Worth noting

By Tom Singer

June 17, 2014

• Gerrit Cole (right shoulder fatigue), progressing well through Sunday's 34-pitch bullpen and some long-range flat-ground catch on Tuesday, is "getting close to getting on the mound to throw 60 pitches," according to Hurdle. Cole's next step has not yet been determined, but a simulated game is likely.

• Left-hander Francisco Liriano (strained left oblique) could begin his rehab with a game of catch on Thursday.

• Two relievers are taking aim at a little-known record set by the Buccos' Bill Landrum in 1989, who posted a first-half ERA of 0.23, the lowest ever for pitchers with at least 30 innings in the books before the All-Star break. Boston's Koji Uehara (0.57 ERA in 31 2/3 innings) and the Giants' Jean Machi (0.29 ERA in 31 innings) are stalking Landrum's mark.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.