Ricky Nolasco gets some run support for fourth win
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (6/16/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco held St. Louis to one run on three hits and one walk in seven innings Sunday, leading Miami to a 7-2 win against the NL Central leaders. The right-hander struck out four, as he improved to 4-7.
The Cardinals scored their only run off Nolasco in the third inning on Jon Jay's RBI single. Nolasco retired 11 straight batters during one stretch Sunday as he won for the first time in five starts. He's allowed one earned run in four of his last eight starts.
Nolasco will be back on the hill Friday at San Francisco. Nolasco is 5-3 with a 1.83 ERA in eight career starts against the Giants, including 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA in four career starts at AT&T Park.
Ricky Nolasco dealing with rumors
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (6/11/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco's name has been linked to the Orioles, Yankees and Giants in trade rumors, according to the Miami Herald. Nolasco is in the final season of his contract and the rebuilding Marlins will likely look to get something for him before the July 31 trade deadline.
Nolasco told the Herald Tuesday he is not thinking about the possibility of having to switch teams, especially after the Marlins traded nearly all of their veterans this offseason.
"It's out of my control," Nolasco said. "I'm a very big believer in worrying only about things I can control. Obviously I think about it, but I'm not going to drive myself crazy because it's not up to me."
Nolasco has pitched for the Marlins during the entirety of his eight-year major-league career, and is enjoying his best season since 2008 so far. Nolasco has a 3.80 ERA in 14 starts this season.
"It is going to be weird because this is all I know," Nolasco said. "But it's part of the game. I'll adapt to wherever I go."
Ricky Nolasco drawing interest from Yanks, O's
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (6/11/2013) Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco has drawn interest from the Yankees and Orioles, according to ESPN.com. The Giants are also interested in Nolasco, according to CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler.
The Marlins will have Nate Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez returning from injuries, and that could spur them to get rid of Nolasco. Many scouts gathered to watch Nolasco pitch when he faced off against the Phillies June 4. In that game, Nolasco gave up two runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Nolasco has a 3.80 ERA and a 3.65 FIP in 87 2/3 innings.
Brewers hammer Ricky Nolasco early
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (6/10/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco saw his string of quality starts end at four Monday, as the Brewers jumped all over him in a 6-1 loss.
Nolasco gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings, and settled down after a very poor start, in which he surrendered four runs in his firs three innings. He gave up 10 hits and walked two.
Nolasco did strike out five batters while throwing 60 of 105 pitches for strikes. Nolasco is 3-7 on the season, with a 3.80 ERA in 14 starts. He will try to bounce back in his next start, scheduled for Sunday against the Cardinals.
Marlins open to trading Ricky Nolasco
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (6/6/2013) The Marlins are open to dealing starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, according to MLB.com. A source said the Marlins are likely to receive a mid-level prospect for Nolasco, who will be a free agent after the season.
The right-hander has spent his eight-year career with the Marlins. He's 3-6 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 13 starts in 2013. His ERA is the lowest its been since a career-best 3.52 ERA in 2008.
Ricky Nolasco stays sharp in no-decision
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (6/4/2013) Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco had a quality start in a no-decision Tuesday night against the Phillies.
Nolasco threw six scoreless innings before surrendering run-scoring doubles to Delmon Young and Erik Kratz in the seventh inning and being pulled. The right-hander held the Phillies to two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings.
Nolasco has allowed five runs combined in his last three starts (22 1/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Monday against the Brewers at Marlins Park. He is 2-3 with a 4.19 ERA in six starts at home.
Ricky Nolasco allows two homers vs. Rays
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/31/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco turned in a decent outing but suffered his sixth loss Thursday night against the Rays.
Nolasco (3-6) pitched five scoreless innings before allowing a two-run home run to Matt Joyce in the sixth and a solo shot to James Loney in the seventh. The right-hander surrendered three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 defeat.
Nolasco has allowed five runs combined in his last three starts (22 1/3 innings). He is scheduled to start Tuesday at Philadelphia. He is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Phillies this season.
