MLB Player News
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Ryan Gusto P | MIA
Astros' Ryan Gusto: Punches out six for third win
Gusto (3-1) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out six over 5.2 innings.
Gusto yielded only four base runners in Wednesday's start, with his lone blemish coming in the fourth inning when he gave up an RBI double to George Springer. Gusto generated 12 whiffs on a season-high 80 pitches (47 strikes) and was one out shy from recording his first career quality start. He's gone five innings in each of his last two outings, and for the season he's registered a 2.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB over 22.2 innings. He's lined up to face the Tigers at home next week.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Escapes with seventh save
Hader allowed one hit and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out two batters.
Hader put himself in a bit of hot water when he gave up a walk and a double, but he bounced back to fan Alejandro Kirk before getting Myles Straw to fly out to center field to close out Wednesday's contest. He needed 23 pitches (16 strikes) to get through the ninth inning, but with an off-day Thursday the 31-year-old southpaw should be available for Friday's series opener against the Royals. Hader has not yielded a run since Opening Day against the Mets and boasts a 0.69 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB over 13 innings.
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Ryan Pressly RP | CHC
Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Battling knee problems
Pressly had his right knee drained Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Pressly hasn't appeared in a game since Sunday, and manager Craig Counsell confirmed after Wednesday's win over the Dodgers that the 36-year-old reliever has been dealing with a knee injury over the past few days. The Cubs are optimistic that he'll be available out of the bullpen when they return to action Friday for a three-game series against Philadelphia. While the right-hander was unavailable, Porter Hodge picked up his first save of the season Wednesday.
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Kevin Ginkel RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Set for rehab assignment
Ginkel (shoulder) threw 24 pitches in an extended spring training game Monday, MLB.com reports.
Ginkel will report to Triple-A Reno later this week to begin a rehab assignment. He was shut down shortly before Opening Day due to right shoulder inflammation, but because he's projected to serve as a one- or two-inning reliever, Ginkel won't require much build-up time in the minors. He could be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point next week.
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Kendall Graveman RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kendall Graveman: Faces hitters Tuesday
Graveman (back) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Graveman has been conducting his rehab at the Diamondbacks' spring training facility and is expected to pitch in a simulated game there as part of the next step of his rehab. Graveman will likely then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before potentially returning from the injured list in early May.
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Blair Henley RP | HOU
Blair Henley: Cut by Houston
The Astros released Henley on March 12.
Henley reached the big leagues for the first time in 2024, making one appearance in April and getting knocked around for five earned runs on four hits and three walks while recording one out. The Astros sent him back to the minors shortly thereafter and outrighted him off the 40-man roster in June. He remained part of the organization for the remainder of last season and for most of spring training before the Astros elected to part ways with the 27-year-old right-hander. Henley may have to look toward the independent ranks or head overseas if he wants to continue his career.
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Steven Matz SP | TB
Cardinals' Steven Matz: Next start coming in Cincy
Matz isn't expected to make his second start of the season until next week's series in Cincinnati, when the Cardinals will shift back to a six-man rotation, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Matz had made his first five appearances of the season out of the bullpen before manager Oliver Marmol elected to expand the rotation to six men last week during a busy portion of the schedule. The southpaw was sharp in his first start April 16, claiming a win while limiting the Astros to one run on two hits and no walks over five innings. Despite Matz's strong outing, the Cardinals moved him back to the bullpen to begin the current week, with an off day Thursday allowing the team to temporarily condense the rotation to five men. Matz was called upon in relief in the Cardinals' 10-4 victory over Atlanta on Tuesday, when he recorded his second win of the season while tossing 2.2 scoreless innings. St. Louis will likely stay away from Matz for this weekend's series versus Milwaukee before reinserting him into the rotation early next week.
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Tim Mayza RP | PHI
Pirates' Tim Mayza: No-throw for six weeks
Mayza (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for roughly six weeks, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
A strained left shoulder sent Mayza to the injured list Saturday, and he appears to be in store for a multi-month absence. He'll be re-evaluated at the end of his six-week rest period, at which point he may be cleared to begin a throwing program.
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Walter Pennington RP | BAL
Rangers' Walter Pennington: Removed from 40-man
The Rangers designated Pennington for assignment Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The Rangers selected Nick Ahmed to the active roster Wednesday to make up for Corey Seager's (hamstring) move to the IL, leaving Pennington as the odd man out of a spot on the 40-man. The 27-year-old southpaw hasn't appeared in a minor-league game yet this season, though other teams may be willing to pick him up off waivers based on his career 2.83 ERA and 1.17 WHIP at the Triple-A level.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Nails down fifth save
Pagan worked a perfect ninth inning with no strikeouts Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Marlins.
The veteran right-hander needed only nine pitches (eight strikes) to dispatch the heart of Miami's order on three fly balls to right field. Pagan continues to get the job done as Cincinnati's closer, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.44 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB through 11.1 innings while converting five of six save chances.