MLB Player News

Jones did not factor into the decision in Saturday's win against the Rockies. He allowed one hit and no walks while striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings.

The 22-year-old right-hander bounced back from a rather modest showing his last time out, matching his career high with 10 strikeouts. Jones got 17 swings and misses on 96 pitches and touched 100 mph with his heater a couple times. While he has a losing record at 2-3, Jones is off to a historically great start to his career. He became the first pitcher in Pirates history with an outing consisting of seven shutout innings, one hit or fewer allowed, 10 strikeouts and zero walks Saturday, and per MLB's Sarah Langs, Jones is the first pitcher since at least 1901 with 50-plus strikeouts and five or fewer walks in his first seven career starts.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed Saturday that Nelson (elbow) will return from the injured list to start Sunday against the Padres, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Lovullo had indicated previously that it was likely to be Nelson making the start, and now he's made it official. The right-hander had to go on the IL in mid-April after taking a comebacker off his pitching elbow, but he'll make his return Sunday while skipping a rehab assignment. Nelson holds a 4.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB in 15.2 innings this season.

Lynn came away with a no-decision Saturday, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks over five-plus innings in a 6-5 extra-inning loss to the White Sox. He struck out four.

Facing the team he spent two-plus seasons with before getting dealt to the Dodgers last July, Lynn struggled to find the strike zone on a rainy day and exited the game after 94 pitches (53 strikes). The veteran right-hander has worked at least five innings in five straight outings, and this was the first time in 2024 he's been tagged for more than four runs. Lynn will take a 3.28 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB through 35.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come next week in Milwaukee.

Turnbull will be available out of the Phillies bullpen Sunday versus the Giants, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Turnbull could end up piggybacking starter Taijuan Walker, though manager Rob Thomson didn't explicitly say that would be the case. From a performance standpoint, Turnbull has earned a spot in Philadelphia's rotation with a 1.67 ERA and 36:10 K:BB in 32.1 innings this season, but the team also wants to keep an eye on his workload since he hasn't thrown more than 56.2 innings in a season since 2019. Turnbull seems likely to make another start at some point in the not-too-distant future, but it may take an injury to another starter before that happens.

Sanchez will start Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sanchez was available in relief for Saturday's game, but because he wasn't needed, he's now set up to start Tuesday. Meanwhile, Spencer Turnbull will be available in relief Sunday in what could wind up being a piggyback situation with Taijuan Walker. The roles of all three pitchers seem somewhat in flux.

Abbott (1-4) took the loss to the Orioles on Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.

He retired eight straight batters at one point while showing great depth with his breaking pitches, but Jorge Mateo and Adley Rutschman touched him up for solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and that was enough to send Abbott to his fourth loss in five decisions. The lefty has now allowed multiple homers in three of his last four outings, but he still has a highly respectable 3.32 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 38 innings this season. If Abbott can get the homer issue under control, he could take off, though that will be easier said than done as the weather heats up.

Rogers (0-5) took the loss Saturday in Oakland, allowing eight runs on eight hits and three walks over just 2.1 innings.

Rogers gave up a couple runs in the second inning and then the wheels really came off in the third, as he was tagged for six runs during what turned out to be a 10-run inning for the Athletics. It was a disastrous performance in what should have been a favorable matchup for the left-hander. Rogers will carry a 6.15 ERA into his next start, which is expected to be against the Phillies at home.

Irvin (2-3) was saddled with the loss Saturday versus the Blue Jays, permitting four runs (zero earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Irvin needed 32 pitches to get through the first inning, thanks in large part due to a pair of errors committed behind him. The silver lining is all four of the runs the Jays scored in the opening frame were unearned, so he watched his ERA on the season drop from 4.28 to 3.72. Irvin mostly settled in after that but still required a season-high 107 pitches to cover his five innings. The righty has walked just eight batters in seven starts this season, showing immensely improved control after he issued free passes at a 10.2 percent clip in 2023. His next start is lined up to come in Boston.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Gray (elbow) threw about 35 pitches in Saturday's bullpen session, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Gray's session marked the first time the right-hander has thrown off the mound since landing on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain, and Martinez noted that the right-hander didn't suffer any setbacks. Gray is set for another bullpen appearance next Tuesday and Wednesday, per Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. Gray will need a few more bullpen sessions before beginning his rehab assignment.

Stone did not factor into the decision Friday against Atlanta, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out five.

Stone held up well against a tough Atlanta lineup, generating 14 whiffs and five punchouts. His only blemish on the evening was a 449-foot solo shot by Austin Riley in the first inning. Stone has made four straight starts in which he's allowed two or fewer runs, tossing a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings over that span. The Dodgers right-hander is slated to make his next start against the Marlins at home.