MLB Player News

Kelly (9-6) took the loss against the Pirates on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Kelly gave up a two-run homer in the second inning, and that proved to be all the Pirates needed as the Diamondbacks were shut out. The 36-year-old still logged his fourth quality start in five July outings, allowing just eight earned runs over 30.2 innings during that stretch. He'll take a 3.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 121:38 K:BB across 128.2 innings into a road matchup with the Athletics next weekend.

Megill (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled for another Sunday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Megill was placed on the 15-day IL with a sprained elbow June 17 and was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that the righty hurler is trending in the right direction, though Megill isn't eligible to be activated until mid-August.

Suarez (8-4) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk over 5.2 innings in a 9-4 victory over the Yankees. He struck out eight.

The southpaw fell short of his 12th quality start of the season, but Suarez racked up a whopping 38 called or swinging strikes among his 108 pitches (71 total strikes) as he collected his first win in July. Suarez has given up one run or fewer in six of his last eight outings, a stretch in which he's delivered a 2.50 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB over 50.1 innings. He'll look to stay sharp in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Tigers.

Nola (ankle/rib) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

Nola began facing live hitters last Saturday, and the plan is for him to build up to around 60 pitches during his return to game action Thursday. The 32-year-old righty has been on the IL since late May, so he'll almost certainly require an additional start or two beyond Thursday before rejoining Philadelphia's rotation.

Sheehan (2-1) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings in a 5-2 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out five.

The 25-year-old righty bounced back nicely from a rough outing last Saturday against the Brewers, tossing 47 of 78 pitches for strikes in this one as he completed five innings for the second time in five big-league outings this season. Sheehan has been an effective stop-gap for the Dodgers, posting a 4.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 21.1 innings, but he may be headed back to Triple-A Oklahoma City, as Blake Snell (shoulder) will likely need only one more rehab start before rejoining the rotation.

Walker came away with a no-decision in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees, giving up three runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- over 5.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

Solo shots by Cody Bellinger in the first inning, Austin Wells in the second and Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth accounted for all the damage off Walker, who got the hook after 83 pitches (55 strikes), one out short of his second quality start of the season. The veteran righty has served up five homers in his last two starts, but he's allowed just six runs total in those outings and will likely continue to hold down a rotation spot until Aaron Nola (ribs) is ready to return. Walker lines up to make his next trip to the mound on the road next week against the White Sox.

Lowder (forearm/oblique) is tentatively scheduled to throw from a bullpen mound Aug. 17, MLB.com reports.

Lowder began a throwing program this week with the goal of being available to throw in the Arizona Fall League. The organization believes the right-hander should be set up for a normal offseason.

Holmes (9-5) allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings to earn the win over the Giants on Friday.

Holmes was good enough, though he was far from dominant or efficient, needing 104 pitches (64 strikes) to get through five frames. The right-hander is reportedly not being considered for a move back to the bullpen, so the Mets appear to have faith in him to continue holding down a rotation spot despite a rough July. Friday's outing was his first win in five starts this month, and he's allowed 15 runs (14 earned) over 25.2 innings in that span. The 32-year-old is at a 3.40 ERA despite a 1.28 WHIP and 88:44 K:BB through 113.2 innings across 21 starts. He is tentatively projected for a road start in San Diego next week.

Webb (9-8) allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four over four innings to take the loss versus the Mets on Friday.

This matched Webb's shortest start of the year, and it's the second time in three outings he's allowed six earned runs. Over that span, he's given up 16 runs in 15.1 innings, an unusual stretch of poor performances for the ace right-hander. Webb is now at a 3.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 144:30 K:BB through 135.2 innings across 22 starts. He had been pitching at a career-best level through the end of June, so this could simply be a bit of regression, especially against a tough sequence of opponents (Dodgers, Blue Jays and Mets). Webb will look to right the ship in his next start, which is projected to be a favorable home matchup versus the Pirates next week.

Martinez (9-9) earned the win Friday against the Rays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings.

Martinez extended his recent run of success Friday, limiting Tampa Bay to notch his fifth win in his last six starts. The 34-year-old has been dependable during that stretch, compiling a 3.30 ERA across those five victories. While Martinez doesn't generate a heap of strikeouts, he's consistently provided quality innings when called upon. The right-hander will carry a 4.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 86:29 K:BB into his next start, which is projected to be a tougher test next week on the road against the Dodgers.