MLB Player News

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (lat, oblique) will come off the disabled list Monday to start against the Mets, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mike Leake was originally scheduled to start Monday, but Cueto's return doesn't mean Leake is out of the rotation.

Cueto made two rehab starts for Class A Dayton, going 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA and .233 opponents' batting average. He also had eight strikeouts and issued no walks in eight innings.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels could not end his losing skid Wednesday against the Indians, dropping a third straight start and losing for the fourth time in five outings as Cleveland beat Philadelphia, 10-4. Hamels opened with two scoreless innings before the Indians scored five times over the next three innings.

Hamels, who was plagued by a high pitch count, gave up a solo home run to Mike Aviles in the fourth inning and a two-run homer to Nick Swisher in the fifth inning. Hamels (1-6) allowed five runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four. The Phillies are 1-8 in his starts.

Hamels needed 91 pitches to get through four innings and reached 100 in the fifth.

"We drove his pitch count up early," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We made him earn his outs and we scored early. It's great to work the count and have something to show for it."

The left-hander will be back on the hill Monday at Miami. Hamels is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against Miami this season.

Mets starting pitcher prospect Zack Wheeler received some good news Wednesday as doctors did not find any structural damage after he reported soreness around his right clavicle, according to The Star-Ledger.

"All good," Wheeler's agent Al Goetz sent in a text message. "No structural damage."

Wheeler has been diagnosed with a bout of inflammation and received a cortisone injection, according to ESPN. He's expected to start throwing in a couple of days.

Although he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in four straight starts, Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels is 1-3 in that span. However, manager Charlie Manuel is quite confident the left-handed hurler is due for a hot streak.

"He's real close to getting on one of those runs, has had good stuff, but walked more than usual, matter of command," Manuel said during an interview on MLB Network Radio.

Mets starting pitcher prospect Noah Syndergaard has been outstanding for Class A St. Lucie since allowing a season-high seven runs April 18 against Fort Myers. Syndergaard has allowed a total of four runs (two earned) in his last four starts, bringing his ERA down to 2.61.

Syndergaard has gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts and has managed at least five strikeouts three times in that span. He is 2-1 with a .254 opponents' batting average, 38 strikeouts, 13 walks and one home run allowed in 38 innings this season.

The right-hander, who was picked up in the offseason in a trade with Toronto, entered the season as the Mets' third-best prospect, according to MLB.com.

Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin ran his record to 6-0 Tuesday night against the Braves. He worked seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits while striking out five. The left-hander also walked five in the 2-0 win.

Corbin threw 58 of his 98 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.52.

"I feel good and I just want to keep it going," Corbin said. "Anytime I can go out there and pitch like this is awesome."

His next start is scheduled for Monday against the Rockies.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw turned in another solid start Tuesday night against the Nationals. He worked 8 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up five hits while striking out 11 in the 2-0 win.

The left-hander threw 96 of his 132 pitches for strikes and was pulled after giving up a two-out single to Adam LaRoche in the ninth. He lowered his ERA to 1.40.

Kershaw also walked one while earning his fourth win.

The 25-year-old has gone 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in his previous four starts.

His next start is scheduled for Monday against the Brewers. When he faced Milwaukee on April 26, Kershaw worked eight scoreless innings in the win.

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran turned in a solid performance but was outdueled by opposing starter Patrick Corbin in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to the Diamondbacks.

Teheran, who made his seventh start of the season, surrendered a two-run single to Didi Gregorius in the third inning for his only damage of the night. The right-hander was charged with two runs and seven hits over six innings of work. He struck out three and did not issue a walk as he suffered his first loss of the season.

Teheran (2-1) has allowed five runs over his last 13 innings. He has struck out six over that span. The 22-year-old is scheduled to make his next start Monday at home against the Twins.

Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco was knocked around as he lost his third consecutive decision Tuesday night against the Reds.

Nolasco (2-5), who made his ninth start of the season, allowed a run-scoring single to Brandon Phillips in the first and issued back-to-back walks with the bases loaded before surrendering a bases-clearing double to Xavier Paul in the second. Nolasco walked back-to-back hitters only 10 times in his first 203 pitching appearances, according to Stats LLC.

He allowed five runs in the second and was charged with six runs and seven hits over five innings of work. He struck out five and walked two in a 6-2 defeat.

"I've been doing a good job of staying away from that big crooked inning all year, but it got me today,” Nolasco told The Miami Herald after the game.

Nolasco has watched his ERA rise from 3.82 to 4.89 during his three-start losing skid. He is scheduled to take the hill Sunday at home against the Diamondbacks. He allowed five runs and six hits over five innings of work in his previous meeting with Arizona last season.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss told MLB.com on Tuesday that Juan Nicasio will remain in the rotation. The right-hander gave up a season-high five runs over six innings in his loss to the Cubs on Monday night.

"Juan is still in play," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We're always evaluating ways to make our club better. We haven't made any decisions on the rotation. We haven't made any moves, so the rotation at this point is still intact."

Nicasio is 3-1 with a 5.13 ERA through eight starts.