MLB Player News

Wacha (1-0) picked up the win Saturday versus the White Sox, permitting just two hits and a walk over seven scoreless frames while striking out eight.

Wacha yielded a one-out double to Martin Maldonado in the sixth inning when the game was still scoreless, but that was the only instance all night he encountered an ounce of trouble. The right-hander cruised through his seven innings on 93 pitches, registering 10 swinging strikes along the way. He's struck out 13 and has allowed only five hits in his first 12 innings this season.

Flexen (0-2) took a loss Saturday in Kansas City, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 6.1 innings of work. He struck out four.

It was a scoreless tie heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and Flexen was still out there with his pitch count low. However, just three pitches into the frame Flexen had yielded a leadoff single and a two-run homer to MJ Melendez. He was pulled after a one-out walk and watched that runner eventually score to add another run to his ledger. Flexen wound up throwing just 77 pitches over his 6.1 frames and registered a quality start but nonetheless was saddled with his second loss.

Maeda (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Tigers were downed 4-0 by the A's, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran right-hander got tagged for a two-run homer by Brent Rooker in the first inning, and Detroit's offense never responded. Maeda still came close to producing a quality start, but he got the hook after 87 pitches (47 strikes). He sports a 5:5 K:BB through 9.0 innings to go along with a 9.00 ERA, and Maeda lines up to make his next start at home against the Twins next weekend.

Blackburn (1-0) picked up the win Saturday against the Tigers, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The veteran righty didn't allow a runner to get past second base as he fired 59 of 85 pitches for strikes. Blackburn has a pristine 0.00 ERA through 13 innings with a 7:1 K:BB, delivering two straight quality starts to begin his 2024 campaign. While he's been impressive so far, his hot streak may not last too much longer considering he hasn't posted an ERA below 4.28 since his 10-start debut in 2017. Blackburn does line up for a favorable matchup in his next start, however, at home against the Nationals next weekend.

Lewis was placed on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Wichita with a right shoulder impingement, TwinsDaily.com reports.

Lewis was named the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season after going 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA and 118:33 K:BB in 101.1 IP between Low-A Fort Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids. It's not a good sign that his 2024 season is starting with an injury, though there are no details on the severity of the issue.

Means (forearm) will get the start for Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday against Charlotte, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Means struggled in his first rehab start Monday, giving up seven runs on six hits and a walk over just one inning. He'll look to have a bounce-back performance Saturday as he works through a left forearm strain that flared up at the start of spring training.

The Guardians placed Bieber (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, the Guardians announced that Bieber was diagnosed with ligament damage in his elbow following his second start of the season Tuesday in Seattle and will be headed for Tommy John surgery. Bieber will miss the rest of the season while he recovers from surgery and is set to miss a large portion of the 2025 campaign, an unfortunate development for the right-hander as he heads into free agency this winter. The Guardians will eventually move Bieber to the 60-day IL whenever the team decides it needs to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Peter Strzelecki was called up from Triple-A Columbus and will take Bieber's spot on the 26-man active roster and provide bullpen depth for now, but Strzelecki could be swapped out when Cleveland needs an arm to take Bieber's spot in the starting rotation.

The Guardians announced Saturday that Bieber will require season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

The season-ending injury is a devastating development for the Guardians and for Bieber, who was utterly dominant on the mound in his two starts this season, striking out 20 batters in 12 innings. However, he reportedly battled through pain in his elbow during outings March 28 in Oakland and Tuesday in Seattle, and reconstructive elbow surgery has since been recommended. Bieber will now miss the rest of the 2024 season and likely the start of the 2025 season, given that Tommy John surgery typically entails a 14-to-16-month recovery period.

Kopech (0-1) allowed one earned run on one hit and two walks while striking out three to take the loss Friday against the Royals.

Kopech entered the game in the eighth inning of a tied contest and walked the second batter he faced, which ultimately became the game-deciding run. He's now walked five batters across his first 5.1 innings of work, resulting in a 1.69 WHIP. Kopech's usage was also particualrly notable, as he was deployed in the perceived highest-leverage situation rather than being reserved for a save chance. He's still likely to regularly serve as the closer for the White Sox, though the door could be open for another reliever to pick up a handful of saves.

Crawford did not factor in the decision Friday against the Angels, allowing a run on two hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Crawford faced little pushback through four shutout frames before the Angels pushed a run across in the fifth and knocked him out of the contest. Despite the decent results, the 28-year-old forced just eight whiffs on 42 total swings. Through two starts, Crawford has posted a 12:4 K:BB while allowing one earned run over 10.2 frames. He's currently in line to face the Orioles at home next week.