MLB Player News

Contreras is expected to move into a bullpen role for the near future, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Contreras still has time to deliver on his prospect pedigree, as he's just 23 years old, but his season so far has been a disappointment. He owns a 4.50 ERA through nine starts, with a 5.44 xFIP and 5.48 SIERA indicating that things could be considerably worse. His 16.4 percent strikeout rate, 10.8 percent walk rate and 35.5 percent groundball rate are all significantly worse than average. There's been no indication that the Pirates intend to permanently move him to the bullpen, but spending at least a few weeks there could help him reset while also help keep his innings in check. He threw 129.1 frames last season, so 150 innings is probably a fair target for this year.

Pfaadt was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

Pfaadt was one of the games' more hyped pitching prospects over the offseason, but things haven't gone to plan through his first five big-league starts, as his 8.37 ERA indicates. After posting a 31.2 percent strikeout rate in the upper minors over the last two seasons, his strikeout rate dipped to 16.8 percent upon promotion, and he also allowed eight homers in 23.2 innings. Zach Davies returns from an oblique injury to take Pfaadt's spot in the rotation, and the rookie may have to show some improvement in the minors across multiple starts before being considered for another opportunity.

Davies (oblique) was reinstated from the injured list as expected Saturday ahead of his scheduled start against Boston.

Davies recorded a 5.79 ERA and 7:6 K:BB across a pair of starts at the beginning of the season before suffering an oblique strain. He now owns an even 5.00 ERA over the last three seasons, but he'll nonetheless step back into a rotation role with Brandon Pfaadt taking his 8.37 ERA back to the minors.

Pfaadt does not have a locker in the Diamondbacks' clubhouse, which likely means he's been optioned, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

It would seem several roster moves are imminent. Zach Davies (oblique) is set to return from the injured list and Drey Jameson is said to be with the team, presumably to provide bullpen depth after Pfaadt only went 3.2 innings in Friday's loss. The future is bright for Pfaadt, but he's struggled to keep the ball in the yard in his first cup of coffee, resulting in an 8.37 ERA through five starts.

Ortiz is expected to start Sunday's game against Mariners, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

As delos Santos notes, Roansy Contreras had previously been scheduled to pitch Saturday. However, Vince Velasquez (elbow) was deemed ready to return and Ortiz is apparently getting another chance Sunday, which leaves Contreras' next start TBD. Perhaps the Pirates will go with six arms a turn or two through the rotation. Ortiz had some bumps in the road early but bounced back this week with 7.2 innings of two-run ball against the Rangers.

Urias (hamstring) did not throw off the bullpen mound Saturday as planned, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

It's not all bad news, as Urias was able to go through a full workout and throw from flat ground Saturday. However, since he did not resume mound work as expected, this could potentially set his return date back a bit. Manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week that he was "hopeful" to have the lefty back in early June against the Yankees when first eligible.

The Brewers optioned Small to Triple-A Nashville on Saturday.

Small covered three innings behind starter Freddy Peralta in Friday's loss to the Giants, allowing five runs on nine hits. The lefty's ERA now sits at 15.00, and he was going to be unavailable for a few days after Friday's outing, so it only makes sense that the Brewers would swap him out for a fresh arm. Jake Cousins was recalled in a corresponding move.

Rea is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Giants in Milwaukee.

Given the Brewers' ever-growing list of injuries in the rotation along with the fact that Rea blanked the Astros over 5.1 innings in his return to a starting role earlier this week, it comes as little surprise that he'll receive a second straight turn. With none of the Brewers' injured starting pitchers seemingly close to a return, Rea's spot in the rotation should be safe for a bit, but he's still tough to depend on outside of NL-only leagues or deeper mixed leagues. Through 36.1 innings with the big club in 2023, Rea has gone 1-3 and owns a 4.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 29:15 K:BB.

Peralta (5-4) took the loss Friday as the Brewers fell 15-1 to the Giants, coughing up 10 runs (but only four earned) on eight hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. He struck out four.

The entire Milwaukee club lost focus early in the game after Willy Adames was struck in the head by a foul ball while in the dugout and taken to the hospital. Peralta's own error helped contribute to the six unearned runs on his line. The 26-year-old had four quality starts in his five prior outings, so given the circumstances he can get a mulligan on this performance. Peralta will take a 4.80 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 58:23 K:BB through 54.1 innings into his next start, likely to come on the road next week in Toronto.

Wood (1-0) picked up the win Friday in a 15-1 rout of the Brewers, allowing one run on three hits and five walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

The southpaw threw only 55 of 93 pitches for strikes, but he was able to avoid any significant damage from his control issues and got staked to a 10-1 lead in the third inning. It marked the first time this season Wood has been able to complete five innings, and he'll take a 3.51 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB through 25.2 innings into his next outing, likely to come at home next week against the Pirates.