MLB Player News

Williams (1-2) was tagged with the loss against Miami on Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings.

Williams pitched fairly well in the outing, tying his season high with six innings and recording his second quality start of the campaign. However, rookie phenom Eury Perez allowed just one run over five frames, and the Nationals couldn't muster enough offense against Miami's bullpen to take Williams off the hook for the loss. The right-hander has just one win over nine starts on the season, but he's been serviceable for Washington with a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through 44.1 innings.

Perez (1-0) earned the win over Washington on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out six batters over five innings.

Perez gave up a solo homer to Jeimer Candelario in the fourth inning, but that was the only tally the Nationals managed against him. The rookie right-hander didn't miss many bats, but he got 18 called strikes and punched out six batters. Perez is only 20 years old, but he hasn't looked overmatched at the big-league level, allowing three runs and posting a 13:3 K:BB over 9.2 frames. His next start is tentatively slated to come in the altitude of Colorado against the Rockies.

Megill (5-2) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters over six innings.

As usual, Megill didn't drop any jaws with his performance, but he limited the damage against him and went six innings to produce his second quality start of the campaign. What he's lacked in electricity the right-hander has made up for in consistency -- he's struck out exactly four batters in four straight outings and has yet to give up more than four runs in an appearance this season. Megill's five wins on the campaign are tied for sixth-most in the majors.

Urias (5-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks over three innings in a 16-8 loss to St. Louis. He struck out one.

Urias gave up four homers in the third inning and wasn't given the chance to pitch in the fourth. The long ball has become a problem for Urias, as he's surrendered 14 homers through 10 starts and has given up multiple home runs in half his outings. The lefty has made at least 30 starts and posted an ERA under 3.00 in each of the last two seasons, but he is sporting a 4.39 ERA after the Cardinals teed off Thursday.

Wainwright (1-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out one.

Wainwright should have made it out of the sixth inning, but a Paul Goldschmidt error allowed the inning to continue and the Dodgers took advantage. An RBI single chased Wainwright before Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam off Genesis Cabrera. Fortunately for Wainwright's ERA and for fantasy managers, none of the three sixth-inning runs charged to him were earned. The 41-year-old has struggled through his first three starts of 2023 with a 5.74 ERA and 1.60 WHIP, and he has just eight strikeouts in 15.2 innings.

Sheehan struck out a season-high 10 batters Wednesday for Double-A Tulsa and has a 1.85 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 34 innings this season.

His 58 strikeouts lead all Double-A pitchers and are second only to Andrew Abbott (65) in the minor leagues. Sheehan was a trendy sleeper in dynasty leagues coming into the season, but he has pitched his way into the mix for the distinction of best pitcher in the minors. His fastball is an 80-grade offering in the mid-90s that has similar shape to Joe Ryan's low-90s fastball.

Lugo was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a left calf strain.

Lugo was forced to leave his last start Tuesday after straining his calf and will now officially miss multiple turns through the rotation. The severity of his injury seems to be relatively minor, so a minimum stay on the IL is likely. Ryan Weathers was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to replace Lugo on the roster.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Thursday that Liberatore will remain in the rotation, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Liberatore was terrific in his season debut with the Cardinals on Wednesday, tallying six strikeouts over five scoreless frames in a 3-0 win over the Brewers. The schedule, as currently sorted, calls for him to pitch early next week in a favorable matchup versus the Reds. The 23-year-old left-hander seems like a must-have in fantasy when you also factor in how well he was pitching at Triple-A Memphis prior to his promotion.

Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Pepiot is still experiencing soreness in his left oblique, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Pepiot began throwing to live hitters earlier this month, but a setback has returned him to playing catch on flat ground. Originally expected to return in late May or early June, Pepiot could now be held out of action through the All-Star break.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Stone "makes the most sense" to replace Dustin May (forearm) in the starting rotation, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Michael Grove (groin) is traveling with the Dodgers, but only on the taxi squad for now, and it sounds like he'll be used in relief if -- or when -- he is activated. Stone racked up 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings in his last start Tuesday at Triple-A Oklahoma City and can comfortably slot into May's spot Monday at Atlanta. May is out for at least a month with a flexor strain, so both Grove and Stone could ultimately get rotation turns. Bobby Miller might eventually be an option as well.