MLB Player News

Maeda left Wednesday's start against the Yankees in the fourth inning with an apparent back injury, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He was charged with 10 earned runs on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts before his exit.

According to Park, Maeda first appeared to tweak his back when he unsuccessfully tried to field an Isiah Kiner-Falefa bunt single in the top of the second inning. Though Maeda remained in the game, he was clearly compromised, and the Yankees seemed to recognize it, as a few other hitters attempted to bunt off of him. The right-hander has now left back-to-back starts with injuries, as he exited after just two innings against the Red Sox last Thursday after being hit in the ankle by a comebacker. Though the ankle didn't seem to be bothering Maeda on Wednesday, his new injury could be something that prompts the Twins to skip his turn through the rotation and/or send him to the 15-day injured list.

Paxton (hamstring) is scheduled to make his fifth rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Worcester, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Though Paxton reported to spring training at full health after a lat injury suffered during a rehab assignment late last season prevented him from making his return to the big leagues following his April 2021 Tommy John surgery, he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain March 3 and opened the 2023 campaign on the injured list. While Paxton has remained free of any arm-related setbacks, the Red Sox have been slow-playing his return from the hamstring injury, likely due in some part to the fact that a rotation spot may not be available to the veteran southpaw. Paxton hasn't helped his case for being activated from the IL by getting lit up in his most recent two rehab starts, as he surrendered 12 runs (11 earned) on seven hits and six walks over five innings between those outings. If Paxton can sharpen his control Sunday while bumping up his pitch count to the 85-to-90 range, the Red Sox will face a tough decision regarding whether to activate him and what kind of role he might handle.

McKenzie (shoulder) could being throwing in the bullpen as early as this weekend, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

McKenzie appears to have made significant progress over the past few weeks, as he was able to throw from 75 feet Friday and has worked his way up to now being on the precipice of bullpen sessions. The 25-year-old has missed the entirety of the 2023 campaign while recovering from his right teres major muscle sprain, and while there are some tasks to check off, it does appear that McKenzie is trending in the right direction to come off the 60-day injured list May 29 when he's first eligible.

The Guardians promoted Williams from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Williams will fill the rotation spot at Columbus vacated by Tanner Bibee, who was promoted from Triple-A to make his big-league debut Wednesday against the Rockies. Meanwhile, Williams is scheduled to make his first Triple-A start Thursday after a spectacular start to the 2023 campaign at Double-A. Over 14 innings with Akron, the 23-year-old pitched to a 0.63 ERA while striking out 20. Williams is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, and a strong showing in Triple-A could enable him to make starts for Cleveland by the end of the 2023 campaign.

The Guardians selected Bibee's contract from Triple-A Columbus and will have him start Wednesday's game against the Rockies at Progressive Field, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Cleveland designated southpaw Konnor Pilkington for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for Bibee, who will be making his big-league debut Wednesday. After a stellar first season in professional ball in 2022, the 23-year-old right-hander continued to find success over his first three starts at Columbus, logging a 1.76 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across 15.1 innings. Blessed with a four-pitch repertoire that he's used to generate high strikeout rates at every stop of the minors, Bibee makes for a strong speculative pickup, though fantasy managers should be aware of a potential demotion if he falters in his big-league debut. The Guardians already have five healthy members of the rotation and are adding Bibee to the mix after a recent doubleheader created a stretch of six games in five days, but he could still have a case for sticking around with the big club if he dazzles against the Rockies.

Bradish (1-1) took the loss Tuesday as Baltimore was downed 8-6 by Boston, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and four walks over 2.1 innings. He struck out one.

After beginning the season with 7.2 scoreless innings, Bradish's third start of 2023 was an absolute disaster, as he needed 81 pitches (48 strikes) to record only seven outs. The O's eventually made things close in the ninth inning, but the hole dug by the right-hander in the first few frames was too deep. Bradish now sports a 6.30 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB through 10 innings, and he'll look to rebound in his next outing, likely to come this weekend in Detroit.

Kluber (1-4) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits over six innings in an 8-6 victory over the Orioles. He struck out three without walking a batter.

After a tough beginning to his tenure with the Red Sox, Kluber rebounded to record his first win and first quality start of 2023. The veteran right-hander's dominance is long gone -- he managed only five swinging strikes on 80 pitches -- but he was able to hit his spots Tuesday, and only a Jorge Mateo solo shot in the fifth inning marred his performance. Kluber will take a 6.75 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB through 24 innings into his next outing, likely to come early next week at home against the Blue Jays.

Battenfield (0-2) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on six hits and four walks over 4.2 innings as the Guardians fell 5-1 to the Rockies. He struck out four.

The rookie right-hander couldn't find the plate consistently on a chilly day in Cleveland, tossing only 54 of 97 pitches for strikes before getting the hook. Battenfield has completed five innings only once in three MLB starts since his promotion, and while his 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through 15.1 innings are decent, his 12:7 K:BB is less encouraging. With Logan Allen looking good in his debut Sunday and Tanner Bibee knocking on the door, Battenfield's hold on a rotation spot is tenuous at best. If he does get another turn, it's likely to come early next week in Yankee Stadium.

Singer (2-2) got the win Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out five over six innings.

Singer scattered five hits in the effort and his lone blemish of the day came in the fourth, as Corbin Carroll led off the inning with a triple and scored on a groundball from Christian Walker. The 26-year-old surpassed 90 pitches for a second straight start and reached six innings for the second time this season as well. He generated 10 whiffs with seven of them coming from his slider. It was undoubtedly Singer's most complete performance so far this year, and he'll carry a 6.67 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB (27 innings) into his next start, tentatively scheduled for this weekend against the Twins.

Ragans allowed five runs on three hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Reds. He also hit a batter.

Ragans managed to avoid getting the loss -- that went to Ian Kennedy -- but the fault falls mostly on Ragans. It was the second straight bullpen meltdown by Texas relievers. The bullpen had been strong to begin the season but are in a rough patch, posting a 6.75 ERA over 13.1 innings since the start of the series with the Athletics last week.