MLB Player News

Giolito (hamstring) struck out four and gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks over two innings during his rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Portland.

Due to poor weather being in the forecast at Triple-A Worcester, Giolito moved down a level for his third rehab start after making his previous two appearances with Boston's top affiliate. The drop in competition didn't make things any easier for Giolito, who struggled to command his arsenal and spotted just 34 of his 60 pitches for strikes. The right-hander has hovered between 51 and 64 pitches in each of his three rehab starts and has yet to pitch on less than five days' rest, so he could stay in the minors for another outing or two to push up his pitch count and shake off some more rust. Giolito was placed on the injured list after suffering a low-grade left hamstring strain in mid-March, but he also missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow.

Bello (shoulder) struck out seven and allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Wednesday in his rehab start with Double-A Portland on Wednesday. He also hit a batter and was charged with a pitch-clock violation.

Bello got off to a rocky start in his fourth minor-league rehab appearance in allowing a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, but he settled down a bit over the following three-plus innings and concluded his night with three straight strikeouts. He spotted 51 of his 71 pitches for strikes and flashed a fastball that hovered in the 94 to 96 mile-per-hour range, roughly in line with his average velocity from the 2024 season (95.7 mph). According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said earlier in the week that Wednesday's outing would likely be Bello's last on the farm, so the right-hander appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list early next week. With the Red Sox having confirmed their starters through Monday, Bello tentatively lines up to make his 2025 debut Tuesday at home versus the Mariners.

Bubic didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Yankees after allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

The left-hander escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but an Anthony Volpe double in the third inning brought in a pair of runs to get the Yankees on the board. Although he gave up another run in the fourth, Bubic limited the damage by getting Jazz Chisholm to fly out with the bases juiced once again. Bubic is on the rise to begin 2025, boasting a 1.88 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB through four starts (24 innings), and he'll have a prime opportunity to enhance his numbers in his next scheduled start next week at home against Colorado.

Schmidt didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Royals after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out two.

Given that the right-hander missed the first couple of weeks of the regular season with shoulder fatigue, it was encouraging to see him be able to throw 73 pitches in his first start for the Yankees this year. Salvador Perez drove in a run on a single in the first inning, and the Royals plated two more in the fifth. Just one of Schmidt's hits allowed went for extra bases, however, and he'll search for more length when he takes the hill in his next scheduled start in Cleveland early next week.

Williams (1-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

Williams pitched better than his final line would indicate, though he was hurt by the home-run ball -- he'd give up a grand slam to Jackson Holiday in the second inning before Ramon Laureano added a solo shot in the seventh. It's the first loss of the season for the 25-year-old Williams, who'll carry a 4.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB into his next start, tentatively scheduled as a tough home matchup with the Yankees.

Kremer (2-2) picked up the win Wednesday over the Guardians, allowing one run on four hits and a walk across 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

Kremer was effective Wednesday, with the lone run against him coming on a Gabriel Arias home run in the third inning. It's a strong bounce-back effort from the 29-year-old Kremer, who allowed six runs on three homers in his previous outing versus Arizona. Kremer will carry a 6.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB into his next start, currently scheduled for next week in Washington.

Littell (0-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox after allowing one run on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five.

Wednesday marked the second time already this year that the right-hander was charged with the loss despite firing six innings of one-run ball. David Hamilton's third-inning solo home run wouldn't have been a homer in any other MLB ballpark, according to Statcast, and Littell also notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. Despite carrying a respectable 1.26 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 23 innings (four starts) in 2025, Littell's 5.48 ERA makes him tough to trust from a fantasy perspective in Arizona for his next turn through the rotation.

Festa came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets, allowing five hits and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out six.

The 25-year-old right-hander had an impressive, if short, performance, tossing 51 of 76 pitches for strikes before exiting the mound. Festa also got plenty of help to preserve his scoreless outing, as Harrison Bader threw a runner out at the plate in the second inning and Danny Coulombe escaped the one-out, bases-loaded jam he inherited in the fifth by getting Juan Soto to ground into a double play. Through his first two starts in the majors this season, Festa has yet to give up a run over nine innings, posting a 1.11 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB, but he also has yet to pitch the full five frames necessary to qualify for a win. If he sticks around on the big-league roster, he'll aim to give the Twins more length in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the White Sox.

Gray (wrist) the hard cast removed from his right arm Tuesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gray suffered a fractured wrist during spring training after being struck by a 106-mph line drive, but he seems to be recovering well. The 33-year-old righty expects to start up a throwing program within the next several weeks, at which point a return timeline may begin to emerge.

Bassitt (2-0) collected the win in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Atlanta, scattering three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out 10.

While Drake Baldwin eventually ruined the combined shutout bid with a solo shot in the ninth inning off Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays bullpen picked up where Bassitt left off en route to a franchise-record 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. The Ks kept Bassitt from lasting long enough to record a quality start -- he left after 90 pitches (59 strikes), including 33 called or swinging strikes -- but the veteran right-hander has been brilliant to begin the season, allowing just two runs over his first four starts. Bassitt will take a 0.77 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 31:5 K:BB through 23.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Houston.