MLB Player News

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.

Canning did not factor in the decision Friday against the Red Sox, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

Canning struggled early, yielding all four runs on three homers in the second frame. He faced trouble on several other occasions but managed to limit the damage otherwise. The 27-year-old has given up nine runs over 9.2 innings to go with a 6:4 K:BB. Canning's velocity was down across the board, including his fastball which averaged just 92.5 mph. He's currently lined up to face the Rays at home next week.

Gilbert yielded four runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings and did not factor in the decision Friday. He fanned seven batters during a loss to Milwaukee.

Gilbert served up three solo homers Friday, including one to Willy Adames in the second inning to open the scoring. Last season, Gilbert allowed three homers just one time in his 32 starts. The 26-year-old forced 13 whiffs Friday, with five coming via the slider. Gilbert is currently on track for a start in Toronto next week.

Brown (0-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks over three innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against Texas.

Brown worked around a bases-loaded situation in the first inning but then coughed up five runs in the second. Only 45 of his 80 pitches went for strikes, and he managed to force just five whiffs. Through two outings, Brown has thrown seven innings with a subpar 8:6 K:BB. He's projected to take the mound in Kansas City next week.

Singer did not factor into the decision Friday against the White Sox, allowing one run on two hits and one walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out four.

Singer could be putting together a resurgent 2024 campaign after another solid performance Friday night. The only blemish on his performance was a solo homer yielded to Gavin Sheets in the second inning. Singer has a 0.68 ERA and 14:2 K:BB through 13.1 innings but faces a more difficult test than the White Sox in his next start, which is currently scheduled to come at home against the Astros.

Fedde did not factor into the decision Friday against the Royals, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Although Fedde conceded a single run Friday night, he gave up plenty of hard contact, allowing eight batted balls in excess of 95 mph. The 31-year-old right-hander generated only three whiffs in his 91 total pitches, an ominous sign for his strikeout upside. Fedde is currently scheduled to pitch on the road against the Guardians in his next start.

Rodriguez (2-0) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 6.1 innings in a 5-2 victory over the Pirates. He struck out seven.

Solo shots by Oneil Cruz in the fifth inning and Jared Triolo in the seventh accounted for all the damage off Rodriguez. The 24-year-old right-hander has had a sizzling start to the season, posting a 16:3 K:BB through his first 12.1 innings with a 2.19 ERA, and while he's served up three homers, all three have come with the bases empty. After giving up 16 home runs in 122 innings as a rookie last year, Rodriguez's ability to keep the ball in the park might be the only thing that holds him back in 2024.

Littell came away with a no-decision in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Rockies, allowing one run on five hits over five innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander pounded the strike zone at Coors Field, firing 52 of 69 pitches for strikes, and Littell left the mound with the Rays nursing a 2-1 lead before things got wacky in the late innings. After a solid finish to the 2023 campaign in the Tampa Bay rotation, Littell has been even better to begin the current campaign, posting a 0.82 ERA through his first 11 innings with an 11:2 K:BB. He lines up to make his next start on the road against the Angels next week.