Ricky Nolasco denied win despite great outing
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/25/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco was denied a win Saturday against the White Sox despite allowing just an earned run on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked none in the no-decision.
Nolasco (3-5) has surrendered one earned run in three of his last four starts, but he only has one win. He takes a 3.65 ERA into a home game against the Rays Thursday.
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco struck out 11 in eight-plus innings of a 2-1 win Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Nolasco was going for the complete-game shutout, but he was pulled in the ninth after allowing a leadoff double to Didi Gregorius, who would scored two batters later.
Nolasco (3-5), whose career-high for strikeouts in a game is 16, allowed a run on five hits and a walk. He threw 74 of 110 pitches for strikes. The right-hander had lost three straight starts coming entering Sunday.
"Good command of all the pitches," Nolasco said, per the Sun-Sentinel. "The curveball was really good today, so that helped a lot. I was able to spin it pretty much whenever I wanted to and (Jeff) Mathis did a good job of realizing that and we used it very well."
Nolasco will next start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. Nolasco is 7-10 with a 5.35 ERA in 19 career interleague starts.
Ricky Nolasco drops third straight
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/14/2013) 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.
Ricky Nolasco handed loss in best start of season
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco fell to 2-4 on the year despite holding the Padres to just one earned run in seven innings Wednesday. He allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out nine batters.
Nolasco has held the opposition to four runs or less in all eight of his starts and two runs or less in four starts but is having trouble finding run support from a lackluster Marlins offense. He'll take a 3.72 ERA and 34:11 K:BB ratio into a home game against the Reds next week.
Ricky Nolasco serves up three HRs in loss
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco surrendered three home runs in his team's 4-1 loss to the Phillies Friday night. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits and four walks in six innings, striking out four in the game.
Nolasco's ERA shot to 4.14, a mark he'll take into Petco Park Wednesday against the Padres.
Ricky Nolasco builds winning streak
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco (2-2) allowed three runs and four hits over seven innings -- his longest outing of the season -- during a 6-4 victory over the Cubs on Sunday. He had failed to complete more than six innings over his past six starts, dating back to last season, but kept Chicago scoreless over his final four innings.
Nolasco fell behind 3-2 when he permitted the first four batters to reach in the third inning, then didn't allow another baserunner in his second straight win. He also improved to 5-2 against the team that drafted him in 2001.
The veteran right-hander, who tallied two strikeouts and two walks Sunday, will face Philadelphia on the road in his next scheduled start Friday. Nolasco owns a 3-2 record and 3.42 ERA with 32 strikeouts over his past seven starts against the Phillies.
Ricky Nolasco picks up first win vs. Twins
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco turned in a decent performance as he picked up his first win of the season during Tuesday night’s doubleheader nightcap against the Twins.
Nolasco (1-2), who made his fifth start of the season, nearly blew a four-run lead as he surrendered three in the third inning, including a run-scoring single to Joe Mauer. The right-hander was charged with three runs -- two earned -- and six hits in five innings of work in an 8-5 victory. He struck out four and walked one on 99 pitches, 66 for strikes.
Nolasco has a 3.81 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. He is scheduled to start Sunday at home against the Cubs. He allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings in his lone appearance against the Cubs last season. Nolasco has allowed five runs in 12 innings of work at Marlins Park this season.
Marlins flip starters for twinbill
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Just hours before the start of Tuesday's first game, the Marlins decided to flip their pitching order for a doubleheader at Minnesota. Jose Fernandez will make his fourth career start in Game 1, while Ricky Nolasco takes the hill for the second game of the twinbill.
The Twins kept their starters intact with Kevin Correia starting the first game followed by Mike Pelfrey.
Marlins-Twins opener postponed
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) The series opener between the visiting Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins was postponed Monday because of poor weather and will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Tuesday. Since April 14, the Twins have had four of their scheduled eight games postponed because of weather conditions.
The two teams are expected to keep their rotation intact for the doubleheader with Miami's Ricky Nolasco (0-2) and Minnesota's Kevin Correia (1-1) -- Monday's probables -- scheduled to pitch Tuesday.
