MLB Player News

Eflin (1-3) took the loss Friday after surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out four batters in six innings.

Facing a White Sox offense that sports an MLB-worst .575 OPS, Eflin had a golden opportunity to pick up his second win of the season. Instead, he gave up two runs in the first five innings before surrendering a three-run homer to Martin Maldonado in the sixth that would ensure Chicago remained in the lead for the rest of the game. Eflin now holds a 4.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP after his rough outing and projects to make his next start Wednesday against a strong Milwaukee lineup.

Flexen (1-3) earned the win Friday against the Rays after throwing five scoreless innings while giving up two hits and three walks while striking out two batters.

Flexen's day got off to a questionable start after Yandy Diaz drove a double into center field to begin the game, but the 29-year-old pitcher then turned in his best performance of the year to secure his first win of the young season. Flexen still carries a gaudy 5.11 ERA and 1.34 WHIP on the year, but he's given up just one earned run across 11.1 frames over his last three outings. He'll have plenty of momentum on his side during his next start -- tentatively scheduled for Wednesday against the Twins.

Crawford (1-1) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits over six innings. He struck out four.

Crawford allowed a season-high 10 hits Friday, though he'd still manage to make it through six innings for a second straight quality start. It's the first time that Crawford's allowed more than one run in a start this year -- he sports an impressive 1.35 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB across six starts (33.1 innings). He's currently in line for a home matchup with the Giants in his next outing.

Sandoval (1-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits over 5.2 innings Friday, striking out four and taking a loss against Minnesota.

Sandoval coughed up a solo homer to Carlos Santana in the second inning, and the Twins continued to tack on runs throughout the night. Over his last four starts, Sandoval has gone 0-3 while yielding 14 earned runs over 19.2 innings. He did generate 13 swinging strikes Friday though, his second-highest total of the season. Sandoval will carry a 6.33 ERA into his next matchup, which is projected to come at home against the Phillies next week.

Ober (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks over 7.1 innings Friday, striking out eight and earning a win over the Angels.

Ober fired five shutout frames before the Angels broke through with a run in the sixth inning. After he was throttled for eight runs in his season debut, the 28-year-old righty has given up just four runs over his last four starts, dropping his ERA down to 4.21. He's also posted an impressive 24:6 K:BB through 24.1 frames over his last four outings. Ober is currently in line for a road matchup with the White Sox next week, in which he has a good chance of continuing to roll.

Bassitt (2-4) took the loss Friday against the Dodgers, allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out four.

Bassitt allowed a solo home run to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning before imploding in the third, when he allowed another six runs on six hits including a Max Muncy three-run homer. It's been a rocky start to the year for the 35-year-old Bassitt -- his ERA is up to 5.64 with a 1.85 WHIP and 30:17 K:BB across six starts (30.1 innings). He'll look to right the ship in his next outing, currently slated for next week against Kansas City.

Hancock (3-2) yielded a run on two hits and two walks over six innings Friday, striking out four and earning a win over Arizona.

Hancock turned in five scoreless frames before a solo shot by Kevin Newman in the sixth inning finally put the Diamondbacks on the board. Hancock has now turned in three consecutive quality starts; during that stretch, he's allowed just four earned runs over 18 innings, lowering his season ERA to 5.06 through 26.2 innings. Hancock is currently lined up for a tough home matchup with Atlanta next week.

Stripling did not factor into the decision Friday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three over 5.2 innings.

Stripling was sharp against a hot Orioles offense, eventually winding up with a no-decision to end a stretch of five straight losses to open the year. The veteran right-hander lowered his ERA to 4.98 with a 1.49 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB through six starts (34.1 innings) this season. Stripling will look for his first win in his next start, currently slated for next week against the Pirates.

Burnes did not factor into the decision Friday against Oakland, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.

Burnes was solid Friday, holding the A's to a Shea Langeliers solo homer in the first inning. He'd depart with a one-run lead, though Oakland would tie the game off Craig Kimbrel in the ninth before beating the Orioles in extras, leaving Burnes with a no-decision. It's the first quality start in three outings for the 29-year-old right-hander as Burnes failed to make it through six innings in his previous two starts. Overall, he's 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB through six starts (35.1 innings) this season. Burnes is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Yankees next week.

Lugo (4-1) earned the win Friday in Detroit after he struck out nine and allowed three hits and two walks across seven scoreless innings.

The right-hander generated 13 swinging strikes on 103 pitches as he and Detroit starter Reese Olson combined to give up just one run in 14 frames. The swing-and-miss stuff from Lugo was a step in the right direction after he posted a 4.1 K/9 through his first five starts of the season. The beginning of Lugo's tenure in Kansas City couldn't have gone much better though, as he has a 1.66 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 38 innings.