MLB Player News

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran turned in an impressive outing but was unable to factor into the decision Monday night against the Phillies. The right-hander permitted one run on four hits and no walks while striking out six over eight innings of work.

Teheran lowered his ERA from 2.41 to 2.31 on the year. He owns a 0.93 WHIP and 84:21 K:BB ratio over 15 starts (105 innings). He will make his next start Saturday at Washington.

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels twirled another gem on Monday against the Braves, ibut had nothing to show for it in a no-decision. The left-hander permitted five hits and two walks while striking out six over seven shutout innings. Jonathan Papelbon coughed up a late lead in the ninth inning.

Hamels has not allowed a run over his last three starts covering 22 2/3 innings. He has struck out 26 and walked five over that span. He owns a 2.78 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP through 11 starts (74 1/3 innings). He will look to extend his scoreless streak Saturday at St. Louis.

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio was officially optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday, MLB.com reports. Nicasio owned a 5.92 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP through 14 starts (73 innings). 

Though I was certainly pleased to see Neil Ramirez record two saves this weekend given his work as a middle reliever so far this year, I assumed it was more of a response Hector Rondon's elbow injury than any sort of changing of the guard.

But on the first segment of Monday's Fantasy Baseball Today, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman suggested the closer role may be Ramirez's to lose going forward.

That's an encouraging thought for Fantasy owners -- well, the ones who aren't heavily invested in Rondon anyway. Like I said, Ramirez, a rookie, has been outstanding in middle relief this season. Even with a shaky appearance in one of his two save opportunities this weekend, he still has a 1.06 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 19 appearances.

Of course, he has no major-league track record to speak of and was a starter for most of his minor-league career, so he still has something to prove. But among the relievers who have taken over the closer role since the start of the season, he might be the most exciting after Sean Doolittle.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond announced Monday starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani will replace Jacob Turner in the rotation, starting Tuesday against the Cubs. Turner, who was 2-4 wih a 6.38 ERA in nine starts, will move to the bullpen.

The Marlins announced Monday they recalled pitcher Anthony DeSclafani from Triple-A New Orleans. The right-handed hurler was 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in two starts earlier this season for Miami, but he might be used out of the bullpen in his second stint.

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio endured his shortest outing of the season and was unable to factor into the decision Sunday afternoon against the Giants in San Francisco. The right-hander permitted three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two in two innings of an 8-7 win.

Over his last two starts covering 5 2/3 innings, Nicasio has allowed 13 earned runs. He owns a 5.92 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP through 14 starts (73 innings). He will look to rebound on Saturday at home against Milwaukee.

Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez turned into another strong start at home Sunday against the Pirates. However, he didn't factor into the decision, as Miami won 3-2 in 10 innings.

Alvarez, who entered Sunday's game with a 3-1 record, 1.47 WHIP and 0.95 WHIP in six home starts, held Pittsburgh to two runs on seven hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out six. Alvarez was in line for the loss until Miami rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at 2 in the eighth inning.

Alvarez gave up an RBI double to Starling Marte in the third inning and an RBI single to Josh Harrison in the fourth inning. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in his last four home starts.

The right-handed hurler is expected to be back on the hill Friday against the Mets. Alvarez is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two starts against New York this season.

Pirates starting pitcher Vance Worley was outstanding in his season debut Sunday at Miami after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Unfortunately, the bullpen cost him a chance to pick up a win, as Miami rallied for a 3-2 win in 10 innings.

Worley held the Marlins scoreless for seven innings, yielding five hits and no walks. He also struck out five. He left with a 2-0 lead, which the Pittsburgh bullpen blew in the eighth inning.

The only frame Worley ran into some trouble was the fourth inning, as Miami led off the inning with a pair of singles. But Worley escaped the jam with a strikeout and double play.

With Francisco Liriano on the disabled list and expected to miss a month due to an oblique injury, Worley will likely remain in the rotation. His next scheduled start will come Saturday against the Cubs, if the team doesn't skip his turn through the rotation.

Although Hector Rondon was cleared to return from an elbow injury Sunday, Cubs manager Rick Renteria still turned to Neil Ramirez to close out a 3-0 win at Philadelphia. 

Ramirez retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth, needing just 11 pitches to record his third save. All three of his saves have come since June 5.