NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Right-hander Jason Hammel allowed one hit in seven innings to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 4, showing no ill effects from the right hamstring cramping that caused him to leave his previous start early.
The only hit Hammel gave up was a two-run homer to Jake Lamb. However, Hammel made up for that with a two-run single that broke a 2-2 tie and helped raise his record to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.14 through 11 starts.
“I’ve added more breaking balls for strikes,” Hammel said. “Toward the end of last year, I wasn’t throwing my slider for strikes. It really wasn’t good speed differential, and I was overthrowing a lot of pitches. It’s just being competitive in the zone with strikes instead of getting into predictable counts.”
Hammel’s performance enabled the Cubs to raise their record to 39-15 at the one-third mark of the season. That put them on pace for 117 wins, which would eclipse by one the major league record of 116, set by the 1906 Cubs and matched by the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
Cincinnati Reds
Right-hander Jon Moscot received a rude welcome from opposing batters upon his return from the disabled list, giving up 12 runs in 52⁄3 innings in two starts.
He was activated May 31 and got roughed up by the Colorado Rockies as he was tagged for seven runs and eight hits, including four home runs, in two innings while taking the loss. Moscot had been out since May 4 because of pain in his non-pitching shoulder.
“I’ve got to be better than that,” Moscot said. “Two innings is just not good.”
The 24-year-old was only marginally better Sunday when he allowed five runs in 32⁄ innings of 3 a no-decision against the Washington Nationals.
Right- hander Raisel Iglesias will be used in relief when he returns from the disabled list, likely sometime in late June. He began the season by going 1-1 with a 3.49 ERA in five starts before a right shoulder impingement sidelined him April 28, an injury that has left the Reds wondering if he can withstand the rigors of starting.
Right- hander Anthony DeSclafani (strained side muscle) is expected to make his season debut Friday against the Oakland Athletics.
Milwaukee Brewers
Left-handed reliever Will Smith’s season debut, delayed nearly two months because of a sprained ligament in his right knee, was impressive as he pitched 11⁄ scoreless innings 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 2.
“It was a fun run in (from the bullpen),” said Smith, who then pitched another scoreless inning June 4. “I was ready to go. Knee was sturdy, knee felt good.”
Manager Craig Counsell planned on having hard-throwing Smith share closer duties with right-hander Jeremy Jeffress to begin the season. However, Smith was injured during the final week of spring training while taking off his shoe.
While Jeffress has locked down the closer’s job, Smith will serve as one of his primary setup men along with right-hander Tyler Thornburg. Right- handed set-up man Michael Blazek is out indefinitely because of a right elbow impingement. He was placed on the DL on June 1, the move coming four days after he felt soreness during an appearance in which he gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Reds to jump his ERA to 4.12 from 2.31.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Outfielder Matt Joyce’s threerun homer June 4 against the Los Angeles Angels was his fourth of the season as a pinch-hitter and gave him 13 RBI in that role.
That puts him in range of the franchise records in both categories. Craig Wilson had seven homers off the bench as a rookie in 2001, and Hall of Famer Willie Stargell had 16 pinch-hit RBI in 1982, his final season.
“I try to stay as prepared as possible,” Joyce said. “I try to work off the (pitching) machine during the game so I can try to get up to game speed. There’s no secret formula.”
Right- hander Curtis Partch was called up from Class AAA Indianapolis on June 4 to help a shaky bullpen. He had three saves and a 1.30 ERA in 18 games in the International League and was back in the major leagues for the first time since making a combined 20 relief appearances for the Reds in 2013 and 2014.
Right- hander Ryan Vogelsong underwent surgery June 2 to repair facial fractures sustained May 24 when he was hit by a pitch. While the Pirates said a timetable for his return had yet to be determined, Vogelsong was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL on June 4.
St. Louis Cardinals
Rookie Aledmys Diaz is entrenched as the starting shortstop even though veteran Jhonny Peralta was in the final stages of a rehab assignment last weekend at high Class A Palm Beach (Fla.) and was set to make his season debut this week after recovering from a torn ligament in his left thumb.
In anticipation of Peralta’s activation, the Cardinals sent second baseman Kolten Wong to Class AAA Memphis (Tenn.) on Monday, three months after he signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract extension.
Diaz was hitting .328 with eight home runs and a .906 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) through his first 54 games.
“I feel given what you’re seeing out of Diaz at his age, you really need to see him develop at shortstop,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “When you look at what he’s been able to do, seeing him hold that spot for the next five or six years is reasonable to think.”
Peralta played some third base on his rehab assignment. The Cardinals also plan to have third baseman Matt Carpenter see some action at second base.
Right- handed reliever Seth Maness (elbow) could be ready to begin a rehab assignment by the weekend. He was placed on the disabled list May 13 after compiling a 6.39 ERA in 13 games.
“It’s hard to get much better than that. It’s fun to watch when a guy pitches like that. He was on the attack.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell, after right-hander Zach Davies pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out nine in a win against the Cardinals on June 1.