MLB Player News

Leiter will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock and is scheduled to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Athletics.

Leiter will be making his second start of the season for the Rangers. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings in his MLB debut April 18 against the Tigers. He'll likely get at least one more start while Nathan Eovaldi (groin) is on 15-day injured list.

Lugo didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Milwaukee, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.

Lugo gave up a hit and a walk in the first frame, then surrendered back-to-back homers to start the second. After that, however, Lugo retired nine straight batters and kept the Brewers off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. He was seemingly set up for his sixth win of the season with the Royals up 5-3 heading into the ninth, but Willy Adames took Lugo out of contention for the W with a go-ahead three-run home run. Lugo has pitched at least six innings in seven of his eight starts, and he's gone into the seventh five times. He's scheduled to make his next start Sunday against the Angels.

Ober didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs via three hits and one walk over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out seven.

Although Ober wasn't credited with the win, he's now allowed three or fewer hits in five of his last six starts. Both runs against him came in the second, when Mitch Haniger swatted a leadoff homer and Luis Urias scored from first on a Dylan Moore double. After a hideous eight-run, 1.1-inning start to kick off the regular season, Ober has been outstanding, posting a 2.55 ERA and a 34:7 K:BB across the subsequent 35.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to close out a two-start week Sunday at Toronto.

Hancock didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Minnesota, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks with no strikeouts over four innings.

Hancock failed to tally a single strikeout Tuesday -- generating just five swinging strikes -- and he yielded all four hits and four runs in the third frame. Hancock couldn't get out of the inning despite retiring the first two batters he faced, allowing a single, walk, RBI single and three-run home run to consecutive batters. Considering Bryan Woo (elbow) just threw five innings in a rehab start and is eligible to come off the injured list Friday, Hancock may be sent to the bullpen or the minors instead of sticking around in the rotation for another start. In seven starts this year, Hancock owns a 5.24 ERA and a 23:11 K:BB over 34.1 innings.

Allen did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Tigers, allowing seven runs on seven hits and two walks over 2.1 innings. He struck out two.

It was a brutal night for Allen, with four of Detroit's runs coming on a pair of Andy Ibanez home runs in the first two innings. However, he was spared a third straight loss, as Cleveland answered the Tigers' four-run second inning with five runs in the bottom of the frame. It's been a tough start to Allen's sophomore campaign -- he's 3-2 with a 6.41 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB through 39.1 innings. He's already given up nine home runs after surrendering 16 in 24 starts last season. Allen will look to turn things around in his next outing, currently lined up for Sunday versus the White Sox.

Maeda allowed seven runs on five hits across only two innings of work but did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 11-7 win over the Guardians. He walked three and struck out one.

Maeda wasn't very good in this one, but he escaped his second loss of the season thanks to a ton of run support. The veteran righty is now sitting with a subpar 6.75 ERA across his first seven starts with the Tigers, though he had only allowed one run over 11 innings in his previous two appearances coming into Tuesday, so there were some signs he was turning things around before this dud. Home runs have been a problem, as the 36-year-old has now allowed nine of them in 30.2 innings. Maeda will look to keep the ball in the park and post a better line in his next scheduled start, which is penciled in for Monday against the Marlins.

Bello (lat) said Tuesday that he will return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Nationals, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Bello made a rehab appearance Tuesday at Double-A Portland, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters across 2.2 innings. Despite his unremarkable performance, the right-hander said he came away from the start without any pain and is ready to return to Boston's rotation. Bello holds a 3.04 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 26.2 innings so far this year.

Stripling (1-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing 11 runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out two.

It was certainly an outing to forget for Stripling -- after allowing a leadoff homer to Marcus Semien in the first inning, the right-hander allowed the first seven batters to reach in the second as Texas would put up a 10 spot in the frame. Stripling had held opponents to three runs or fewer in four straight starts prior to Wednesday's implosion. His ERA is now up to 5.14 with a 1.57 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB through eight starts (42 innings) this year. Stripling will look to get back on track in his next outing, tentatively lined up for this weekend in Seattle.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Javier (neck) will return from the injured list this weekend to start against the Tigers, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Javier will return this weekend after missing just under a month due to the neck issue, though it's unclear exactly which day he'll take the mound in Detroit. The 27-year-old threw 68 pitches over 3.1 frames in his lone rehab outing and may face some minor workload limitations in his first outing back with the Astros.

Francis (forearm) threw a bullpen session Monday and is slated to throw two simulated innings Thursday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Barring any sort of setback, Francis is expected to embark on a rehab assignment shortly after his simulated game Thursday. He will serve as a starter while on his assignment, but he will likely be limited to a long-relief role once he returns to the Blue Jays. The 28-year-old righty posted an 8.59 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 14.2 innings before landing on the injured list April 25.