MLB Player News

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez continued his strong pitcher Friday, in a 3-2 win over the Mets.

Alvarez pitched into the seventh inning for the second straight start, but was unable to finish the frame this time around. He was lifted after 6 1/3 shutout innings, having allowed just seven hits and no walks. He struck out five batters on 94 pitches in the win, just his second in seven starts.

Alvarez has allowed just three earned runs over his last six starts to lower his ERA to 2.39, a mark that ranks fifth in the National League. He improved his record to 4-3 heading into his next start, set for Wednesday in Philadelphia.  

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg had to be bailed out by a late rally Friday, as he settled for a no-decision in a 6-4 extra-innings loss.

Strasburg was in line for the loss, after giving up four runs in six innings of work. He allowed nine hits and no walks, while striking out eight batters in six innings. He earned a no-decision when the offense rallied to score two runs off Braves All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to send it to extras.

Strasburg remains 6-5 on the season with the no-decision, while his ERA rose to 3.24. He will look for win No. 7 in his next trip to the mound, set for Wednesday in Milwaukee. 

The Cubs' murky closer situation became a little clearer Friday when Hector Rondon recorded a save in only his second appearance since his extended absence for an elbow injury. He struck out two in a perfect ninth inning, looking just as dominant as he did in 24 appearances before his disastrous outing June 6 -- his last before his extended absence.

Neil Ramirez, who filled in for Rondon and who many hoped would keep the role given his impressive numbers to date, wasn't even a candidate for the ninth inning in this one. The Cubs used him in the seventh inning. He did fine, issuing one walk and recording one strikeout in a scoreless inning to lower his ERA to 1.00, but how well he pitches is irrelevant in most leagues if he's not getting saves.

He's probably still the Cubs' backup plan, making him worth stashing in deeper leagues where saves are especially scarce, but given how effective Rondon was before the injury, compiling a 1.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings, you shouldn't count on him blowing this chance to claim the role all for himself.

Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton struggled keeping the ball in the yard Friday, in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs.

Morton was charged with six runs in six innings of work, four of which came via longball. He allowed a three-run shot in the third and then a solo homer in the fifth, two of the eight hits he gave up. Morton also struck out six batters and walked two on 104 pitches in the loss.

Morton's loss ended a three-game winning streak and dropped his record to 4-8 for the season. He carries a 3.47 ERA into his next outing, set for Wednesday in Tampa. 

The Braves are wasting no time getting promising left-hander Alex Wood back in the starting rotation upon the placing of Gavin Floyd on the disabled list. Wood has had his minor league stint cut short and will start Wednesday in Houston.

Wood had been thriving as a starter, but the Braves moved him to the bullpen to limit his innings. He had a 1.54 ERA in his first five starts before faltering a bit in his last two outings.

In case you haven't made the connection yourself, Gavin Floyd's elbow fracture is most likely Alex Wood's ticket back to the big-league rotation, so if he's somehow still available in your league, pick him up.

This was the Braves' plan all along -- well, not the injury, but temporarily moving Wood to the bullpen to keep his innings down only to move him back to the starting rotation later in the season. It's why they sent him to Triple-A Gwinnett to get stretched out.

Of course, he's made only two starts there, so he'll probably get one more. The Braves can wait until their doubleheader June 28 to add him and probably will.

But make no mistake: He's coming, and if he's anything like he was in his first five starts, pitching seven innings or more four times with a 1.54 ERA and a strikeout per inning, he'll be a major asset for Fantasy owners down the stretch, particularly in leagues where his relief pitcher eligibility makes a difference.

 Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler overcame a pair of subpar outings with the best of his career Thursday, in a 1-0 win over the Marlins.

In a matchup of highly touted young pitchers, Wheeler spoiled Andrew Heaney's major-league debut by tossing his first career complete-game. Wheeler limited the Marlins to just three hits and a walk, and faced only one batter over the minimum en route to the win He also struck out eight batters on 111 pitches.

Wheeler ended a two-game losing streak with the win, but is still just 3-7 on the season. He carries a 3.93 ERA into his next outing, set for Wednesday against the Athletics. 

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson put together a solid outing, but was pegged with a tough-luck loss Thursday afternoon against the Brewers. The right-hander permitted three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and no walks while striking out four over five innings pitched, dropping to 5-2 on the year.

Anderson has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. He owns a 3.18 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP through seven starts (39 2/3 innings). He will make his next start Wednesday at home against Cleveland.

Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez will make another spot start this week, thought he won't be replacing an injured start this time.

Martinez is starting Sunday against the Phillies, in place of Michael Wacha. The team announced the move Sunday, noting that Wacha is not injured, and the team just wants to give him extra rest in his first full major-league season. 

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole is looking at a June 28 return, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

That's a tentative date for the right-hander. He's expected to make another simulated start Monday. Cole is dealing with a shoulder injury. He's posted a 3.64 ERA over 76 2/3 innings.