MLB Player News

Hancock (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday in an 8-5 victory over the Red Sox, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The seven Ks were a career high for Hancock, who racked up an impressive 32 called or swinging strikes among his 92 pitches (62 total strikes). With George Kirby (shoulder) not expected back until late May or early June, the Mariners have been scrambling to find a fifth starter, and Hancock's performance Wednesday should buy him more time in the role. Over his last two outings, the right-hander has a 3.27 ERA and 11:2 K:BB in 11 innings. He lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Angels.

Fitts (pectoral) played catch Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Fitts sustained a pectoral strain during a start against the White Sox on April 12. He had opened the season as part of the rotation due to injuries to projected starters. Brayan Bello returned from injury and pitched Tuesday, and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) is expected back May 1. That suggests Fitts will head back to the minors after his recovery.

Crawford (knee) threw an up-and-down bullpen session Tuesday and will report to extended spring training in Fort Myers on Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Crawford will begin the process of pitching to hitters and starting in extended spring training games before embarking on a rehab assignment. The Red Sox estimate a June return at the earliest for the right-hander.

Santos was placed on the minor league 7-day injured list Wednesday with a back injury, Kenndi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Santos suffered a stress reaction in his back and is estimated to be out for at least 8-to-10 weeks. The organization wants a second opinion, but the plan for now is rest and recovery. The 23-year-old right-hander had a promising 2024, when he posted a 3.67 ERA between stops at High-A Hickory and Double-A Frisco. He also pitched in the All-Star Futures Game. In his two starts this season for Frisco prior to the injury, Santos had a 3.18 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

Bradley didn't factor into the decision after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in six innings Wednesday against Arizona. He struck out three.

Although he matched a season low with three punchouts, it was an encouraging bounce-back effort after Bradley yielded a season-high six runs in his last start. Wednesday marked a third quality start in five outings so far for the right-hander, who also fell just one pitch short of his career-high mark of 104 pitches that was set last year. The long ball remains an issue for Bradley, as he's given up four home runs in four starts in the month of April, and he'll take a 5.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB over 28.1 innings into a soft matchup at home against the Royals in his next projected start. As a team, Kansas City sits last in the majors with 12 homers in 2025.

Kochanowicz (1-3) took the loss Wednesday against Pittsburgh, giving up two earned runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three batters across six innings.

Although the Pirates were able to reach base fairly consistently against Kochanowicz, the 24-year-old lefty made it through the fourth inning while only allowing a sacrifice fly. Pittsburgh was able to score more convincingly in the fifth, however, as Oneil Cruz crushed a 463-foot home run to center field to make it a 2-0 ballgame. The Angels' offense never responded to their opponent's attacks, leaving Kochanowicz to take his third loss in a row, and he has a 7.04 ERA during that span. He'll hope for a bit more run support when he takes on the Mariners in Seattle next week.

Rocker (1-3) took the loss against the Athletics on Wednesday after allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in 1.2 innings. He struck out two.

Fresh off establishing a career-high mark in strikeouts during his last start, Rocker was ambushed Wednesday in the shortest appearance of his career in terms of innings pitched. Although he threw 42 of his 63 pitches for strikes and managed to induce six whiffs in an abbreviated outing, the hard-throwing right-hander struggled mightily with his command while giving up three extra-base hits. Rocker will get another chance to face these same Athletics in his next scheduled start, this time in a more favorable setting at home and away from hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. Overall though, he's shaping up as a risky fantasy option while holding an 8.10 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 20 innings (five starts) so far.

Sears (3-2) grabbed the win against the Rangers on Wednesday after allowing two runs on five hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out five.

Staked to an early 5-0 lead, Sears hurled five solid innings but did struggle a bit with hard contact. The left-hander allowed a pair of doubles Wednesday and a solo home run to Wyatt Langford in the fourth frame, throwing a season-low 86 pitches as well. Sears still hasn't given up greater than three runs in any of his first five starts of 2025, and he'll carry 3.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB over 28 innings into his next scheduled outing against these same Rangers, this time in Texas.

McCullers (forearm) will make a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, MLB.com reports.

McCullers was scratched from a scheduled rehab outing last week due to a stomach bug, but he's since thrown a 33-pitch bullpen session. He was able to work four innings in a rehab outing April 12, so he is nearing a traditional starter's workload and potential activation from the injured list.

Festa did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's win over the White Sox. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five across four-plus innings.

Festa was able to get through the first four innings with relative ease, but he was pulled in the fifth frame after putting the first two batters on base, both of which came around to score. He tossed 80 pitches (52 strikes) with 13 first-pitch strikes, and he has steadily increased his pitch count in his three starts since being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on April 11. Festa will likely return the minors as Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is set to return during the Twins' weekend series against the Angels.