MLB Player News

Lorenzen (neck) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his Rangers debut Monday against the Tigers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander made his third rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday and allowed four runs across 4.2 innings, and he'll join the big-league rotation Monday with Cody Bradford (back) headed to the injured list. Lorenzen's role appeared in question with Bradford securing a longer-term rotation spot due to his performance, but Lorenzen will now have at least a couple weeks to stake his claim to a starting spot.

Texas placed Bradford on the 15-day injured list Sunday with lower back soreness, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.comreports.

Bradford earned a longer look in Texas' starting rotation after he began the season 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB over 19.1 innings, but he'll now be unavailable due to the back issue. Michael Lorenzen will take the open spot in the rotation, and he will be starting Monday at Detroit.

The Twins returned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

As expected, Woods Richardson's stay with the Twins was only a temporary one, as he was summoned from St. Paul to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Tigers. He started the second game of the twin bill, earning the win while limiting Detroit to one run on two hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings. Woods Richardson should be the Twins' top choice the next time the big club is in need of a spot starter.

Manning was returned to Triple-A Toledo after Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins.

The right-hander was called up to start the nightcap Saturday and took the loss after giving up four runs with a 7:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. Manning has a 2.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in two outings as a spot starter for Detroit, and he'll remain the No. 1 candidate for a call-up when the big club again needs a starter.

McKenzie took the loss in game two of a doubleheader against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits and six walks while striking out one.

McKenzie walked the first two batters he faced before going on to surrender two runs in the opening frame, though only one of those would count against him due to a fielding error on the part of Andres Gimenez. The right-hander was then able to get through the next two innings unscathed before once again issuing back-to-back walks to lead off the fourth, eventually leading to four more runs coming home for New York. McKenzie issued a season-high six walks in the contest and now holds a putrid 5:12 K:BB early in the campaign. He's also failed to make it through five innings in two of his first three starts.

Manning (0-1) took the loss against the Twins on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6.2 innings.

Manning struggled out of the gate, walking each of the first two batters he faced to open the game before allowing the Twins' first run to come home on a sacrifice fly. The right-hander was then victimized by the long ball in the third and sixth innings as Detroit struggled to back him with anything on offense. It wasn't all bad for Manning, however, as he did fan seven batters on the day while producing 12 swinging strikes. He's gone at least five innings in each of his two starts this season and is still sporting a 2.92 ERA following the loss.

Woods Richardson (1-0) pitched six innings in a win over the Tigers on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out five.

Woods Richardson cruised to his first win Saturday, going 1-2-3 through the Tigers' lineup in five of the six innings in which he appeared. The only slip-up came in the second, when he allowed a leadoff single and a walk to open the frame, which eventually led to a run coming home for Detroit on a sacrifice fly. It was a very impressive performance in the right-hander's first start of the season, and he certainly made a case to stick around in the big leagues.

Kremer (0-1) took the loss Saturday, surrendering eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.

Baltimore jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but it evaporated quickly in the wild contest. Kremer served up homers to Rhys Hoskins in the second inning and Jake Bauers in the fourth, with the latter putting Milwaukee in the lead for good. The 28-year-old right-hander had some trouble keeping the ball in the park in 2023 as well, posting a 1.41 HR/9, but he's otherwise had a solid start to the current campaign with a 1.22 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB through 16.1 innings to balance out his 4.96 ERA. Kremer will look for his first win of the year next weekend in Kansas City.

Pepiot (1-2) took the loss against the Giants on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings.

Pepiot got off to a bit of a rough start but was able to limit the damage early, allowing one run in the first inning while needing 24 pitches to get through the frame. He then went on to retire eight of the next nine batters he faced before surrendering a solo homer to Thairo Estrada with two outs in the top of the fourth. It was one of two home runs allowed on the day for Pepiot, and he's now given up at least four runs in two of his first three starts to open the season. On a positive note, Pepiot has produced a nice 20:5 K:BB over that early stretch and has gone at least five innings in each outing.

Blanco came away with a no-decision in Friday's 9-2 win over the Rangers, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The breakout star of the Astros' rotation turned in his worst outing so far in 2024 and gave up his first runs of the year, but he still delivered his third quality start in three trips to the mound. All the damage off Blanco came in the first inning after a pair of two-out walks, but he settled in after that and left the game having thrown 57 of 93 pitches for strikes. The 30-year-old righty sports a 0.86 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB through 21 innings, and he lines up to make his next start in a road tilt against the Nationals next weekend.