MLB Player News

Skubal allowed one unearned run on four hits and zero walks in 5.2 innings while striking out seven during a 2-1 win Friday in Kansas City. He did not factor into the decision.

The lone run given up by Skubal came after a two-out error extended the fourth inning. Fifteen of the 17 outs recorded by the lefty came via strikeout or groundout. After a subpar first start, Skubal put together a great showing in his second outing. The 25-year-old has one walk and 10 strikeouts in his first two starts. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Yankees.

Cease (2-0) allowed one run on three hits and two walks over 5.2 innings Friday, striking out eight and earning a win over Tampa Bay.

Cease cruised through five shutout frames with little pushback from the Rays' lineup. The 6-foot-2 righty then walked Brandon Lowe to begin the sixth inning and was later charged with that run when Aaron Bummer coughed up back-to-back two-out doubles. Cease now has a 1.69 ERA and 16:5 K:BB through 10.2 frames. He lines up to take the mound in Cleveland next week.

Ryan (1-1) earned the win Friday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on five hits and no walks across six innings while striking out seven.

Ryan was strong throughout his outing, with the only blemish being a solo shot by Alex Verdugo in the second inning, and his seven strikeouts marked the second-highest total of his seven-start career. Ryan's now given up three homers in 10 innings through his first two starts this year but hasn't allowed any other runs and has only allowed seven total hits. He lines up to face the Royals in Kansas City next Thursday.

Rasmussen (0-1) allowed three runs on five hits over five innings Friday, striking out two and taking a loss against the White Sox.

The first run to score on the 26-year-old righty came in the second inning when he fired a wild pitch. He then gave up a solo shot to Jake Burger in the third, followed by Burger's RBI single in the fifth. Rasmussen tossed 47 of 68 pitches for strikes, including nine whiffs, and he'll carry a 5.00 ERA into Chicago against the Cubs next week.

Mize was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right elbow sprain.

Mize pitched five innings against the Royals on Thursday and while he struck out just two batters he was far from terrible, allowing two runs on six hits. The Tigers are calling his absence precautionary for now, but any elbow issue is potentially a significant worry for a pitcher. Tyler Alexander, who had been filling in for Michael Pineda, will likely remain in the rotation until Mize returns, with Pineda nearly ready to go after a visa delay slowed his spring buildup.

Watkins is Baltimore's probable starter Monday against Oakland, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

The 29-year-old surrendered four runs (one earned) over three innings Tuesday against the Brewers and will receive at least one more turn through the rotation. John Means (elbow) has joined Dean Kremer (oblique) on the injured list, so more starting opportunities will be available for Watkins if he can pitch well enough to stave off the Orioles' long relievers, such as Keegan Akin and Alexander Wells.

Means was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left elbow strain, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The 28-year-old departed Wednesday's start against the Brewers after only 51 pitches due to forearm tightness, and the injury has now been clarified as an elbow strain following an MRI. The severity of the strain remains unclear, but it's safe to assume Means will spend more than the 10-day minimum on the shelf. It's a big blow to the Orioles' starting rotation, which was already short on established options.

Sale (ribs) played catch prior to Friday's game against Minnesota, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Sale has been sidelined since the start of spring training due to a stress fracture on the right side of his ribcage, but it's encouraging that he's now able to begin a throwing program. The southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible to appear in major-league games until at least early June. He said Friday that he's thrown approximately five times in the last week but doesn't yet have a timetable to begin mound work.

Greinke allowed two runs on five hits and one walk in 5.1 innings, striking out none in a 4-2 loss Thursday against Detroit. He did not factor in the decision.

Other than allowing the first four batters to reach safely in the second inning, Greinke pitched well and induced two double-play ground balls. The 38-year-old has managed to allow only three runs despite having just one strikeout in 11 innings on the season. His next start will likely be next Wednesday against Minnesota.

Mize struck out two in five innings while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in a 4-2 win Thursday in Kansas City. He did not factor into the decision.

Mize spent most of the game pitching around trouble and allowed two runs to score in the fourth inning. The 24-year-old needed 88 pitches to get through five frames and left the game with the score tied 2-2. Over 10 innings this season, he has only four strikeouts and has allowed 13 hits. His next start will likely be next Wednesday against the Yankees.