Ricky Nolasco's trade value declining?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) The Marlins' Ricky Nolasco is often mentioned as the starting pitcher most likely to be dealt this season, but the Marlins might have to rethink their asking price, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.
The Marlins are hoping for a major haul if they deal the free-agent-to-be Nolasco, but Heyman reports the price tag could be dropping because of Nolasco's hefty salary and decline in production. One scout said Nolasco's fastball topped out at 94 mph Wednesday against the Nationals, but his other pitches were less than stellar. The scout said the Marlins can market Nolasco as a serviceable starter, but not much more than that.
"He's decent for a club that needs a starter," the scout said. "There are worse No. 5 starters in the big leagues right now, but he's not the pitcher he used to be.''
Ricky Nolasco falls to 0-2
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco fell to 0-2 after surrendering four earned runs on seven hits and no walks in six innings of work Wednesday against the Nationals. Nolasco struck out five batters while throwing 109 pitches, his highest work load of the season.
The four runs were the most Nolasco has given up in a start this season. He'll try to rebound on the road against the Twins Monday.
Flailing Marlins giving Ricky Nolasco no support
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco posted his second quality start in three outings Friday against the Phillies, but he remained winless thanks to the Marlins' hapless offense.
Nolasco limited the Phillies to just one run on seven hits and a walk in six innings of work, as he consistently picked up groundballs to get out of trouble. Nolasco induced nine groundballs in the outing, while striking out just one batter.
Despite the solid outing, Nolasco was stuck with a no decision, as the Marlins fell, 3-1 in 10 innings. He lowered his ERA to 3.12 with the outing. Nolasco has nine strikeouts and six walks in 17 1/3 innings with an 0-1 record.
Nolasco will try to get his first win Wednesday against the Nationals, a team he went 2-2 against in four starts last season. Nolasco allowed just eight earned runs in 29 1/3 innings to the Nationals a year ago.
Ricky Nolasco knocked around by Mets
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Miami pitcher Ricky Nolasco (0-1) surrendered three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings during the Marlins' 7-3 loss to the Mets Saturday. Nolasco was unable to duplicate his quality start from opening day against the Nationals as his walks increased from two to three and strikeouts decreased from five to three in the no-decision.
He is scheduled to take the hill Friday against Philadelphia. The right-hander posted a 2-1 record and 5.21 ERA in three starts against the Phillies last season.
Homers crush Ricky Nolasco in opener
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco (0-1) held the Nationals to just three hits during his season-opening appearance Monday. Unfortunately for him, two of them went for home runs -- both by Bryce Harper -- in a 2-0 loss that spoiled his otherwise solid performance.
Nolasco worked six innings as he was able to claim a quality start in the loss, finishing with five strikeouts and two walks. The right-hander fired a first-pitch strike to 11 of the 23 batters he faced, but only 48 of his 86 pitches went for strikes.
Ricky Nolasco takes on busy week
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/31/2013) Opening day won't be the only pitching assignment for Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco during the first week of the season. Thanks to some poorly timed injuries in the rotation, Nolasco is also scheduled to start the second contest of Miami's three-game set against the Mets Saturday.
Nolasco, who is entering his eighth season with the club, draws Washington during his season debut on Monday. He posted a 2-2 record with a quality 2.45 while holding the Nationals to a .209 batting average in four starts last year.
Marlins' rotation a Fantasy nightmare
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) The Marlins announced their rotation plans Tuesday for the start of the season. The team's rotation will be Ricky Nolasco, Nate Eovaldi, Wade LeBlanc, Henderson Alvarez and Kevin Slowey. We know -- you can hardly temper your excitement.
As we wait for the day Marlins super prospect Jose Fernandez is promoted to the majors, as of now the pickings are slim for Fantasy owners. Nolasco is really the only mixed-league viable starter on Draft Day. I see sleeper potential in pitchers like Eovaldi and LeBlanc, but it's still best to view everyone outside of Nolasco as NL-only Fantasy options at the outset of the season. I can see certain scenarios where some of these arms might come into play in mixed-league drafts, but they have to be pretty deep formats.
