MLB Player News

Cortes allowed six hits over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Rays on Saturday. He struck out nine without issuing a walk.

Cortes matched zeros with Zach Eflin and induced 17 whiffs on 102 total pitches, but the contest wasn't decided until the 10th, when the Rays scored the only runs of the game. While the lefty got off to a bit of a rocky start, he's held his opponents scoreless in two of his last three outings and has his ERA down to 3.41 through five starts this season. Cortes is tentatively in line for a favorable home matchup against the A's next week.

Valdez (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Saturday's session marks the first time Valdez has thrown off a mound since elbow inflammation sent him to the injured list April 9. The Astros will wait to see how he recovers before determining his next steps, though manager Joe Espada said it's still possible the 30-year-old southpaw is able to return without embarking on a rehab assignment.

Francis (2-2) picked up the win Friday against the Padres, allowing one hit and one walk over two scoreless relief innings. He struck out two.

After a brutal start to the season in the rotation, Francis has looked much more comfortable back in a long-relief role and has been credited with wins in back-to-back appearances while piggybacking with Yariel Rodriguez. Francis still carries an awful 9.95 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through 12.2 innings, but his 17:7 K:BB highlights his potential if he can get his control and command issues sorted out.

Schmidt came away with a no-decision in Friday's 5-3 win over the Rays, allowing one run on seven hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander blanked Tampa Bay for five frames before Richie Palacios tagged him for a solo shot in the sixth. Schmidt exited the game in line for a loss before the Yankees rallied for five runs in the seventh. He generated a massive 37 called or swinging strikes among his 102 pitches, but Schmidt is still looking to iron out some efficiency issues as he hasn't completed six innings in any of his four starts so far in 2024. He'll take a 3.15 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB through 20 innings into his next outing, which lines up to be a juicy home matchup against the A's next week.

Verlander (1-0) picked up the win in Friday's 4-2 victory over the Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The 41-year-old right-hander didn't look like a pitcher who had missed the first three-plus weeks of the season on the IL due to shoulder trouble. Verlander fired 50 of 78 pitches for strikes, and his two fastest pitches of the night - 95.0 and 94.9 mph four-seamers to Jesse Winker - came against the final batter he faced. The Astros will likely keep a careful eye on his workload, but Verlander looks ready to step into his usual role at the top of the rotation. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound next week on the road against the Cubs.

Bello (3-1) picked up the win Friday, scattering one hit and two walks over six scoreless innings in an 8-1 rout of the Pirates. He struck out seven.

Bryan Reynolds made it to third base in the first inning after a walk and an error by Ceddanne Rafaela, but he was the only Pittsburgh runner to get past second against Bello. The right-hander retired the final 11 batters he faced in a dominant outing as he recorded his first quality start of 2024. He'll take a 3.04 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB through 26.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come in Cleveland next week.

Kremer (0-2) took the loss Friday against Kansas City, allowing three earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three batters across 5.2 frames.

Kremer held Baltimore off the scoreboard until Vinnie Pasquantino took him deep during the fourth inning. The score was still 1-0 when Kremer left the game in the sixth with two runners on base - both of whom came around to score - and a failed late rally by the Orioles' offense forced the right-hander to take his second loss of the young season. His performance Friday was certainly better than his previous outing against Milwaukee, and he's lined up for another chance to pick up his first win Wednesday against the Angels.

Marsh (3-0) threw 5.2 scoreless innings and earned the win Friday against Baltimore, striking out six batters while giving up three hits and two walks.

Despite the Orioles boasting one of the most dynamic offenses in baseball, Marsh has silenced them twice this year by allowing just one earned run across 12.2 frames while striking out 11 batters and walking three. His other two starts versus the Mets and White Sox didn't go nearly as well, but he'll look to establish some consistency during his next start against Toronto next week.

Heaney allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings during Friday's 8-3 loss to Atlanta. He did not factor into the decision.

Two home runs off the bat of Travis d'Arnaud helped Atlanta build a 3-1 lead headed into the sixth inning, but the Rangers managed to tie the game before Heaney was relieved in the bottom of the frame, ensuring he wouldn't get hit with his third loss of the season. While the 32-year-old lefty may have avoided dropping to 0-3, he still owns a 6.35 ERA through his first four starts and could be at risk of losing his spot in the rotation once Cody Bradford (back) returns from the injured list.

McKenzie (2-2) earned the win Friday against Oakland, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out six batters across five innings.

It seemed McKenzie would be in for another rough outing once he surrendered a leadoff home run to Abraham Toro on just the third pitch of the game, but the 26-year-old right-hander was able to keep Oakland's bats quiet for five innings after that point. His six strikeouts were more than he had accumulated all season heading into Friday's contest, though he still holds an ugly 11:15 K:BB. McKenzie is tentatively scheduled to make his next start at home against Boston on Thursday.