NL CENTRAL NEWS AND NOTES

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Right-hander Trevor Williams appeared to be on his way to a breakout season when he went 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA through six starts in April.

But Williams is 2-6 with a 5.98 ERA in his last 12 starts, dropping his record to 6-7 and raising his ERA to 4.60.

Williams lasted just 2 1 / 3 innings and was tagged for five runs July 6 in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. He has given up 12 runs in 13 innings while losing his last three outings.

Williams’ downturn mirrored his team’s misfortunes. After reaching a season-high nine games over .500 at 26-17 on May 17, the Pirates lost 31 of their next 45 games to fall to 40-48.

❚ Right-hander Chad Kuhl (strained right forearm) plans to seek a second opinion and will be sidelined through at least the All-Star break. He was injured June 26 in a start against the Mets at New York.

CHICAGO CUBS

The Cubs had won nine of their last 11 games through July 8 despite being without third baseman Kris Bryant, on the disabled list because of a sore left shoulder.

He was asked how long it has been since he wasn’t able to play baseball.

Bryant was scheduled to start a rehab assignment July 9 at Class AA (Kodak) Tennessee, and the Cubs hoped to have him back in their lineup sometime this week.

❚ Right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) still wasn’t able to throw as the week began. “He’s still in that strengthening mode,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said.

CINCINNATI REDS

The Reds have played much more respectably since bench coach Jim Riggleman was elevated to interim manager April 19 when Bryan Price was fired.

The Reds went 36-36 in their first 72 games after the switch. They were 3-15 under Price.

Last place had seemed like a foregone conclusion for the Reds this season. However, they had climbed within 2 1 / 2games of the fourth-place Pirates in the National League Central standings by the start of the week.

❚ The Reds added three players to their farm system in a pair of trades last week, acquiring outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola from the Boston Red Sox for $1.5 million in international amateur signing bonus pool allocation and receiving right-handers James Marinan and Aneurys Zabala from the Los Angeles Dodgers for relievers Dylan Floro and Zach Neal and international signing bonus space.

Cedrola and Zabala joined low Class A Dayton (Ohio). Marinan was assigned to the Reds’ Arizona Rookie League team.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Brewers gained one starting outfielder but lost another July 8. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain was activated from the disabled list after being out two weeks because of a strained left groin. Hours later, Cain was selected as a reserve on the NL All-Star team.

Meanwhile, left fielder Ryan Braun went on the DL because of strained back. He was sidelined by the same injury for 10 days in May.

Braun, a six-time All-Star, is batting just .235 with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases in 71 games this season.

Cain has been outstanding in his first season with the Brewers, hitting .290 with eight homers and 16 steals through 73 games.

❚ Catcher Manny Pina (left biceps) also was placed on the DL on July 8. He was injured two days earlier while taking a swing and is expected to return on July 20, the day after the All-Star break.

Catcher Jacob Nottingham was recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs (Colo.). However, veteran Erik Kratz figures to get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate while Pina is sidelined.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Carlos Martinez is regaining his ace form. The right-hander won his third consecutive start by allowing one run on six hits in seven innings to defeat the Giants on July 7 at San Francisco. He has given up five runs in 19 innings (2.37 ERA) during his winning streak.

Martinez was 3-2 with a 1.62 ERA in his first eight starts this season before a strained right lat put him on the disabled list May 9. He returned June 5 and had an 0-2 record and 8.10 ERA in his first four starts before going on the winning streak.

❚ Shortstop Paul DeJong returned from the DL on July 6 after missing seven weeks because of a broken left hand. He went 3-for-11 and scored four runs in his first three games.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

BRAD MILLER, BREWERS: Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade June 10, Miller got 11 starts in his first 16 games with Milwaukee and hit .317 with two home runs in that span after he was called up from Class AAA Colorado Springs (Colo.) on June 23. Miller, 28, was being used at both second base and shortstop. The Rays designated him for assignment after he batted .256 with five homers in 48 games.