MLB Player News

Reds manager Dusty Baker said Monday that pitcher Johnny Cueto could miss at least three starts and possibly four due to a strained right lat, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Cueto was placed on the disabled list with the back injury earlier Monday and is expected to be replaced in the starting rotation by top pitching prospect Tony Cingrani.

"I don't think this is going to affect me at all," Cueto said Monday through an interpreter. "I think, God willing, I'll be better in five-six days and I'll be able to start throwing."

As anticipated, the Reds placed starting pitcher Johnny Cueto on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat, the team announced Monday. Cueto left last Saturday's game against Pittsburgh with the injury and there is no immediate timetable for his return.

Cincinnati promoted relief pitcher Justin Freeman from Triple-A Louisville to take his place on the roster, but has not announced who will start against the Marlins. Top pitching prospect Tony Cingrani is considered the leading candidate to assume Cueto's spot in the rotation beginning Thursday against Miami.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto will land on the 15-day disabled list with a lat strain, FOXSports.com reports.

Cueto left Saturday's start against the Pirates after feeling something "sharp" in his right triceps during the game. He was 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP through his first three starts before getting hurt.

Cardinals prospect Michael Wacha earned his first Triple-A win Saturday with a five-inning performance for Memphis. The right-hander allowed three runs -- two earned -- while walking one and striking out three.

Wacha has a 4.00 ERA through his first two minor-league starts. He pitched 24 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run during spring training.

While Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin will have a market correction at some point, I don't think it will be as severe as you might anticipate. In case you can't tell, I'm buying his hot start.

The most telling sign for me is Corbin is keeping the baseball in the park, which was a problem for him last season. Corbin surrendered 14 home runs in 107 innings last year (1.2 HR/9). That was a little bit uncharacteristic since he allowed just 0.7 home runs per nine innings in 430 2/3 minor-league innings. Through two starts, Corbin hasn't allowed a home run and he allowed just one in 25 2/3 spring innings, while he was securing a spot in the team's rotation.

Corbin is a heavy groundball pitcher, but he seems to be doing an even better job of keeping the ball down in 2013 (25.6 percent fly ball rate, per FanGraphs.com), which is why I feel he will be able to sustain his success.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu has already established himself as a solid pitcher early in his major-league career, and he showed the ability to help himself at the plate as well Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Ryu allowed three runs in six innings of work for his third quality start in as many outings. He struck out a career-high nine batters, and really only ran into trouble late in the outing. Ryu allowed each of the two batters he faced in the seventh inning to reach before earning a hook. Reliever Ronald Belisario allowed both runners to score.

Ryu also went 3 for 3 with a double in the game for the first hits of his career, and he scored a run. On the mound, Ryu walked just one batter, throwing 68 of 107 pitches for strikes. He earned the win in a 7-5 final, pushing his record to 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA. He has struck out 20 batters with just three walks in his first 18 2/3 innings.

Ryu will make his next start Friday against the Orioles, his first interleague start. Baltimore is averaging 5.1 runs per game. 

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke underwent surgery to insert a metal rod into his fractured collarbone. The procedure took 90 minutes.

Greinke is on the 15-day disabled list as a result of the injury, suffered during a brawl in Thursday's game against the Padres. He is expected to miss up to eight weeks while healing. 

Reds starter Johnny Cueto said he felt something "sharp" in his right arm while throwing a changeup Saturday night against the Pirates and will travel back to Cincinnati to have his right triceps examined by team doctors, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

"Yeah (I'm worried)," he said. "I was feeling good. I wanted to stay in the game."

His next start is scheduled for Thursday against the Marlins.

Tony Cingrani could be an option to make that start if Cueto is unable.

After scuffling in his first two starts of the season, Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels welcomed the lowly Marlins Saturday.

Hamels made just one mistake in the game, hanging a pitch to Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez in the fifth inning with a runner on third, accounting for his lone run allowed in six innings of work. Hamels limited the Marlins to just three hits and two walks, while striking out five batters.

Despite posting his first quality start of the year, Hamels earned a no-decision as the Phillies failed to score until after he left the game. They went on to lose the game, 2-1.

Hamels lowered his ERA to 7.56 on the season, heading into a Thursday matchup against the Cardinals. Hamels did not face the Cardinals last season. 

The Reds announced that Johnny Cueto was removed from Saturday's start against the Pirates for precautionary reasons after he felt pain in his right triceps. The right-hander will be re-evaluated on Sunday.