MLB Player News

After undergoing further evaluation, the Nationals' original diagnosis of a left trapezius strain for starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been confirmed, manager Matt Williams told reporters Tuesday.

Williams said Strasburg won't throw until the injury is healed, but he might only be down for a matter of days, per CSNwashington.com.

“We have to make sure we determine what it is and fix it,” Williams said. “Whatever’s causing that in his back, we have to see if we can fix it, then get him back out there and allow him to be free and easy and pitch and do what he does best.”

Strasburg went on the 15-day disabed list Saturday after pitching just one inning Friday at Cincinnati. The right-hander is having a tough start to the season, as he is 3-5 with a 6.55 ERA in 10 starts. He has been plagued by poor fastball command through the first two months.

“We’ve looked at it extensively,” Williams said. “[Pitching coach Steve McCatty] has looked at it, all the video. There’s minor adjustments that guys make during the course of a season, but nothing that glares at us that he’s changed or that’s drastically different, no.”

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed two runs — zero earned — in Monday night's 4-3 win over the Giants. 

The two runs allowed occurred in the first inning thanks to a Jung Ho Kang throwing error with two outs. Cole put in an inspired performance, striking out nine while walking two and surrendering five hits.

"To find another gear in that sixth ... to push himself out there, there was a hole dug, and he was the guy to get out of it," manager Clint Hurdle said after the game, per MLB.com. "You shake your head a couple of times, and the bases are loaded and you got to go to work."

Cole has now struck out 26 batters in his past three games. Cole now has an 8-2 record with a 1.90 ERA. 

His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Braves. 

Braves pitcher Alex Wood only allowed one run on seven hits over eight innings of work during Monday's 8-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

He struck out four and did not walk a batter during the outing. Wood received his fourth win of the season for his effort. His ERA now stands at 3.19.

"It was nice to see [Wood] pitch himself out of that jam in the eighth, first and second and nobody out and here come the big boys," manager Fredi Gonzalez said after the game, per MLB.com. "He was able to get the ground ball and get (Paul) Goldschmidt to fly out to center field. It was a really good outing by Woody tonight."

Wood has pitched at least seven innings and given up a total of three runs in his last three starts.

"The last two starts I'm starting to get everything together, so to speak," Wood said. "And like I said last week, it's more about getting that consistency and repeatability to where I don't have anything to work on any more than just being consistent and repeatable. For me, that's the biggest thing."

His next scheduled start is set for Sunday against the Pirates.

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom pitched eight shutout innings in Monday night's 7-0 win over the Padres. 

He held the Padres to only two hits in the game. It's the second time in the past three games that deGrom was able to go eight innings without giving up a run.

"This is probably one of the best games I've seen him pitch," manager Terry Collins said after the game, per MLB.com. "And I've seen him pitch some really, really good ones."

It was a dominant performance that saw deGrom throw nine strikeouts and walk zero batters. His ERA is now 2.41 for the season.

"This is the best I've been at repeating it, staying on top of the ball and getting good downward movement like I did last year," deGrom said. "I think I'm just in a better rhythm now."

The next projected start for deGrom is on Sunday against the Diamondbacks. 

The Dodgers announced that Juan Nicasio will start the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rockies. 

This will be Nicasio's first start of the 2015 season. He's started 69 games in a five-year MLB career. 

Nicasio has appeared in 16 games and has a 1.29 ERA. 

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings of work during Monday's 11-4 win over the Rockies. He also collected three hits during the contest.

Kershaw (4-3) struck out seven and walked one during the outing. He lowered his ERA to 3.73 and has now pitched at least seven innings in his last three starts. He said after the game that he doesn't let the Coors Field's reputation as a hitter's park affect him, per MLB.com.

"If your stuff is good, it'll be good here," said Kershaw, who's now 8-3 overall at Coors Field. "The margin for error is a lot less."

Kershaw has earned a quality start in three of his last four starts and he has won those three starts. His next expected start is scheduled for Saturday against the Cardinals.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel stuck out 11 batters during Monday evening's 5-1 win over the Marlins. 

Hammel gave up only earned run in the outing on five hits. He didn't walk anyone through 6 2/3 innings. His 11 strikeouts were a career-high for Hammel.

"We changed speeds pretty well early today," Hammel said, via MLB.com. "With (Miami), they're an early fastball-hitting team. So we kind of pitched backwards the first few innings, and it opened up the fastball for later.

"With my success, I had to learn after a while that if you walk guys and put guys on, you're putting yourself in trouble," Hammel said. "So I found success in the strike zone instead of outside the strike zone."

Hammel now has thrown 28 strikeouts over his last three games and has a 2.82 ERA for the season. 

His next start is projected for Saturday against the Nationals. 

Marlins pitcher Jose Urena allowed three earned runs in Monday night's 5-1 loss against the Cubs. 

Urena went six innings and struck out four batters. He gave up three walks and four hits. This was his second start of the season.

It was a better effort than the five-run, 10-hit game he had against Pittsburgh the last time he was on the mound. 

Urena now has a 7.24 ERA for the season. 

Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin threw an extended spring training game on Monday, the team announced. 

He went 3 2/3 innings and struck out eight batters. He allowed two hits and one walk. 

Corbin has been recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had back in 2013. 

The Rockies placed starting pitcher Jordan Lyles on the 15-day disabled list Monday, according to The Denver Post. Lyles aggravated a toe injury during Sunday's start against the Phillies.

"We think he's going to need a little time this time around," manager Walt Weiss said before Monday's game with the Dodgers, per MLB.com. "Not sure exactly how long, but long enough to put him on the DL."

The right-hander has not pitched well as of late, going 0-4 with a 7.40 ERA in his last six starts.