MLB Player News

Lyles allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks across three innings in a no-decision against the Brewers on Saturday.

While he did yield a run per inning in this outing, Lyles departed more because of pitch count than ineffectiveness. He needed 92 pitches to get through just three frames, which is the most any starter in the league has thrown through the first three innings of a game this season. The Brewers worked deep counts the entire afternoon, and Pirates pitching walked nine batters. Lyles is 5-3 with a 3.64 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 66 strikeouts in 64.1 innings this season. His next start will be in Atlanta on Thursday.

Greinke improved to 7-2 on the season after striking out seven in six scoreless innings Saturday against Toronto. He gave up four hits and two walks.

Greinke only allowed two runners to reach scoring position all game. He was pulled after the second of those players, Lourdes Gurriel, led off the seventh inning with a triple. The start was a good recovery from the four runs in four innings he allowed last time out against the Mets, and he lowered his ERA to 2.87 in the process. He'll look to improve that number again Thursday against the Nationals.

Gonzalez was designated for assignment by the Cardinals on Saturday.

Gonzalez failed to impress after joining the Cardinals on a waiver claim in late March, posting a 6.75 ERA, 2.17 WHIP and 21:19 K:BB in 24 innings for Double-A Springfield. The 23-year-old right-hander will be exposed to waivers once again.

Williams (side) threw a simulated game Saturday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Williams threw 64 pitches and four innings Saturday and said that everything went well. A rehab start is likely the next step for the 27-year-old, and a return to the majors could happen shortly afterward if everything goes well.

Keller whiffed a career-best 13 batters in five innings Friday for Triple-A Indianapolis. He gave up just one hit and three walks.

He could start for the Pirates on Wednesday unless the team chooses to go with an opener against Atlanta. While it's possible the organization could keep Keller at Triple-A a bit longer due to Super 2 Arbitration concerns, it's apparent that his upside dwarfs that of any replacement pitcher currently on Pittsburgh's roster. The righty allowed six runs in the first inning of his MLB debut against Cincinnati on May 27, but rebounded with three shutout frames thereafter.

Kershaw (5-1) took the loss Friday versus the Giants, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out four batters.

Kershaw and Giants starter Drew Pomeranz engaged in a pitchers' duel for the first five innings. Kershaw then gave up a pair of runs in the sixth inning, which was enough to tag him with the loss. The left-hander owns a 3.14 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 10 starts this year. He'll look to rebound from his first defeat of the season against the Cubs on Thursday.

DeGrom (3-6) took the loss Friday as the Mets fell 5-1 to the Rockies, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings while striking out 10.

The hip issue which cut short deGrom's last start didn't seem to be bothering him, as he struck out double-digit batters for the third time this season. The right-hander now has eight quality starts in 13 trips to the mound, and he'll take a 3.45 ERA and 94:20 K:BB through 75.2 innings into his next outing Thursday, at home against the Cardinals.

Woodruff (8-1) allowed three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out 10 over six innings Friday in a win over the Pirates.

Woodruff surrendered two runs in the third inning and another in the sixth, but he registered a quality start and managed to bounce back from an ugly outing June 1, when he was roughed up by the Pirates for six runs over four innings. The 26-year-old has hit a few bumps in the road this season, but he sits with a 3.87 ERA and 90 punchouts across 74.1 innings.

Senzatela (5-4) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 5-1 victory over the Mets. He failed to strike out a batter.

It wasn't a dominant performance, but the Mets couldn't generate much hard contact off Senzatela aside from Michael Conforto's sixth-inning solo shot. It's his third straight quality start and fifth of the season, and the right-hander will take a 4.95 ERA and 33:25 K:BB through 60 innings into his next outing Wednesday, at home against the Cubs.

Kelly (6-6) allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks across seven innings to earn a victory against the Blue Jays on Friday.

After uncharacteristically striking out 10 batters in his last outing, Kelly returned to pitching to contact Friday, and that was just fine. For the second straight start, he yielded a lone run through at least seven frames. Interestingly, Kelly has earned a decision in 10 straight appearances. He is 6-6 with a 4.12 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 74.1 innings this season. Kelly will look to keep this hot streak going at the Phillies on Wednesday.