MLB Player News

Anderson (2-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out three.

Anderson was touched up by two doubles in the fourth inning. Otherwise he rolled through the Red Sox. Anderson posted six shutout innings in his first start of the season, but he struggled from there. His ERA after four starts in April was 5.74, but in May, his ERA is 3.68. His WHIP is still 1.55 in May, so his rebound could be short-lived. He has 30 strikeouts in 48.2 innings this season, meaning his ERA and WHIP need to improve to provide fantasy value.

Paxton (1-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks over three innings against the Angels. He struck out five.

Paxton surrendered just three runs across his first two starts of the season after missing the first six weeks with a hamstring issue, but he struggled Wednesday and recorded just nine outs. The 34-year-old's last full season was 2019, when he produced a 3.82 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 150.2 innings. However, he's made only nine starts since due to multiple injuries, making his reliability a question mark.

Waldichuk (calf) is no longer starting for the A's on Wednesday versus the Mariners, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The expectation is that he'll operate in bulk relief behind opener Austin Pruitt. It's probably a way to protect Waldichuk after he suffered a mild calf strain last Friday against the Astros. He threw a side session without issue Monday.

Ryan (7-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over five innings during a 7-1 loss to the Giants. He struck out four.

The five innings were a season low for Ryan, ending his streak of seven straight quality starts. Despite laboring a bit, he still picked up his seventh win and now holds a 2.21 ERA across 10 outings (61 innings). Ryan's four strikeouts Wednesday tied his second-lowest mark of the campaign, but his 70:10 K:BB remains elite. The soon-to-be 27-year-old's next start is projected to come during a three-game set in Houston.

Bielak (1-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk over 6.2 innings during a 4-0 loss to the Brewers. He struck out three.

Three of Bielak's five hits allowed were home runs, including a two-run shot by Willy Adames in the first inning. Despite the fact that he surrendered a season-high four runs, Wednesday's performance was actually the longest of the year for Bielak, who's drawn five consecutive starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land at the beginning of May. The right-hander holds a 3.55 ERA across 25.1 innings and figures to remain in the rotation until Jose Urquidy (shoulder), Luis Garcia (elbow) or Lance McCullers (forearm) is activated off the injured list.

Quantrill (2-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks over four innings against the White Sox. He struck out two.

Quantrill was solid through his first three innings, holding Chicago to just one run on one hit. However, he unraveled in the fourth, allowing the first three baserunners to reach, eventually surrendering five more runs. The six earned runs was a season high. Quantrill's ERA is up to 4.75 with a 1.35 WHIP and 31:18 K:BB. He's a risky fantasy option heading into his next start, tentatively lined up for next week in Baltimore.

Kopech (3-4) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings against the Guardians. He struck out nine.

Kopech has now thrown 15 scoreless innings over his last two starts, allowing just three hits while striking out 19 in that span. It's been quite a turnaround for the 27-year-old right-hander, who posted a 5.97 ERA in his first three starts. Kopech lowered his ERA to 4.24 with a 1.22 WHIP and 60:29 K:BB across 10 starts (57.1 innings) this season. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, currently lined up for next week at home against the Angels.

Perez (6-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings against the Pirates. He struck out three.

Perez has now logged seven innings in consecutive starts, allowing two runs in each outing. The veteran left-hander lowered his ERA to 3.83 with a 1.47 WHIP and 41:16. While Perez isn't expected to post large strikeout totals, it's somewhat concerning that his ground-ball rate is down to 37.4 percent after he posted a 51.4 percent mark last season. He took a step in the right direction Wednesday, coaxing 12 groundouts and just one flyout.

Manager Alex Cora confirmed Wednesday in a radio interview with "Gresh and Fauria" on WEEI 93.7 that Houck will remain in the starting rotation, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Houck pitched well in his start against the Angels on Monday with six innings of one-run baseball and eight strikeouts in a no-decision. The right-hander will remain a starting option for Boston in the place of Corey Kluber, with Kluber being moved to the bullpen for the foreseeable future. Houck has had his own struggles in 2023 -- the strong outing against Los Angeles lowered his ERA to 4.99 over 48.2 innings -- and while he has shown the ability to miss bats, his struggles against lineups the second and third time through an order make him a risky fantasy option when he's on the mound.

Kluber has been moved to the bullpen, Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed Wednesday in a radio interview with "Gresh and Fauria" on WEEI 93.7, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Cora had said earlier this week that Kluber would make his next start, but the skipper has apparently changed his mind. Kluber has been dreadful after inking a one-year, $10 million contract over the offseason, putting up a 6.26 ERA and 34:18 K:BB across 41.2 innings covering nine starts. That, combined with Tanner Houck's strong showing his last time out, is the impetus behind Kluber's demotion. The 37-year-old wouldn't seem to be a great fit for relief and figures to be relegated to a mop-up role.