MLB Player News

Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton pitched around some wildness Friday against the Nationals, and was finally reward with his first win of the season.

Morton wasn't at his sharpest in the start, as he failed to finish the sixth inning for the first time in four starts. Still, he managed to limited the Nationals to one run on five hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings of work, while striking out four in the 4-3 win.

Morton has had better starts this season, but hadn't received a ton of support prior to Friday; the Pirates averaged just 3.1 runs in his first nine starts. He is now 1-6 with a 3.29 ERA in 63 innings, heading into his next start against the Mets Wednesday. 

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg claimed just before the regular season that he planned on including a newly developed slider into his repertoire. But he has since abandoned it. He has not used it at all in his last four starts.

"He feels uncomfortable with the slider," catcher Wilson Ramos told the Washington Post. He said he doesn't want to throw it. He stays with his best pitches."

Strasburg hasn't missed it. He has yielded just seven earned runs in 27 1/3 innings during those four starts. He has walked just four and struck out 21.

Braves reliever Alex Wood picked up his second win as a reliever and his fourth of the season Thursday night against the Brewers.

Wood struck out one and allowed one hit in one scoreless inning of work. The Braves scored three runs n the seventh inning to take the lead. He owns a 3.29 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over 52 innings of work this season.

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke failed to factor into the decision Thursday night against the Mets in New York. The right-hander allowed three runs -- one earned -- on four hits and two walks while striking out four in five innings of a 5-3 defeat.

Over his last three starts covering 20 innings, Greinke has allowed three earned runs. He is expected to make his next start Tuesday at home against Cincinnati. He is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts at home this season.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Wade Miley (3-5) put together a solid start, but was hit with a tough-luck loss to the Cardinals on Thursday. He surrendered three runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over seven innings of a 4-2 defeat.

Over his last four starts covering 26 2/3 innings, Miley has permitted 12 earned runs. He owns a 4.85 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP and 52:25 K:BB ratio in 68 2/3 innings. He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against San Diego.

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn worked his second consecutive quality start but failed to factor into the decision on Thursday against the Diamondbacks. The right-hander surrendered two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six in six innings of work in a 4-2 victory.

Over his last two starts covering 13 innings, Lynn has allowed only four earned runs. Lynn has posted 3.60 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 10 starts (60 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday at home against the Yankees. He is

If you watched the first segment of Thursday's Fantasy Baseball Today, you already know where I'm going with this. Nathan Eovaldi has suddenly gone back on everything that made his hot start believable.

In his last three starts, he's allowed nine earned runs on 26 hits in 15 1/3 innings, which you could attribute to law of averages, statistical noise or plain, dumb luck if you're so inclined. But his seven walks and seven strikeouts during that stretch you can only attribute to bad pitching.

The book on him coming into the season was that he didn't get enough strikeouts for as hard as he throws and he issued too many walks for as much contact as he allows. If his last three starts are any indication, it's as true now as ever.

Granted, three starts don't make for much of a sample, but then again, neither do the seven that made him look like a top-of-the-rotation pitcher to begin the year.

Am I dropping him just yet? Probably not. But I'd at least be tempted if a Drew Pomeranz, Trevor Bauer or Dallas Keuchel type was still out there.

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha, who was hit on the right elbow by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout Wednesday, said he's on track to make his next start Monday against the Yankees, per MLB.com.

Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez had another spectacular start at home Thursday against the Phillies. However, the Marlins' bullpen wasted his strong effort, and Alvarez settled for a second straight no-decision.

Alvarez, who came into the game with a 2.33 ERA and two complete game shutouts in four home starts, allowed just four hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings Thursday. He allowed a pair on singles in the first inning to Wil Nieves and Chase Utley, and then two more singles to Cole Hamels and Jimmy Rollins in the third inning.

Alvarez, who struck out three, walked Ryan Howard leading off the fourth inning. He issued a two-out walk to Jimmy Rollins in the fifth.

He left the game with a 3-0 lead, which the Marlins' bullpen blew in the eighth inning, allowing Philadelphia to tie the game. Alvarez threw 65 of 105 pitches for strikes.

His next scheduled start is for Tuesday at Washington. Alvarez is 0-2 with a 4.88 ERA in five road starts this season.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels allowed three runs on six hits and one walk, settling for a no-decision Thursday at Miami. He had six strikeouts.

Hamels was involved in a pitcher's duel with Henderson Alvarez for most of the afternoon. Both pitchers put zeros on the board until Giancarlo Stanton broke open a scoreless game with a two-out RBI single off Hamels in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Marlins went up 3-0 on Marcell Ozuna's two-run homer with no outs in the seventh inning. Ozuna homered after Jeff Baker led off the inning with a single to left field.

The Phillies were able to tie the game in the top of the eighth inning, taking Hamels off the hook for the loss. Hamels was lifted from the game despite throwing just 91 pitches (65 strikes) in seven innings.

Hamels has taken three no-decisions in his last four starts. He will be back on the hill Tuesday against the Rockies.