MLB Player News

Perez (2-5) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out eight batters over seven innings during Thursday's win over Philadelphia.

The lefty has allowed exactly two runs while logging at least six innings in each of his past three outings for a 2.79 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 7.4 K/9. With the Texas offense capable of posting crooked numbers in bunches, it's surprising Perez has just two wins for the season. It's probably still best to avoid starting him against daunting opponents, but Perez is making a case to be owned and utilized in more fantasy settings. He projects to face Boston at Fenway Park next, which will be a telling test.

Stroman (4-2) allowed no runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.2 innings on Thursday in a 9-0 win over Atlanta. He struck out six.

It wasn't Stroman's most efficient effort as he needed 103 pitches to get through 5.2 innings, but the Toronto bats gave him all the run support he needed to pick up the win. The 26-year-old also helped his own cause with an opposite-field solo shot in the fourth inning. Stroman looks to be finding his groove, as he has a 1.02 ERA in his last 17.2 innings pitched. He'll toe the rubber again on Wednesday at Milwaukee.

Gray (1-1) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks across six innings in Thursday's win over the Red Sox. He struck out eight.

Gray surrendered two runs on three hits and a walk in the first inning, but he settled down and allowed just a solo home run the rest of the way. He induced six ground outs and easily notched a new season high in punchouts -- a positive sign after he totaled just nine over his first 16.2 innings this season. While Gray's 3.97 ERA isn't incredibly impressive, he has allowed more than three earned runs just once through four starts and topped the 100-pitch mark for the second straight outing in this one. He seems to be trending in the right direction after a lat injury delayed the start of his season and will look to build on this performance Wednesday against the Marlins.

Montgomery (2-3) allowed five runs on four hits and three walks across five innings during Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Royals. He struck out four.

Montgomery recorded three separate one-two-three innings, but a two-run rally in the second and a three-run home run by Mike Moustakas in the fifth amounted to a season high in earned runs on his ledger. He was in the strike zone at a 65 percent clip and gave up just the one extra-base hit, but his inability to work from the stretch cost him in this one. This was Montgomery's roughest outing of the season, raising his ERA to 4.81, and he will look to get back on track Tuesday against this same Royals club at home.

Berrios (2-0) tossed 7.2 scoreless innings with just two hits and a walk allowed in a 2-0 win over Colorado on Thursday. He struck out 11.

It was a simply dominant outing for the 22-year-old hurler, who had a very strong offense looking lost from the outset. He threw 72 of his 106 pitches for strikes, and the 11 strikeouts set a career high. Through 15.1 innings pitched in the big leagues this year, Berrios has only allowed one run on four hits with two walks. It's probably not realistic to expect him to continue at such a clip, but things are most assuredly trending upward for Berrios after a subpar audition in Minnesota last year. He'll take the mound again on Wednesday at Baltimore.

Smyly (elbow) "felt pretty good" after playing catch Wednesday and will throw every other day for the foreseeable future, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports. ""Just build some arm strength,'' manager Scott Servais said. "Get him out there playing some long toss then get him to a bullpen and go from there."

The veteran is eligible to come off the DL on May 29, but his current pace may leave him a bit short of that goal. However, Smyly isn't experiencing any setbacks, which remains the biggest takeaway from his progress reports. The 27-year-old southpaw had a rocky final outing before his injury this spring but was solid over his first two starts, firing five scoreless innings and only giving up one hit.

Bundy (5-2) allowed six runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out just three batters over six innings during Thursday's loss to Detroit.

After allowing three runs or fewer in each of his first eight outings, the bubble burst for Bundy on Thursday. After all, he entered the game with a wide gap between his 2.26 ERA and 3.57 FIP. Detroit boasts an admirable offense, though, so a poor outing against a good team is definitely an easier pill to swallow. Still, his 6.1 K/9 remains an underwhelming mark, and expecting Bundy to pitch closer to his current 3.92 FIP than his 2.97 ERA going forward is probably wise. The righty lines up to start against the Twins at Camden Yards next.

Paxton (forearm) felt good after a 25-pitch bullpen session Thursday and will throw another session Sunday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

If everything goes well with Sunday's outing, Paxton will then head on a one-game rehab assignment with Double-A Arkansas. It's unclear when the rehab start would occur, but it seems like the left-hander will be back with the Mariners within the next week or two.

Kluber (back) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kluber threw 40 pitches without any hindrance Wednesday. He'll have a couple days of rest before throwing a simulated game Saturday. Kluber has steadily increased his amount of throwing activity over the past week, so a timetable for his return should become clear in the near future.

Mejia is expected to start for the Twins on Saturday against the Royals, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander is sitting at Triple-A Rochester waiting for an official callup after being pulled from Tuesday's start. Mejia had thrown just 33 pitches in an effort to conserve him in case he must make this assignment. Brave deep-league players could deploy the owner of a 5.79 ERA against the scuffling Royals -- emphasis on the word brave.