Braves
General manager Frank Wren said Shae Simmons, 23, filled a void left with right-hander Jordan Walden on the 15-day DL with a hamstring injury. Walden “was exceptional in April,” Wren said. “He gives us that solid end of the game guy, to be able to bridge to ( closer Craig) Kimbrel, and we were missing that. We think Simmons can do some of that.” Simmons was promoted from Double-A Mississippi.
Marlins
Randy Wolf pitched six innings last week for his first victory since 2012. The 37-year-old Wolf (1-1), making a comeback from the second Tommy John surgery of his career, allowed three hits and one run. “It’s been a long, crazy road, especially recently,” Wolf told the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). “In 2012 when I found out I had no ligament it was tough news and I knew it was going to be a long road. It was tough in 2013 to be at home. … For me, it’s not time to sit back and relax.”
Mets
Zack Wheeler has not lasted seven innings all season, and he was close last week, one strike away, but instead he walked the Cubs’ Luis Valbuena on a full count. After 107 pitches, Wheeler was pulled, having held the Cubs scoreless for 6 2/3 innings. “He didn’t have his best stuff,” manager Terry Collins told the New York Times. “You’ve got to learn to pitch when you don’t have it. Today, he showed us he could do that.”
Nationals
LHP Gio Gonzalez (inflamed pitching shoulder) began a rehab start with Single-A Potomac. The Nationals expect Gonzalez to increase his pitch count to 65 and be ready to re-join the Nationals rotation after that if there are no issues, according to the Washington Post. “Even at 65, we’re still pushing him,” manager Matt Williams told the newspaper. “It’s fairly quick. He hasn’t gotten to a 100 yet. We’ll have to see.” On that schedule, Gonzalez could start Wednesday in San Francisco.
Phillies
The team signed RHP Jason Marquis, 35, to a minor league contract. He will report to Class-A Clearwater for extended spring training. Marquis, who has 309 career starts in the majors, pitched for San Diego in 2013 and posted a 4.05 ERA in 20 starts. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have used relievers in recent weeks to start games at double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. Their current triple-A rotation is Greg Smith (30 years old), Sean O’Sullivan (26), Barry Enright (28), Brad Lincoln (29) and Chris Bootcheck (35). Marquis underwent Tommy John surgery last July. He could serve as a rotation replacement later this season should the Phillies trade any of their current starters. A.J. Burnett, Kyle Kendrick and Roberto Hernandez could be free agents at season’s end, the Inquirer reported.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
