MLB Player News

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels pitched seven solid innings to help lead the Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Mets on Friday.

"Cole was really in control of the game the whole night," manager Ryan Sandberg said, per MLB.com. "He had the one inning in the fourth with the run scoring on the wild pitch. He got out of that. But other than that, he was in control."

Hamels allowed one run on four hits during the outing. He also struck out eight batters and walked two. Hamels received his second win of the season for his effort and he was able to lower his ERA from 4.14 to 3.68.

"We've got a lead, so you want to make sure they earn it," Hamels said. "Not walking guys, I know that's kind of been my problem in the past. So I was just trying to go after them, and if they get on with hits, they get on with hits. I didn't really want to give them free passes."

Hamels has now gone seven innings and given up one run in two of his last three starts. His next expected start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Pirates.

Braves pitcher Eric Stults gave up three earned runs in Friday night's 9-2 loss to division-rival Nationals. 

Stults went six innings and gave up seven hits. But he did strike out seven batters. In his past two games, Stults has given up a total of nine earned runs and four home runs. Against Washington, Stults gave up two home runs — one each to Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth. 

Stults, however, wasn't responsible for the lopsided loss. Williams Perez and Trevor Cahill gave up a combined five runs in the eighth inning. Harper hit his second homer of the game, a three-run shot, off of Perez. Danny Espinosa went yard on Hill. 

Making his MLB debut Friday night, Perez now has a 108.00 ERA. 

As for Stults, he falls to 1-3 with a 4.84 ERA. 

His next start is projected for May 13 against the Reds. 

Friday's interleague matchup between the White Sox and Reds has been postponed till Saturday, reports CSN Chicago.

Rain caused the game to be postponed and the two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday. Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto will face White Sox pitcher Jason Marquis in Game 1, while White Sox pitcher Hector Noesi is going against Reds pitcher Carlos Rodon in Game 2.

Top-prospect Noah Syndergaard will make his major-league debut for the Mets on Tuesday in Chicago against the Cubs, reports NJ.com.

Mets starter Dillon Gee (groin) was placed on the disabled list Friday, opening the rotation spot for Syndergaard.

Syndergaard has had a strong season in Triple-A, going 3-0 in five starts with a 1.82 ERA, striking out 34 in 29 2/3 innings. 

The Mets will move up starter Bartolo Colon to Sunday and Jacob deGrom to Monday.

Syndergaard's expected to be called up to the Mets on Saturday.

Mets starter Dillon Gee was diagnosed with a slight groin strain, per NJ.com. He was scratched from Sunday's start and placed on the 15-day disabled list. 

Bartolo Colon will pitch in Gee's place on Sunday, and Jacob deGrom will pitch Monday.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said pitcher Stephen Strasburg received a chiropractic adjustment on his shoulder, according to The Washington Times' Tom Schad. 

Strasburg was able to play catch and came away feeling fine. However, it's unknown if Strasburg will be able to make his next schedueld start, which is on Monday against the Diamondbacks. 

“I feel good,” Strasburg said, according to The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes. “Obviously, had the off day. It feels good playing catch. Will throw a bullpen hopefully tomorrow and go from there.”

Strasburg added that after the adjustment any discomfort was alleviated in an instant. 

Strasburg injured his shoulder in his last start against the Marlins on Tuesday. He went three innings before feeling irritation in his shoulder. 

Mets top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard continued his brilliant 2015 season for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. Syndergaard, the 11th best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, struck out eight batters over eight innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. He had a scoreless streak come to an end at 19 innings when he allowed a run to cross in the sixth.

Syndergaard also fell a triple shy of the cycle Thursday, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and and two RBI.  

On the season, the right-hander has a crisp 1.82 ERA to go along with a 3-0 record and a 34:8 K:BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings for the 51s. If he keeps pitching with this kind of dominance, the Mets may not be able to keep him down on the farm for much longer.

Syndergaard seems to be next in line for when the Mets are in need of a spot start, according to Newsday. 

Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne struggled during the first inning of Thursday's 11-0 loss to the Diamondbacks and he never recovered.

Despaigne surrendered four runs on five hits during the opening frame. Despaigne gave up solo home runs to Mark Trumbo and Tuffy Gosewisch during the first.

Despaigne (2-1) pitched a scoreless second inning, but he gave up another solo home run to Paul Goldschmidt in third and he was pulled after allowing eight runs on 10 hits over five innings. He also struck out one batter and walked one. He received the loss for his effort and his ERA went from 2.95 to 5.13.

His next expected start is scheduled for Wednesday at Seattle.

Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani had command issues during Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Pirates. DeSclafani walked four batters over five innings and he gave up three runs on seven hits.

"I got myself in a lot of jams. I definitely wasn't happy with this outing," DeSclafani said, per MLB.com. "I kind of felt like I was fighting myself mechanically and I wasn't getting ahead of hitters at all."

He also struck out one batter. His ERA rose from 2.03 to 2.50 after the outing and he recieved the loss. DeSclafani (2-3) has now failed to pitch past the fifth inning in each of his last three starts. He has walked nine batters over his last 10 innings.

"These walks are something that I'm not used to," DeSclafani said. "I don't like walking a lot of people. I like attacking hitters. I'm kind of just fighting myself these past few starts. I've got to make an adjustment and figure out something quick. I hate losing. I hate competing like this."

His next expected start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Braves.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez was able to throw 50 pitches at 92 mph during his last rehab outing and manager Mike Redmond said Alvarez could return after one more rehab start, reports USA Today.

Alvarez is on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder and elbow injury. The Marlins are hoping he can return to the team by the middle of May.