increase his intensity during Friday's throwing session. If all goes well, the southpaw is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. Once he ultimately reports to the minors, Matz is expected to require multiple rehab starts prior to returning from the injured list.