MLB Player News

Contreras has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Contreras experienced forearm soreness recently, and he stepped away from Double-A Altoona. The team is encouraged that the right-hander's injury isn't related to his ligaments, and Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk is hopeful that Contreras could resume throwing in 2-to-4 weeks, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. A better idea of the 21-year-old's return timetable could come into focus once he's cleared to resume throwing.

Strasburg (neck) took part in a heavy workout Tuesday. one day after throwing 60 pitches in a bullpen session, and Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the right-hander was "getting close" to a rehab assignment, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The skipper also indicated the team wouldn't rush Strasburg, however. "We just want to make sure he's ready," Martinez said. "If it takes a few extra days, a week or 10 days, whatever." Given that he's been sidelined since early June, Strasburg will likely need a fairly extensive rehab before being ready to rejoin the Nats' rotation, so a best-case scenario could see him back on the mound for Washington in late July or early August.

Cueto (6-5) took the loss against St. Louis on Tuesday, hurling six innings and allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out eight.

The right-hander was jolted for a two-run, first-inning homer by Nolan Arenado. He gave up another pair of runs in the fourth inning and departed in the sixth trailing 4-3. The Giants were unable to catch up, sticking Cueto with his second straight loss. The veteran has produced unexciting numbers this season, including a 4.15 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 8.2 K/9. His next start will possibly come in a rematch versus the Cardinals immediately following the All-Star break.

Wainwright (7-5) tossed five innings against San Francisco on Tuesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three en route to the win.

The veteran struggled with his control through much of the contest, throwing 61 of 97 pitches for strikes and finishing with a season-high four walks. However, Wainwright navigated through five innings and departed with a 4-3 lead. He has picked up a win in three of his past four outings to push his record to 7-5, which is particularly impressive since he didn't get his first victory of the season until his sixth start. Wainwright hasn't given up more than three earned runs in any of his past seven starts and has posted a 2.74 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over that stretch. He's tentatively slated to start St. Louis' final game before the All-Star break, which will take place Sunday on the road against the Cubs.

Kelly completed 5.1 innings against Colorado on Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one. He did not factor in the decision.

The right-hander didn't have his best stuff Tuesday -- he induced only six swinging strikes and tied his season low with one strikeout -- but he hung around well enough to line up for the win before Arizona's bullpen allowed a seventh-inning run. Kelly was staked to an early three-run lead and blanked Colorado for three frames before the Rockies pushed across a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings. After struggling to a 5.40 ERA through his first 14 starts, Kelly has turned things around of late, allowing no more than three earned runs in any outing since June 21. Over that span, he has registered a 2.13 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 18:2 K:BB across 25.1 innings. Kelly tentatively lines up to start Arizona's final game before the All-Star break, which will come Sunday on the road against the Dodgers.

Gray didn't factor in the decision against Arizona on Tuesday. He pitched six innings and gave up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight.

The veteran looked to be in for a rough outing when the first four hitters he faced in the game each slugged a double. Those two-baggers yielded three Arizona runs, but they were all the Diamondbacks ended up mustering against Gray on the evening. Following the barrage of doubles, Gray retired 10 straight hitters and gave up only two more hits -- both singles -- the rest of the way. He finished with his second straight quality start and seventh overall on the season. Gray will carry a 3.94 ERA into his next start, which is tentatively lined up to come Sunday at San Diego.

Williams (abdomen) allowed seven runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings during Tuesday's 15-10 loss to Philadelphia.

Williams missed over a month while recovering from an appendectomy. He threw 49 of his 74 pitches for strikes in the long-relief assignment, but he also yielded a solo shot to Rhys Hoskins in the seventh inning. The Cubs' defense did Williams few favors in his return, allowing four runs to be tacked onto his line in the seventh. The right-hander owns a 5.51 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB across 47.1 innings this season. He'll operate out of the bullpen for now, but he could be a candidate to fill a job in the rotation during the second half of the season.

Nola (6-5) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in six innings, earning the win over the Cubs on Tuesday.

Nola wasn't his sharpest Tuesday, allowing a three-run rally in the third inning and a solo home run to Javier Baez in the sixth. The right-hander benefited from a big performance from Philadelphia's offense, which was especially helpful since the bullpen gave quite a bit of an 11-run lead back. Nola has given up four or more runs in four of his last six outings, and he's surrendered 21 runs in 31 innings in that span. For the season, he has a 4.53 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 126:23 K:BB through 101.1 innings. He lines up for one more start before the All-Star break, which will likely come during this weekend's series in Boston.

Castillo allowed a run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in seven innings, but he took a no-decision versus Kansas City on Tuesday.

The only blemish on Castillo's line was a Michael Taylor solo home run, but Cincinnati's bullpen blew a five-run lead in the final two innings. Since the start of June, Castillo has posted quality starts in six of his last seven outings. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 4.81 with a 1.40 WHIP and 90:39 K:BB through 97.1 innings overall. His last start of the first half is expected to come this weekend in Milwaukee.

Gonsolin took a no-decision during Tuesday's loss despite holding the Marlins scoreless across 5.1 innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three.

Gonsolin turned in his longest and best start of the season, stretching out to 72 pitches, including 45 for strikes. It was the third time in his career that the right-hander has gone at least five innings and not allowed a run. Gonsolin has spent time both in the rotation and out of the bullpen this season while slowly building up his endurance since returning from the injured list in late June. Across 21.1 innings, the 27-year-old has put together a 2.11 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He lines up to take the mound again Sunday against the Diamondbacks.