MLB Player News

Wittgren allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with no strikeouts in two innings during Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Wittgren's rough May continued Tuesday -- he's allowed runs in six of his 11 appearances this month. The 30-year-old now sports a 4.86 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB across 16.2 innings. He's picked up four holds, but none since May 2, indicating he may have slipped out of the high-leverage conversation for now.

Akin threw 2.1 hitless innings Tuesday versus the Yankees. He struck out six and walked three.

Akin has typically had better control, but the six strikeouts marked a season high for the southpaw. He's been excellent since making the move full-time to the bullpen this year, posting a 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB across 29.1 innings. The southpaw is also carrying a 13-inning scoreless streak across his last five appearances.

Baker (1-2) took the loss Tuesday versus the Yankees. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while recording only one out.

Baker couldn't protect a one-run lead as the Yankees' offense got RBI singles from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino to walk it off. It's been a rough May for Baker, who has allowed seven runs (five earned) in nine innings. The right-hander has a 5.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 20:5 K:BB while adding a hold and a blown save in 17 appearances spanning 18 innings this season.

The Twins recalled Smeltzer from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

The southpaw started Friday's game against the Royals but was sent down afterward. However, he'll rejoin the major-league club after Joe Ryan (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday. Smeltzer will step in to take Ryan's place as the scheduled starter for Thursday's game against the Royals. Over Smeltzer's first two big-league starts in 2022, he's posted a 1.74 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 10.1 innings.

Hicks (1-4) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on four hits and five walks over three-plus innings as the Cardinals were routed 8-1 by the Blue Jays. He struck out three.

The conversion of Hicks from the bullpen to the rotation continues to go poorly, and Tuesday's five walks were a season high as he got only 40 of 78 pitches over the plate. The right-hander has managed to last five innings only once in seven starts and he's issued multiple free passes in all seven, posting a 5.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 24:18 K:BB over 24.2 innings during that stretch.

Jansen (3-0) picked up the win despite blowing his second save of the season Tuesday, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk in an inning of relief in a 6-5 victory over the Phillies.

Entrusted with a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Jansen served up a two-run homer to Bryce Harper but then got bailed out when Atlanta scored twice in the bottom of the frame. The veteran closer has given up runs in three straight appearances, sending his ERA soaring to 3.86 on the year, but his 0.86 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB through 18.2 innings remain sharp.

Mears (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Mears began the season on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from arthroscopic elbow surgery, and his rehab assignment will likely be the final step in his recovery process. The right-hander isn't eligible to be activated until early June, so he'll presumably make several appearances in the minors before rejoining the Pirates' bullpen.

Manager Buck Showalter said Szapucki will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Szapucki will likely just be making a spot start before returning to the minors, as the Mets had to temporarily transition to a six-man rotation as a result of their doubleheader with the Rockies last weekend. Ideally, Szapucki will be able to give the Mets a decent amount of length in his first MLB start and second career appearance in the majors, as New York needed five relievers to cover the final 4.1 innings of Tuesday's 13-12 loss. Through seven outings with Syracuse in 2022, Szapucki has compiled a 2.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB across 22 innings.

Bednar (1-1) allowed an unearned run on one hit while striking out one to take the loss Tuesday against Colorado.

Bednar entered the game in the 10th inning with the score knotted at one. He retired the first batter he faced but allowed a single to Connor Joe, which drove in a run and stuck Bednar with the loss. Bednar has been excellent to begin the season, maintaining a 0.78 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and a 30:4 K:BB across 23 innings.

Zimmermann didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Yankees, giving up four runs on four solo home runs over 6.1 innings. He allowed six hits in total and struck out five without walking a batter.

The southpaw filled up the zone as 65 of his 85 pitches went for strikes, but his command wasn't sharp enough to avoid a lot of hard contact. After serving up only one homer through his first six starts and 30.1 innings this season, Zimmermann has been tagged for seven long balls in his last three outings. He'll carry a 3.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB through 47.2 frames into his next start.