MLB Player News

Ober (3-1) earned the win over Toronto on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

He yielded just one extra-base hit -- a fourth-inning solo homer by Dalton Varsho. While Ober was far from overpowering with nine whiffs and just two punchouts, he got the job done en route to his third straight quality start. The right-hander recorded a 5.49 ERA through his first four outings this season, but during the aforementioned three-game stretch, he's yielded just three earned runs over 18.1 frames to bring that ERA down to 3.55. Ober has been all over the place in terms of punchouts this season -- he's registered as many as 10 and as few as one in an outing -- and his overall 6.9 K/9 isn't going to generate much buzz, but his overall numbers have indicated a bounce-back campaign after he posted a career-worst 5.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 146.1 frames last year.

Springs (hip) is expected to be available for his next scheduled start, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

Springs exited Thursday's 6-3 win over the Royals in the fourth inning due to right hip soreness, but manager Mark Kotsay noted after the contest that the pitcher's removal was precautionary. Kotsay explained that Springs was likely able to continue, and he "made the decision" for his starter, removing him from the game, but the manager doesn't "see any reason for him to miss a start." Springs is projected to face Philadelphia on the road early next week.

Young (2-1) took the loss in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out two.

Young was solid in his first two major-league starts, allowing just three runs over 10.2 innings. It was a drastically different story Thursday, however, as the Astros tagged the right-hander for five runs in the first inning and another four in the fourth. Despite the rough showing, Young figures to get at least one more look in Baltimore's rotation with Trevor Rogers (illness) and Dean Kremer (quadriceps) sidelined. He's tentatively lined up to face the Marlins on the road in his next outing.

McCullers (2-2) earned the win Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader with the Orioles, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out nine.

After allowing 17 runs (15 earned) in just 14.1 innings across his previous three starts, McCullers rebounded with an impressive performance against the Orioles, matching his season high with nine strikeouts. McCullers' ERA now sits at 6.32 with a 1.40 WHIP and 33:17 K:BB across six starts (31.1 innings) this season. He'll look to build on Thursday's performance in his next outing, tentatively scheduled as a tough home matchup next week against the Dodgers.

Rodon (elbow) allowed one earned run on five hits and no walks while striking out eight batters over 5.1 innings in a rehab start Thursday with Double-A Somerset.

Rodon was dominant in the second outing of his rehab assignment, spotting 51 of his 75 total pitches for strikes. The southpaw was able to build off the 4.1 scoreless innings he threw Friday with High-A Hudson Valley. Rodon is on the precipice of making his 2026 debut with Yankees after opening the season on the 15-day injured list while recovering from left elbow surgery that he underwent in October. He'll likely wrap his rehab assignment with one more start next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Povich is expected to be called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.

Povich will return to the major-league roster after being sent down to Norfolk on April 13. The southpaw will help fill the void of Trevor Rogers (illness) in the Orioles' starting rotation after Rogers was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. Povich has made two appearances, including one start, with Baltimore this season, posting an impressive 2.19 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with seven strikeouts over 12.1 innings. He appears to be on track to draw a start on the mound Friday or Saturday against the Yankees.

Imai (arm) will make another start during his minor-league rehab assignment in the coming week, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Imai tossed two innings, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two batters during his first rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday. Manager Joe Espada announced Thursday that the right-hander will make another start while on his rehab assignment, though it's currently unclear at what level his next outing will come. Imai has been sidelined since April 13 while recovering from right arm fatigue, and the additional time away may have allowed him to better adjust to life in the United States, which was something else he was reportedly struggling with, per Jack Baer of Yahoo Sports.

Springs was removed from Thursday's start against the Royals after three innings due to right hip soreness, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Springs probably wasn't long for the game, anyway, having needed 67 pitches to navigate through his three frames, but an issue with his hip was apparently the reason for the quick hook. The southpaw yielded two runs on five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch before exiting. The Athletics should have more information on Springs' condition after the game. He is tentatively lined up to face the Phillies on the road in his next start.

Bassitt (2-2) earned the win Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader with the Astros, allowing a run on seven hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out seven.

It was easily the best outing of the season thus far for Bassitt, who logged a season high in strikeouts en route to his first quality start. The right-hander held Houston off the board for six innings before Christian Vazquez drove in a run with two outs in the seventh. Bassitt's ERA now sits at 5.46 with a 1.86 WHIP and 17:14 K:BB across six starts (28 innings) this year. He'll look to build on Thursday's performance his next time out, tentatively scheduled to come next week in Miami.

Valdez didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out eight.

It was a strong bounce-back effort from Valdez, who didn't issue any free passes after walking a season-high eight batters in his last outing, which came against the Reds. Valdez has held opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his first seven starts with the Tigers. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.35 with a 1.26 WHIP and 32:14 K:BB across 40.1 innings. Valdez is currently lined up to face the Red Sox at home his next time out.