MLB Player News

Canning (0-3) took the loss Thursday against Tampa Bay, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

While Canning was ultimately charged with his third loss of the year, it was a step in the right direction after he'd allowed four runs or more in each of his first three starts. It looked like it could be another short outing for Canning on Thursday after he allowed two runs in the first inning, but the right-hander would settle in and hold the Rays scoreless over his final 4.1 frames. Canning still sports an ugly 8.05 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 19 innings this season. He's currently slated to face the Orioles at home in his next start.

Pepiot (2-2) earned the win against the Angels on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

It was a strong bounce-back effort from Pepiot after he allowed five runs in a loss to San Francisco in his last start. The right-hander blanked the Angels through five innings Thursday, ultimately allowing a lone run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. It's been a mixed bag for Pepiot through four starts this year, though his underlying metrics are impressive. He lowered his ERA to 4.37 with an encouraging 1.01 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB across 22.2 innings this season.

Pivetta (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Pivetta will play catch from 120 feet Thursday, and if all goes well, he'll take a big step forward in his recovery from a right elbow strain by getting back on the mound this weekend. The right-hander will likely need to complete multiple bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face hitters in live batting practice. After that, Pivetta will likely require a brief minor-league rehab assignment to get stretched back out, so he could be hard pressed to make it back from the injured list in the minimum 15 days. A return in the first or second week of May could be realistic, provided Pivetta avoids any setbacks while ramping back up.

The Rangers selected Leiter's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Leiter is set to start Thursday's game in Detroit in his MLB debut after posting a 3.77 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB across 14.1 innings with Round Rock to begin the season. The Rangers are seemingly planning for Leiter to make just one start before heading back to the minors, but he could change minds if he pitches well, particularly with Andrew Heaney's struggles.

Pivetta (elbow) continues to play catch but hasn't yet advanced to mound work, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Pivetta was placed on the 15-day injured list and is first eligible to return Sunday, but he's not yet ready to help a Red Sox rotation that has been hit by the injury bug of late, as Garrett Whitlock (oblique) joined him on the IL this week. It's likely Pivetta will need at least one rehab start before rejoining the club.

Gipson-Long is receiving multiple medical opinions on his injured right elbow before the next step in his rehab program is decided, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

He was examined by Dr. Tim Griffith in Atlanta last week and Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Tuesday, and Gipson-Long may get a few more doctors to check out his elbow in the days to come. While receiving multiple consultations on his pitching elbow isn't a promising sign for his long-term outlook, Gipson-Long and the Tigers haven't determined a treatment plan just yet. He initially opened the season on the 15-day injured list with a groin strain, but clearly the elbow is the bigger concern now.

France came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Atlanta, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

While his final numbers were solid, three of the hits off France went for extra bases, including no-doubt solo homers by Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna. The right-hander tossed 51 of 90 pitches for strikes, and while this was his best performance of the season so far, his spot in the rotation only seems safe because Houston lacks healthy options to replace him. France will take a 7.08 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB through 20.1 innings into his next outing, scheduled to come on the road next week against the Cubs.

Miller (3-1) earned the win over the Reds on Wednesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over six innings while striking out seven.

Miller was dominant Wednesday, doing much of the work with his four-seamer as he held the Reds to just one hit over six frames. The only run he allowed was a solo homer off the bat of Elly De La Cruz, the first home run he's given up over his last three starts. Miller has dazzled on the mound since taking the loss in his first start of the season and now holds a 0.47 ERA in April to go along with an 18:5 K:BB. Furthermore, the right-hander has now gone at least six innings in three consecutive starts, allowing no more than three hits in each of those outings.

Criswell is slated to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Brennan Bernardino in Thursday's game against the Guardians, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Criswell joined the Boston rotation last weekend against the Angels as a replacement for Nick Pivetta (elbow) and gave up two earned runs over four innings in his Red Sox debut. The right-hander will remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future, but he'll be deployed in bulk relief with the hope that the arrangement generates more favorable results. Expect Bernardino to work no more than an inning or two before giving way to Criswell.

Dunning came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Tigers, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks over five-plus innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander tossed 97 pitches (56 strikes) before being lifted after a Spencer Torkelson double to lead off the sixth inning, and Dunning missed out on his third win of the year when the Rangers' bullpen squandered a 4-2 lead. The 29-year-old has lasted at least five innings in all four of his starts to begin 2024 while allowing three runs or less in each, leaving him with a 3.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 22:13 K:BB through 23 innings. Dunning lines up to take the mound at home against the Mariners next week.