MLB Player News

Montgomery improved to 2-0 on the season after tossing six innings and allowing just one run on four hits -- all singles -- Saturday against the Blue Jays. He struck out five and walked three.

Montgomery has continued to pitch like a solid back-end starter this season. He hasn't struck out a batter per inning in any of his four starts but has allowed three runs or less in three of them. He was rarely in real trouble Saturday, letting in just one run after a small rally to start the fifth inning. His ERA now sits at a solid 3.80, and while his 4.53 xFIP suggests that he's due to slide back a bit, those numbers are a near match for the 3.88 ERA and 4.45 xFIP he posted in his rookie season, so it's possible he has the ability to slightly outperform his peripherals. Montgomery will next take the mound Thursday against the Twins.

Stroman fell to 0-2 on the season after allowing eight runs (six earned) in 5.1 innings Saturday against the Yankees. He gave up five hits (including one home run) and walked four while striking out five.

Stroman was mostly clean through five innings, allowing just one run on a solo shot to Aaron Judge in the third. The wheels came off in the sixth, though, as the Yankees went single, walk, single, walk, error, strikeout and double before Stroman was finally pulled. The Blue Jays' ace is off to a poor start this season, allowing at least four earned runs in each of his first four starts. His ERA now stands at 8.55. It's possible the shoulder inflammation that limited him this spring is still affecting him, though the team hasn't given any indication that that's the case.

Chirinos will start Sunday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

There had been speculation that Chirinos wouldn't get the nod, as he hasn't officially been named the team's fourth starter and struggled the last time out against the Rangers. The Rays will indeed go with the 24-year-old after all. Through his first 20 innings this season, Chirinos has a 2.70 ERA. His 4.06 xFIP indicates that he's getting rather lucky but is still a competent starter. He has a solid 6.2 percent walk rate, but his low 18.5 percent strikeout rate limits his ceiling and his fantasy value.

Nicasio (1-0) fired a scoreless eighth inning during which he allowed one hit in a win over the Rangers on Friday.

Nicasio was razor sharp while firing 10 of his 12 offerings into the strike zone. The veteran right-hander is enjoying a prolific April from a reliever's standpoint, as he's racked up six holds and Friday's victory over eight appearances. While Nicasio has pitched to some contact, it's obvious that manager Scott Servais trusts his hard-throwing setup option to work through any struggles based on the heavy workload he's afforded him.

Kopech (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out a season-high 10 for Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Kopech made his third start of the season and upped his pitch count to 95 (59 for strikes). He was unable to pitch himself out of trouble and was hurt by a hit batsman, a stolen base, a balk and a wild pitch. The right-hander has a 2.40 ERA with five walks and 21 strikeouts over 15 innings. That 3.0 BB/9 walk rate is particularly encouraging, a sign that his wavering command is improving.

Verlander (3-0) struck out five, walked three, and allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings in Friday's win over the White Sox.

The two hits allowed were both singles. Verlander was at 96 pitches through six innings, and Houston had a nine-run lead by then, so manager A.J. Hinch handed the rest of the game over to the bullpen. This was the third time in five starts that Verlander hasn't allowed a run in at least six innings of work. He's brought his ERA down to 1.10 to go along with a 39:8 K:BB in 32.2 innings. Up next is a matchup with the Angels at home.

Lynn (0-1) came away with a no-decision in Friday's extra-inning loss to the Rays, allowing five runs on seven hits and five walks over six innings while striking out seven.

Early-season postponements have played havoc with Lynn's schedule perhaps more than any other pitcher in baseball, as he hadn't made a start since April 9, and the rust showed in Friday's outing. There were some positive signs for the right-hander, however -- he generated 15 swinging strikes among his 95 pitches -- and once he settles into a regular routine, his 6.00 ERA should improve. Weather permitting, Lynn will make his next start Wednesday on the road against the Yankees.

Heaney (0-1) was rocked for seven earned runs on six hits over 4.1 innings Friday, striking out six and walking two while taking the loss in the Angels' 8-1 defeat at the hands of the Giants.

Heaney was coming off a strong start in his first outing of the year against the Royals, striking out seven and giving up three earned runs in five innings, but he couldn't follow it up with a similar effort against the Giants, who did most of their damage in a six-run fifth inning. He'll look to get right the ship in his next start against a tough Yankees lineup next Friday.

Bundy (1-2) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings to earn his first victory of the season over the Indians on Friday.

Cleveland's lone run Friday came on a bases-loaded hit by pitch to score Jason Kipnis, but Bundy scattered three hits and a walk over the next five innings. The 25-year-old has put together a stellar start to the season and now owns a 1.42 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 40 strikeouts across 31.2 innings. Bundy figures to next take the mound in a solid matchup at home against the Rays on Wednesday.

Gray (1-1) escaped with a no-decision in Friday's 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays, giving up five runs on five hits and four walks over 3,1 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

After holding Toronto off the board in the first two innings, Gray got tagged for a two-run homer by Teoscar Hernandez -- the first long ball he's served up so far this year -- in the third before things went completely off the rails in the fourth. The right-hander now carries a brutal 8.27 ERA through 16.1 innings, and his 15:11 K:BB doesn't offer much hope of a quick turnaround. Gray will next take the mound Wednesday at home against the Twins.