MLB Player News

Webb (1-1) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out two across 2.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Cardinals.

Webb was hit hard from start to finish in his brief start, surrendering three earned runs in the first inning prior to allowing four more in the third frame. He allowed only one long ball, but let six of the last eight batters he faced to reach base. Webb had pitched respectably through the first three starts of his career, as he entered Thursday's contest with a 3.52 ERA and a 16:4 K:BB. He'll look to get back to that form in his next start, currently scheduled for Tuesday against the Pirates.

Strasburg (16-6) was charged with the loss against Atlanta on Thursday, pitching six innings and giving up three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out seven.

Strasburg gave up a pair of runs in the first inning but settled down to allow only a single tally on a Ronald Acuna homer over his final five frames. The effort was not enough to prevent his sixth loss, however, as Max Fried outdueled Strasburg by allowing only one baserunner in seven innings of work. Despite the outcome, Strasburg hurled his fourth straight quality start while tossing a season-high 115 pitches, 71 of which were strikes. The 31-year-old will try to get back into the win column when he heads to Minnesota to face the Twins on Wednesday in his next scheduled start.

Gray allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks across six innings during a no-decision against the Phillies on Thursday.

The 29-year-old was outstanding, and the Reds finally gave him a lead in the sixth, which he departed with, but the Cincinnati bullpen was unable to hold it. Still, the performance extends Gray's streak of allowing two or fewer runs in his last seven outings. Since July 22, he is 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA in nine starts. Overall, Gray, who is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at the Mariners, is 10-6 with a 2.75 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 181 strikeouts in 157.1 innings this season.

Darvish remains on track to start Saturday against the Brewers, but the Cubs may be conservative with his workload, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. "You never want to go out and push him to eight innings after skipping a start, not to say he couldn't do it," pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said Thursday. "Just be smart about where he's at and the workload."

Darvish threw a 29-pitch bullpen session without any discomfort Thursday, clearing the way for his return after he was scratched last weekend with right forearm tightness. The Cubs are well aware that the innings are adding up for Darvish; he's already up more than 100 additional innings from 2018. "If there's an opportunity to get him out of there sooner in a situation, it would be great," Hottovy added. "To buy some extra innings down the stretch if we're going to need it."

Keller (wrist) will try to throw a bullpen session Thursday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

The swelling in his wrist reportedly subsided Wednesday, but it sounds like he's not out of the woods just yet. If he is able to throw a bullpen Thursday and it goes well, he could make his scheduled start Sunday. However, if things don't progress as the Pirates hope, James Marvel is on hand to make Sunday's start if necessary.

Woodruff (oblique) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Thursday, Sophia Minnaert of Fox Sports Wisconsin reports.

Monday's bullpen session was 20 pitches, so he's building up. He said he feels good but will need more reps before he is ready to be activated. Woodruff is running out of time to build up to the point that he could handle a starter's workload, but if the Brewers can hang in the playoff race, he could make a couple of starts before the end of the season.

Wacha was the opening pitcher in a loss to the Giants on Wednesday, firing two scoreless innings in which he allowed two hits and a walk while recording two strikeouts.

Wacha was limited to just 38 pitches while pitching on three days rest, but he was effective in his pair of frames. The right-hander also generated a quality start against the Reds in his previous outing, and he's likely due for another turn as a conventional starter in his next trip to the mound.

Lorenzen is starting in center field and batting seventh Thursday against the Phillies.

On Wednesday, he became the first player to earn the win, hit a home run and play in the field in the same game since Babe Ruth. September is a great opportunity for teams that are out of the race to experiment with stuff, so the Reds will give Lorenzen his first start in the field. He is hitting .353/.421/.588 with one home run and three steals in 19 plate appearances.

May (head) threw a sim inning Wednesday and will be re-evaluated before the Dodgers' upcoming series, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

May reported feeling "all good" after throwing to hitters Wednesday afternoon and has already passed multiple concussion tests after being hit in the head by a line drive Sunday. Although a return to the mound appears imminent, the Dodgers have already named starters for their next series. Therefore, May is likely to continue pitching out of the bullpen when he is cleared to play.

Ryu gave up three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five through 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Rockies on Wednesday.

Ryu didn't give up a run until the fourth inning, but he surrendered two runs in the frame and allowed three straight singles to finally chase him from the game in the fifth inning. The 32-year-old has not made it through six innings in his last four outings. Ryu is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.