MLB Player News

Cease (4-10) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out nine over five scoreless innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Cease threw 59 of 90 pitches for strikes in this outing. While he wasn't particularly efficient, he put together a dominant effort to earn his first win since June 21. He showed no ill effects after taking a comebacker off the head in his previous start. The right-hander posted a 5.67 ERA over 27 innings across his five starts in July, one of which was a scoreless outing. Cease has posted a 4.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 162:48 K:BB through 123.1 innings over 23 starts this season. His next start is lined up to be at home versus the Red Sox.

Pallante (6-8) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Padres.

Pallante posted seven innings of one-hit ball in his last start, but he wasn't able to replicate it Sunday. It was a decent outing, aside from the two-run home run Jake Cronenworth hit in the fourth inning to open the scoring. Pallante is now at a 4.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 80:40 K:BB through 122 innings over 22 starts this season. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Cubs.

Blackburn (shoulder) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings Saturday in his rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse.

Blackburn has now compiled a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts between stops with Syracuse and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. He's been on the shelf since July 3 due to a right shoulder impingement but has been fully stretched out for over a week now, as he built up to 87 pitches in his previous rehab start before tossing 93 on Saturday. His delayed activation from the 15-day injured list seems to be a result of the Mets buying some time to decide whether he'll be part of the rotation or bullpen upon his return, and Blackburn's odds of returning as a starter may have increased after Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Giants. Frankie Montas was battered for seven earned runs in four innings in the loss and now holds a 6.68 ERA over seven starts on the season, perhaps putting him at risk of losing his spot in the rotation.

Megill (elbow) threw about 22 pitches in a live batting practice session Sunday at Citi Field, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Megill has now reached another major milestone in his recovery from a right elbow sprain by facing hitters for the first time since landing on the injured list June 17. The right-hander will likely throw another two-inning simulated live BP on Thursday and perhaps another sim game after that before the Mets map out a minor-league rehab assignment for him. The Mets will presumably let Megill get stretched out for a starting role during his assignment, but it's unclear if the big club will actually have a spot available for him in the rotation by the time he's eligible for activation in the middle of August.

Henderson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Nationals, allowing a run on three hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

Henderson was impressive overall Sunday, blanking Washington through his first four innings, though the Brewers pulled the right-hander after he gave up a run on back-to-back hits in the fifth. Henderson has been excellent in his brief time in the majors this season, posting a 1.78 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB across 25.1 innings. He should remain in the rotation for at least a couple more turns with Jacob Misiorowski (lower leg) landing on the IL. Henderson is currently in line to face the Reds on the road in his next outing.

Yamamoto (10-7) earned the win Sunday over the Rays, allowing five hits and no walks over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out six.

Yamamoto has been excellent of late, allowing just four runs over 24.2 innings in his last four starts. His ERA is down to 2.51 with a 1.04 WHIP and 139:39 K:BB across 22 starts (122 innings) this season. The 26-year-old Yamamoto will look to keep rolling in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to come next week at home against the AL East-leading Blue Jays.

The Padres reinstated Cortes (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Shortly after being acquired from the Brewers at the trade deadline, Cortes will join the Padres' 26-man active roster after missing about four months due to a flexor strain. The left-hander threw 93 pitches over 5.2 innings during his final rehab outing at Triple-A Nashville on July 24, so he should be able to handle a full starter's workload whenever he makes his Padres debut. The open spot in San Diego's rotation lines up for next weekend versus Boston, but the Padres could have Cortes take the mound during the three-game series in Arizona that begins Monday.

The Padres optioned Vasquez to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

The 26-year-old righty took the loss Saturday against St. Louis after giving up five runs over four innings, and he'll now be the odd man out of the rotation with San Diego activating trade-deadline pickup Nestor Cortes (elbow) from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Vasquez has been a decent back-end arm for San Diego this season with a 3.93 ERA, though his 1.39 WHIP and 55:48 K:BB over 107.2 innings have resulted in limited fantasy utility. He seems likely to be back with the Padres before the end of the season, whether it be as a starter or reliever.

Misiorowski (tibia) said he expects to miss two starts before returning to the active roster when first eligible Aug. 15, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Misiorowski's placement on the IL on Sunday came as a surprise after the Brewers had previously confirmed him as their starter for the contest, but the rookie right-hander acknowledged that he hadn't recovered as well as expected after being struck in the shin by a line drive in his previous start Monday. Assuming that the 23-year-old is able to continue throwing while he's on the shelf, his goal of returning in the minimum 15 days seems realistic. Milwaukee called up Logan Henderson to start Sunday, and he should be in line for another turn through the rotation next weekend versus the Mets.

The Brewers recalled Henderson from Triple-A Nashville, and he's slated to start Sunday's game against the Nationals, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Henderson will take over the rotation spot of Jacob Misiorowski, who was unexpectedly placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left tibia contusion. Though Misiorowski has drawn far more buzz, Henderson was arguably just as impressive over his first four MLB starts, logging a 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 29:6 K:BB in 21 innings. Since returning to Nashville, Henderson's ratios haven't been quite as eye-popping (4.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 47:13 K:BB in 47.2 innings). He should be in line for at least two turns through the rotation, and maybe more if Misiorowski isn't ready to return from the IL when first eligible.