MLB Player News

Ortiz (2-3) earned the win Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks over eight innings against the Marlins. He struck out five.

The right-hander turned in the best start of his young career. It looked like he might end up on the wrong end of a pitchers' duel with Jesus Luzardo, but Ortiz was rewarded for his efforts when the Pirates rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to win 3-1. The 24-year-old induced 12 swinging strikes on 97 pitches and showed the kind of upside to warrant a roster spot in most fantasy leagues, though more ups and downs should be expected.

Smith-Shawver did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks over 3.1 innings against the Reds. He struck out four.

Atlanta staked Smith-Shawver to an early 5-0 lead, but the right-hander gave it all back before exiting with one out in the fourth. He served up three home runs, more than he allowed in his first three appearances combined (two). It was an outing to forget in one of the game's most hitter-friendly parks, but Smith-Shawver still has a 4.32 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 16.2 total innings -- impressive for a 20-year-old in his first exposure to big-league hitters. He tentatively lines up to face the Twins at home next week.

Miley said the cramping issue that caused him to leave Friday's start versus the Guardians isn't serious, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. He picked up the win and threw six scoreless innings with three strikeouts before leaving.

Miley told reporters that he started feeling the cramping after his last pitch in the sixth, and he and the team decided it wasn't a good idea for him to continue despite needing only 67 pitches to get through the lineup twice. The left-hander should be able to make his next scheduled start, which is currently lined up for Thursday against the Mets.

Marceaux and Coleman Crow were acquired by the Mets from the Angels on Friday in the trade for Eduardo Escobar.

Marceaux was selected by the Angels out of LSU, and the right-hander has registered a 4.88 ERA and 45:19 K:BB over 59 innings with Double-A Rocket City over 12 starts. He isn't likely to help the Mets in 2023, but he could be a back-end rotation option for the club in the middle portion of the decade.

Wacha will bave his turn in the rotation skipped Saturday against the Nationals due to shoulder fatigue, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Wacha is expected to miss just one start before returning to the Padres' rotation in his usual spot, which lines up to be June 30 against the Reds. Matt Waldron will be promoted from Triple-A El Paso on Saturday to make a spot start against the Nationals.

The Padres will promote Waldron from Triple-A El Paso to start Saturday's game against the Nationals, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Waldron will be making his major-league debut in Saturday's game and will become the only active pitcher in the bigs that features a knuckleball in his arsenal. The 26-year-old righty has been hit around quite a bit in Triple-A this season with a 7.02 ERA and 1.65 WHIP alongside a 75:24 K:BB through 66.2 innings. No word yet on how the Padres' rotation will shift to accommodate for Waldron's arrival, but more information should come ahead of Saturday's game.

Davis was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Davis will return to the big-league roster just two days after he was sent down Wednesday, after Brent Suter (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Davis has produced an inflated 7.47 ERA and 1.91 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 15.2 innings (four starts) with the Rockies this season.

The Pirates transferred Velasquez (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Velasquez underwent season-ending surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow earlier this month, so his move to the 60-day IL doesn't come as much of a surprise. The 31-year-old righty will end the season with a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 37 strikeouts through 37.1 innings. He'll become a free agent this offseason and figures to return midway through 2024.

Ashcraft (calf) will return from the 15-day injured list and start Saturday's game against Atlanta, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Ashcraft landed on the IL after taking a comebacker to his left calf June 9, and he'll officially return to the Reds' rotation in the minimum amount of time. The 25-year-old righty holds a 12.46 ERA and 2.17 WHIP across his last five starts, and he will face an Atlanta lineup that leads the majors in team OPS (.814) in his return.

Soroka gave up one run on one hit and two walks over seven innings for Triple-A Gwinnett during the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against Jacksonville, striking out a season-high nine.

The 25-year-old right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh and final inning before seeing it, and his shutout bid, ruined by an Austin Allen solo shot with two outs. Soroka has been outstanding since his demotion in early June, posting a 1.42 ERA and 18:8 K:BB over three starts for Gwinnett, and while his initial return to the majors didn't go smoothly, he could yet be a factor for Atlanta later in the summer.