MLB Player News

Lugo (3-3) took the loss Tuesday versus the Royals, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out two.

It was Lugo's shortest outing of the season, and the five runs he allowed were a season high. The Royals did all of their damage in the second inning, and while the Padres pulled within a run, the comeback fell short. Lugo's mostly been effective as a starter this season, logging five quality starts in eight outings. He has a 4.10 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB through 41.2 innings. The right-hander is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Nationals next week.

Manager Craig Counsell said after Tuesday's win over the Cardinals that Miley (lat) will require a trip to the injured list, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

The veteran left-hander exited Tuesday's start in St. Louis after just five outs due to a lat strain, and he'll spend at least the next couple weeks on the shelf. Miley is returning to Milwaukee to undergo further evaluation, which could reveal the severity of the injury.

The Cardinals will recall Liberatore from Triple-A Memphis to start Wednesday's game against the Brewers in St. Louis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Liberatore isn't coming up from the minors to replace an injured pitcher, as the Cardinals instead want to give all five of their starters an extra day of rest. The lefty struggled in 2022 during his time in the big leagues in 2022 (5.97 ERA and 28:18 K:BB over 34.2 innings), but the 23-year-old has been excellent in Triple-A in 2023, logging a 3.13 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 56:17 K:BB over 46 frames. A strong showing against Milwaukee could be enough for Liberatore to stick with the Cardinals as part of a six-man rotation.

Steele (6-1) allowed five runs on five hits across six innings to take the loss Tuesday against the Astros. He walked one and struck out eight.

Steele took his first loss of the season but actually pitched pretty well by scattering six baserunners across six innings while tying his season high in strikeouts. Houston is a tough place to pitch, and the lefty still has a solid 2.44 ERA, so he should bounce back quickly. Steele is tentatively set to take the hill again Sunday against the Phillies.

Luzardo did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over six innings against Washington. He struck out seven.

Lane Thomas' solo homer in the sixth inning was the lone blemish on Luzardo's line Tuesday after he held the Nationals to three hits through the first five frames. The 25-year-old left-hander has surrendered just two runs in his last two starts (12 innings) and lowered his ERA to 3.16 with a 1.36 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB through 51.1 innings this season. Luzardo is tentatively lined up to face the Giants in his next outing.

Gray didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins after allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out five.

Gray allowed a pair of runs in the second inning before blanking the Marlins over his final five frames, completing seven innings in a second consecutive start. Gray has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his nine outings this season. The 25-year-old right-hander has had a breakout start to the season -- he's 3-5 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB through 41.2 innings.

Ortiz (0-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks over three innings in a 4-0 loss against Detroit. He struck out three.

The Tigers got to Ortiz early Tuesday, scoring twice in the first inning before adding another two runs in the third. Ultimately, it would take Ortiz 81 pitches to record nine outs. The 24-year-old right-hander has now dropped his first two starts of the season, allowing nine runs, though only five earned, through eight innings alongside a 2.38 WHIP. Ortiz may get one more shot with the Pirates before Vince Velasquez (elbow) returns from the IL.

Miley left Tuesday's start against the Cardinals with a left lat strain, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. He allowed one run over 1.2 innings with one walk and no strikeouts before exiting.

Miley left the start with a trainer in the second inning and was replaced by Elvis Peguero. While the veteran southpaw should be considered day-to-day at this point, a strained lat is very likely going to lead to a trip to the injured list. At minimum, Miley's availability for his next scheduled start over the weekend against the Rays would appear to be in considerable doubt.

Kauffmann was scratched from his start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday and is expected to be called up to start for the Rockies in Friday's game against the Rangers in Texas, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Kauffmann has struggled to a 7.78 ERA in eight starts with Albuquerque in 2023, but he pitched well in his last outing May 10 with six innings of two-run ball while striking out five. Though he'll at least avoid a start at Coors Field for his MLB debut, Kauffmann's underwhelming track record in the upper levels of the minors render him an unappealing streaming option this weekend.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Syndergaard's index finger held up well during Monday's win over the Twins, and the right-hander will make his next scheduled start, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Syndergaard had previously exited a May 9 start due to a cut on his right index finger, but he was cleared to make his next turn through the rotation on five days' rest. Roberts confirmed that Syndergaard was limited at four innings and 59 pitches Monday as a precaution rather than as a result of the wound reopening. Syndergaard tentatively lines up to make his next start this weekend in St. Louis.