MLB Player News

Cisnero (0-1) allowed one run on one hit over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Thursday against the Pirates. He struck out one.

Starter Jose Urena left the game after seven innings with the score tied 2-2, but Cisnero and then Gregory Soto both struggled in the eighth as Pittsburgh scored twice. Soto has been mostly solid for the Tigers but Cisnero has struggled, as he's now allowed seven hits and five earned runs in just 6.2 innings pitched. He also blew his only save opportunity to date, and at this point, Soto should be considered the frontrunner for future save opportunities.

Kimbrel, who pitched a clean ninth inning with a strikeout in Thursday's 10-inning win over the Mets, has not allowed a run this season through eight appearances (9.0 innings pitched).

It's been exactly the start Kimbrel and fantasy managers hoped for after the veteran struggled the last two seasons in Chicago. Kimbrel's fastball velocity is basically the same in 2021 as it was in 2020 (96.7 vs. 96.9 mph), but his BB/9 is down and he's also had better luck when he does allow contact. Last year, batters had a BABIP of .333 against the righty, and that figure has dropped to .071 so far this season. That number should increase some, but Kimbrel misses enough bats that he should continue to be successful as long as he keeps limiting free passes.

Ottavino allowed one run on two walks during the eighth inning of Tuesday's 7-3 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Ottavino failed to protect Boston's one-run lead, issuing his fifth and sixth walks of the season. He's permitted those six free passes in just 6.2 innings. Combined with Darwinzon Hernandez, another late-inning option for the Red Sox, the two have combined to walk 14 over 13.2 innings.

Castano (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Giants after allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while fanning two across five innings.

Castano got off to a rough start in this outing after allowing three runs in the first inning, and while he settled down afterward, the damage was already done. The left-hander has yet to pitch more than five innings in his first two outings of the campaign and has posted a 2:4 K:BB through 10 innings so far, so he's is unlikely to remain in the rotation in the long run. He posted a 3.03 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 29.2 innings during seven appearances (six starts) in 2020, however, so he could be in line for a bounce-back performance sooner than later based on what he did last year.

Treinen (1-1) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Padres after giving up a run on three hits across one inning.

He pitched the eighth after a strong start from Walker Buehler, but Treinen allowed back-to-back singles to Jurickson Profar and Victor Caratini before the game-winning run crossed the plate on a double play. Treinen was coming off six straight holds and this outing also ended his streak of scoreless appearances at six.

Weathers tossed 5.2 innings of one-hit ball while allowing a walk and fanning six Thursday against the Dodgers. He didn't factor into the decision.

Weathers got the start in the series opener now that the Padres are using a six-man rotation for the time being, and he took advantage of the opportunity by limiting one of the best offenses in the league to just one hit across 5.2 innings -- he ended just one out away from posting a quality start. As things stand now, Weathers is slated to take the ball next week on the road against the Diamondbacks.

Melancon notched his seventh save of the season after striking out the side Thursday against the Dodgers.

Melancon entered the game in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and was absolutely dominant -- he struck out Luke Raley, Austin Barnes and Mookie Betts while tossing 10 of his 13 pitches for strikes. One of the top relievers in the game, Melancon has gone 7-for-7 in save opportunities this season and has allowed just one earned run in nine appearances to date.

Reyes, who logged a scoreless eighth inning against the Nationals in his most recent appearance Wednesday, hasn't seen a save opportunity since April 8.

The hard-throwing right-hander is 3-for-3 in save opportunities and still sports an unblemished ERA through eight appearances, so he's done everything within his power to reward fantasy managers. However, the Cardinals' only three victories since Reyes' last save chance have come by 11, five and seven runs.

Trivino allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in an extra-inning win over the Twins on Wednesday. He struck out three.

Charged with preserving a 10-10 tie in the top of the 10th after getting through the ninth unscathed, Trivino allowed a go-ahead two-run homer to Byron Buxton but was ultimately bailed out by the Athletics' three-run rally in the home half of the frame. The round tripper marked the first time the right-hander had been scored upon since his second outing of the season back on April 3 against the Astros.

Pivetta allowed two earned runs on one hit and three walks while striking out four across six innings Thursday against the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision.

Pivetta held the Mariners without a hit through 5.2 innings and had surrendered only one walk in that span. However, he unraveled before getting his final out, walking two and surrendering a game-tying double. Even so, it was an encouraging outing for Pivetta, as he matched his longest start of the season and needed only 86 pitches to record 18 outs. He now has a 3.48 ERA across 20.2 innings to begin the campaign, but he'll need to improve on his 18:14 K:BB. Pivetta is projected to draw his next turn through the rotation Wednesday at the Mets.