MLB Player News

Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton earned a win Saturday, giving up two earned runs on five hits and three walks in seven innings while striking out six in his team's 8-6 victory over the Marlins.

Morton (4-7) has rattled off three straight wins, and he's turned in five straight starts with no more than two earned runs in each. The excellent recent stretch has lowered his ERA to 3.09 to accompany a 67:32 K:BB ratio in 87 1/3 innings. Morton is slated to take on the Cubs Friday.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright has been scratched from Monday's scheduled start for precautionary reasons, fox2now.com reports.

Wainwright received an anti-inflammatory injection in his elbow Wednesday, but he did throw Saturday and said he felt "significantly" better than he did previously. The Cardinals have yet to name a replacement starter Monday.

The Pirates have listed Vance Worley as the team's probable starter for Sunday.

The move was expected, as Worley was scratched from Friday's Triple-A start. He'll take on the Marlins during his first start. He's posted a 4.30 ERA over 46 innings in the minors. 

The Cubs are already discussing trades involving Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

The Braves, Mariners and Blue Jays have all shown interest in both players. Seattle is also believed to be a player, particularly for Hammel. The club is expected to entertain deals for both players around the trade deadline, so it's not a surprise to see the trade rumors are already starting.

Pirates pitcher Vance Worley will be called up for Sunday's start, according to 93.7 The Fan.

Worley was scratched from Friday's Triple-A start, prompting speculation he would replace Francisco Liriano in the rotation. Worley will take on the Marlins in his first start. He's posted a 4.30 ERA in the minors. 

The Pirates have yet to announce a starter for Sunday's game, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

It's assumed Vance Worley will be called up to replace Francisco Liriano, but the team has remained mum on the subject. Worley has posted a 4.30 ERA over 46 innings in the minors. Worley scratched from Friday's start, which hinted at the callup.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw won his third straight decision in a dominant outing Friday night at home against the Diamondbacks.

Kershaw surrendered a run-scoring double to Aaron Hill in the third inning for his only damage of the night. He permitted one run on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven in seven innings of a 4-3 victory. Of his 106 pitches, 69 were strikes.

Kershaw owns a 2.93 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in nine starts (55 1/3 innings). He will make his next start Wednesday at home against Colorado.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson was pegged with his first loss of the season Friday night against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The right-hander permitted two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings of a 4-3 defeat.

Anderson owns a 3.21 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP through six career starts (33 2/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against Milwaukee. He is 3-0 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts at home this season.

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn turned in another gem Friday night at home against the Nationals, improving to 7-4 on the season. The right-hander permitted two hits and no walks while striking out eight over eight shutout frames of a 1-0 victory.

Over his last two starts covering 13 innings, Lynn has permitted only two earned runs. He owns a 3.16 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He will make his next start Wednesday at home against the Mets.

Marlins pitcher Nate Eovaldi struggled at home against the Pirates on Friday, but somehow escaped with a no-decision. The right-hander permitted six runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings of a 6-2 defeat.

Over his last two starts covering 12 2/3 innings, Eovaldi has allowed nine earned runs. He owns a 3.71 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP through 14 starts (87 1/3 innings). He will make his next start Wednesday at home against the Cubs.