MLB Player News

McKenzie allowed one earned run on one hit and four walks while striking out four across 4.1 innings in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision.

McKenzie showed signs of dominance in his third outing of the season, as he allowed only one hit and and generated a strikeout per inning. However, he was done in by his inefficiency, as only half of his 80 pitches found the strike zone. That led to four walks, though he had only issued a pair of free passes across seven frames entering Wednesday's appearance. Assuming McKenzie can throw strikes more consistently in his next start -- currently scheduled for Tuesday against the Angels -- he should be able to work a bit deeper into the game.

Kent was placed on the 7-day IL at Double-A Frisco with a hamstring injury, the Dallas Morning News reports.

He's expected to just miss one start. He gave up three runs over four innings in his first start for Frisco. The 2019 ninth-round draft pick had an impressive 117 strikeouts in 89 innings last season between Double-A and High-A with a combined 3.64 ERA.

Cueto has advanced his progression to Triple-A Charlotte, where he'll likely need a couple of starts before he's ready to contribute to the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of The Chicago Sun-Times reports. "You can only speed it up so much," manager Tony La Russa said. "We're looking forward to having him up here."

Dallas Keuchel's disastrous start in the first half of Wednesday's doubleheader brings the need for Cueto to join the White Sox into sharp focus. The team will be getting Lucas Giolito back over the weekend, but it remains another starter down after that.

The Tigers placed Manning (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Manning's move to the IL isn't particularly surprising after manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged a day earlier that the young right-hander likely wouldn't be ready to go when his next turn in the rotation comes up Saturday against the Rockies at Comerica Park. Once the inflammation in his shoulder dissipates, Manning should resume a throwing program, and how he looks during his bullpen sessions will likely dictate whether he'll miss more than one turn through the rotation. Detroit has yet to announce a potential replacement in the rotation for Manning, though long reliever Drew Hutchison could be stretched out enough for a spot start after he covered three innings in his last appearance April 16.

Miller is out indefinitely with a scapula strain, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.

The Athletics' third-round pick from 2021, Miller logged six innings in three outings last year in rookie ball, but his full-season debut will be delayed by several months due to this injury suffered in the spring.

Garcia cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Garcia was designated for assignment by Detroit on Saturday, and he'll remain in Toledo after going unclaimed on waivers. The right-hander has tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in the minors to begin the year.

Giolito (abdomen) confirmed Wednesday that he expects to be activated from the 10-day injured list to start Sunday's game in Minnesota, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "It went pretty well. I felt healthy," Giolito told LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune, after he completed a simulated game in Arizona on Tuesday. "That was the goal. Feel good, feel healthy...get a nice number of pitches in, I think it was like 50-something. And be ready for rejoining the rotation and hoping to make a good impact going forward."

Manager Tony La Russa suggested Tuesday that Giolito appeared on track to return from the IL this weekend, and the right-hander's comments offer further confirmation that he'll be rejoining the big club in Minnesota. Since Giolito noted that he tossed around 50 pitches in his simulated game, the White Sox aren't likely to extend him beyond 70-to-80 pitches while he continues to build up. That still may be a long enough of a leash for Giolito to bring value for fantasy managers in the ratio categories. Before exiting his season-opening start April 8 against the Tigers due to the abdominal injury, he struck out six and allowed three baserunners over four scoreless innings.

Quantrill was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Since Quantrill was placed on the COVID-19 IL, he'll be able to return as soon as he clears the league's testing protocols. Kirk McCarty, Tanner Tully and Enyel De Los Santos had their contracts selected Wednesday, and one of them could start if Quantrill misses a turn in the rotation.

Irvin didn't factor into the decision during Tuesday's 2-1 win over Baltimore, allowing one run on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings.

Irving and Orioles starter Chris Ellis engaged in a low-scoring affair with Irvin's lone run allowed in the first inning putting him on the hook for the loss until Oakland scored two in the sixth. The 28-year-old has pitched well enough in his last two starts -- allowing four runs in 11.1 total innings -- but he lacks the strikeout upside to truly make an impact with a career 6.3 K/9 mark. He's tentatively scheduled to take the mound against Texas on Sunday for his next start.

Gray (0-1) took the loss during Tuesday's 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Mariners, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings.

Making his first start since Opening Day due to a blister, Gray put himself in an early hole by surrendering a Eugenio Suarez three-run home in the first following a HBP and walk. While it was mostly smooth sailing from there, the early deficit proved too steep for Texas to overcome. The 30-year-old has a high 7.00 ERA through two starts and has failed to surpass five innings or four strikeouts in either appearance. He's currently scheduled to face off against Oakland on Sunday.