MLB Player News

Howard owns a 1.00 ERA and 38.2 percent strikeout rate through his first three starts of the year for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, including an eight-strikeout performance in his most recent outing Sunday.

The Phillies' plan all along seemed to be to manage Howard's innings carefully in the minors during the early part of the season before calling him up as a major-league rotation member later in the year. He's back on that path after making three big-league relief appearances in April when the team needed an extra arm. The young righty still isn't close to a true starter's workload, as he faced just nine batters in his first two Triple-A outings and 16 in his most recent one, so a promotion doesn't appear imminent, but the Phillies haven't gotten much from their fifth starter spot, meaning there won't be anyone blocking Howard once he's ready to go.

Hatch (elbow) is scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Buffalo.

Buffalo plans to deploy Hatch in a tandem start with Jacob Waguespack, so expect the 26-year-old right-hander to cover around 3-to-4 innings before exiting the game. The outing marks Hatch's first of the season, as he's been on the mend from a right elbow impingement since late March. Hatch will likely need to complete at least two or three rehab starts at Buffalo before the Blue Jays consider bringing him back from the 60-day injured list.

Sandlin struck out four batters over two perfect innings in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Angels.

Sandlin has been effective at limiting baserunners -- he's given up just two hits and two walks in 8.1 innings this season. Despite that, he had allowed three runs over his previous two appearances. The 24-year-old sidewinder owns a 3.24 ERA, 0.48 WHIP, 9:2 K:BB and one hold in six outings so far.

Stephan allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three over 2.1 scoreless innings in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Angels.

Sam Hentges was torched for six runs in 1.2 innings before Stephan entered the contest and calmed things down. Five of his nine outings this season have lasted more than one inning. Stephan owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 14 innings in a low-leverage role.

Martin was scheduled to start for Triple-A Reno on Monday but was not in the lineup for Aces, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

A source indicated Martin is healthy, which suggests the Diamondbacks plan to have him start a game this week or are keeping that option open. Arizona has not declared a starter for Tuesday or Wednesday. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 14:6 K:BB in 9.2 innings across two starts for Reno.

Jansen recorded his eighth save of the season Monday against the Diamondbacks. He allowed one hit and one walk with no strikeouts across 1.1 innings.

Jansen entered the game to record the final out of the eighth inning following a groundout of Domingo Leyba, and while things got complicated in the ninth when he had runners on first and second with one out, he closed things out with a double play. Jansen has gone 8-for-10 in save opportunities this season.

Iglesias struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save against Cleveland on Monday.

Iglesias entered the game with a 7-4 lead and wasted no time finishing things off. It was his fifth straight scoreless outing and he's converted five consecutive save chances. He's converted seven of his nine save opportunities with a 4.80 ERA through 15 frames this season.

Hentges (1-1) yielded six runs on five hits and three walks over 1.2 innings Monday, striking out one and taking the loss against the Angels.

Hentges allowed a run to score on a groundout by Anthony Rendon in the first inning but things got out of hand quickly in the second. Shortly after a two-run double by Juan Lagares, Hentges served up a three-run blast to Shohei Ohtani. His season ERA shot up to 6.46 over 15.1 frames. It was just the second start of his young MLB career and it's unclear if he'll get another turn in the rotation. Hentges is currently projected to face the Twins at home this weekend.

Fulmer allowed a hit and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning Monday, earning a save over Seattle.

After a leadoff single by Mitch Haniger, Fulmer quickly retired the next three batters to finish off the 4-1 win. He's converted all three of his save chances this season and owns a 3.34 ERA through 29.2 innings.

Alzolay (2-3) allowed three runs on five hits across five innings to record the win Monday against the Nationals. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.

Alzolay wasn't particularly sharp, allowing home runs to Trea Turner and former teammate Kyle Schwarber, but he was still able to outduel Jon Lester. It was Lester's offseason departure that created one of several openings in the Chicago rotation, and the 26-year-old Alzolay has helped fill the void. He now has a 4.62 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 39 strikeouts across seven starts (37 innings). Alzolay will look to build on the win his next time out Saturday against St. Louis.