MLB Player News

Means retired just one of the seven batters he faced in his fourth rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, allowing five earned runs on five hits and one walk.

Means covered three frames in both of his previous two rehab outings with Norfolk and was expected to increase his workload Wednesday, but he ended up having the plug pulled on him after tossing just 34 pitches (19 strikes) while struggling mightily in the first inning. The 30-year-old, who is ramping back up from a left forearm strain that flared up in the offseason, hasn't been as sharp as the Orioles have hoped during his rehab assignment, as he now owns an 18.41 ERA and 2.68 WHIP across 7.1 innings with Norfolk. According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, manager Brandon Hyde acknowledged Friday that Means still needs to be stretched out more in the minors, so expect the southpaw to make at least one or two more rehab starts before being activated from the 15-day injured list. Per MLB.com, general manager Mike Elias said earlier this month that the Orioles are targeting "not too deep into May, if it does go into May" for Means to make his season debut with the big club.

Suarez is slated to start Monday's series opener versus the Angels in Anaheim, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Though he was summoned from Triple-A Norfolk last week to make what was expected to be a spot start, Suarez will end up drawing a second turn through the rotation after he struck out four over 5.2 shutout innings against the Twins in what was his first MLB appearance since 2017. Both John Means (forearm) and Kyle Bradish (elbow) are in the midst of minor-league rehab assignments and may be ready to return from the 15-day injured list within the next week or two, but Suarez could be able to stick around in a starting role if he delivers another quality performance versus the Angels. Dean Kremer (4.91 ERA, 5.28 FIP in 22 innings) and Cole Irvin (4.64 ERA, 4.18 FIP in 21.1 innings) have served as the Orioles' back-end starters so far this season, but neither has performed well enough early on to be fully locked into a rotation spot for the long haul.

Lorenzen (2-0) got the win Atlanta on Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven over six innings.

All three runs against Lorenzen came in the first inning after he gave up a home run to Marcell Ozuna. After that, Lorenzen was able to get in a nice groove and shut down Atlanta's talented lineup for his second win in as many tries. He's been an excellent addition thus far for a Rangers rotation still working on getting guys back from injury. Lorenzen owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB in 11 innings and lines up for another weekend start against Cincinnati.

Bassitt (2-3) took the loss Sunday against the Padres after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four in 5.1 innings.

Bassitt allowed an unearned run off an error in the opening frame before Xander Bogaerts got a hold of one in the third. Bassitt battled into the sixth but would exit early after allowing a one-out walk and a single, with both runs eventually coming around to score. Bassitt mentioned after the game that he and about 20 other members of the Blue Jays are battling a sinus infection right now and he tried to fight through it as best he could but noted he didn't have his best stuff, per Kyle Glaser, a sports media professional at USC's School of Business. The 35-year-old now owns a 3.90 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 26:14 K:BB in 27.2 innings and lines up for a start against the Dodgers his next time out.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli wouldn't commit to Varland making another turn in the Minnesota rotation after Sunday's 6-1 loss to Detroit, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The lack of commitment from the Twins comes as little surprise after Varland gave up four runs in 2.2 innings Sunday and now owns a 9.18 ERA and 2.16 WHIP through four starts. Varland is likely to head to Triple-A St. Paul in the near future, though he could move to the bullpen. Simeon Woods Richardson is the most likely candidate to enter the rotation if the Twins choose to pull the plug on Varland as their No. 5 starter.

Brown (0-4) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over four innings to take the loss Sunday against the Nationals. He struck out six.

Brown needed 34 pitches to get through the first inning, allowing three runs in the process. However, he was much better in the next three frames, facing just one more batter than the minimum, including striking out the side in the second. That's now 12 first-inning earned runs allowed by Brown through five starts this season. Despite the so-so outing, Brown saw his ERA drop from 10.54 to 9.68 and his WHIP fall from an abysmal 2.78 to a slightly less abysmal 2.49. Brown's next start is tentatively slated to take place next weekend, when the Astros travel to the high altitude of Denver to take on the Rockies.

Hancock (2-2) earned the win after he tossed six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out four batters in Seattle's 10-2 victory in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader with Colorado.

Hancock had his start pushed back a couple days due to Friday's weather postponement and he impressed with the added rest. The right-hander limited the Rockies to just five baserunners while the only blemish on his line came in the bottom of the first inning when Elias Diaz ripped a two-RBI double. Hancock has produced back-to-back quality starts and he now owns a 6.10 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 15 punchouts over 20.2 innings in four outings this season. The 24-year-old is tentatively set to return to the mound Friday at home versus the Diamondbacks.

Mize (1-0) allowed five hits and three walks over six shutout frames Sunday, striking out four and picking up a win over the Twins.

Mize worked out of a few jams in the scoreless outing, including a bases-loaded threat in the first inning. He's given up three or fewer runs in each of his four starts this season and has produced back-to-back quality starts. Mize dropped his ERA to 2.95 with a 16:6 K:BB through 21.1 frames. His next start is lined up to be at home against the Royals.

Varland (0-4) allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over 2.2 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking the loss against Detroit.

Varland coughed up two runs in the first inning before Buddy Kennedy knocked him out of the game with a two-run shot in the third. It was Varland's shortest start of the year and bumped his ERA up to 9.18 through four outings. He threw just 35 of 74 pitches for strikes and forced one whiff. Varland's next outing is lined up to be on the road against the Angels.

Civale (2-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs on eight hits and five walks over 4.2 innings against the Yankees. He struck out five.

Civale's outing started and finished poorly, allowing a run on two walks and a hit in the first frame before being chased midway through the fifth after allowing three walks and three hits to six straight batters. His fifth-inning struggles came immediately after retiring the first two batters of the frame. He set season worst run and walk totals and failed to complete five innings for the first time in five starts. Civale will look to get back on track Saturday against the White Sox.