Kevin Slowey makes Marlins rotation
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) Marlins starter Kevin Slowey has been named the No. 5 starter to begin the season, reports MLB.com Tuesday. Miami optioned Jacob Turner to Triple-A due to poor performance to open the rotation spot.
Slowey pitched 13 2/3 innings this spring and gave up four earned runs for a 2.63 ERA with 13 Ks and an impressive 0.95 WHIP. He did not pitch in the majors last year after going 0-8 with a 6.67 ERA for the Twins back in 2011.
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco made his final regular start of the spring Friday against the Mets, and he now has just one more tune up start before opening the season April 1 in Washington. Nolasco threw 101 pitches in the game over six innings, allowing just one run on four hits.
"It was good to get to that barrier of more than 90 pitches," Nolasco told MLB.com. "It's not easy doing it for the first time. I had to battle myself a little more on my fastball than I wanted to. I was able to make the pitch with the fastball when I had to. Everything else was OK. It was good to stretch it out and keep the ball down in the zone."
Nolasco walked two batters and struck out five, while lowering his spring ERA to 3.48. He will make just one more start in the spring, and will likely toss just 40 or 50 pitches, to ensure that his arm is at full strength for opening day. Nolasco has 21 strikeouts and just five walks in 20 2/3 Grapefruit League innings.
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/17/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco tossed six scoreless innings, scattering six hits -- five of them singles -- during Miami's 6-0 win over St. Louis in a Grapefruit League contest Sunday. After altering his mechanics after his last start, the Marlins' likely opening day starter struck out five and did not walk a batter.
"I did a good job of staying closed and keeping my fastball down," said Nolasco, who trimmed his spring ERA to 4.30. "Everything else today was pretty decent."
Miami manager Mike Redmond also was pleased with Nolasco's turnaround, especially with only two weeks until the regular season begins. The veteran right-hander was tagged for seven runs in three innings during his previous outing. "It was nice to see Ricky bounce back like that today. That's what veteran pitchers do," Redmond said. "He pitched with a little bit of adrenaline out there."
Nolasco blasted by Houston
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/12/2013) Miami's projected No. 1 starter Ricky Nolasco was certainly not in fine form on Tuesday during a Grapefruit League outing against Houston. Nolasco had a horrendous afternoon as he didn't miss many of the Houston bats. He surrendered four home runs as Carlos Pena and Brett Wallace homered off him in the first inning, Matt Dominguez went yard off him in the second and Jason Castro went deep in the third. He allowed seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks over three innings with four strikeouts. His spring ERA is now at 7.27.
No surprise – Nolasco going opening day
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/7/2013) The Marlins enter the 2013 season without much major league experience after yet another roster cleansing this offseason. The team’s mega-deal with the Blue Jays left the cupboards pretty bare, with Ricky Nolasco standing as the rotation’s senior member. It comes as little surprise that Nolasco was given the nod for opening day Thursday, with manager Mike Redmond confirming it after Nolasco’s Grapefruit League start against the Mets. “I told him on the mound when I went out to take him out,” manager Mike Redmond said to the Palm Beach Post. “I said, ‘Hey, I’m taking you out but you’re the opening starter.’ He goes, ‘Well, then we better win.’ Nolasco had another solid start, as he remained scoreless in the spring. Nolasco tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits, while striking out six batters.
Nolasco has easy spring debut
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/26/2013) Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco breezed through his spring debut Tuesday against the Mets. Nolasco allowed just two base runners to reach, surrendering a walk and single in two scoreless innings. Nolasco struck out one and left the game with a 5-0 lead.
Nolasco has a lot to pitch for
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/12/2013) Miami starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco is for all purposes the ace of the Marlins staff entering spring training. With the team trading Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle last year, Nolasco remains as the most established starter on the team, though he also wanted to join the mass exodus last year. Nolasco knows he has to make an impression in a contract year, reports the Sun Sentinel. “It is a big year. But every year is a big year,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay level-headed and not put any extra pressure on myself. What happens, happens. The only thing I really want to do is stay healthy and make all my starts.”
