MLB Player News

Kershaw (6-2) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings in an 8-1 victory over the Brewers. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

Aside from a William Contreras solo shot in the fourth inning, Kershaw was dominant, generating 18 swinging strikes among his 92 pitches. The 35-year-old southpaw is showing he still has plenty left in the tank, posting a 2.36 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 56:10 K:BB through his first 49.2 innings of 2023 with six quality starts in eight outings. He'll look to keep rolling when he next takes the mound, likely at home against the Twins early next week.

Greene (0-3) took the loss Wednesday against the Mets, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.

Greene opened up the game by striking out the side but would only register one more punchout the rest of the way. He was taken yard by Pete Alonso to kick off the second inning and then gave up another run in the fourth after Luis Guillorme doubled and Brandon Nimmo singled him home. The 23-year-old did allow a season-high four walks, and his four strikeouts were his second fewest on the year, but he's given up three runs or fewer in all but one start. Green will carry a 3.69 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 51:16 K:BB over 39 innings into a road matchup at Coors Field against the Rockies next week.

Verlander (1-1) got the win Wednesday over the Reds, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven innings.

The only damage against Verlander came in the opening frame, as Jonathan India led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a double by Jake Fraley. Verlander quieted the Reds from there, allowing just two other batters to reach via walks. He generated 13 swinging strikes on 104 pitches and was still touching 96 MPH with his fastball in the seventh inning. It was a dominant effort from the 2022 AL Cy Young winner, and he'll take a 2.25 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across two starts into a favorable matchup against the Nationals next week.

Lugo allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings in a no-decision versus the Twins on Wednesday.

Four of the five hits Lugo allowed went for extra bases, but he allowed just one baserunner over his final three frames to limit the damage. The Padres got him off the hook by tying the game in the eighth inning. He's posted quality starts in five of his seven starts this season en route to a 3.18 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 36:9 K:BB through 39.2 innings. Lugo's tentatively projected for a favorable home start versus the Royals early next week.

Montgomery (2-5) allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings, taking the loss versus the Cubs on Wednesday.

Montgomery has had some unfortunate losses this season, but this one was more of his own doing. He got through the order unscathed once, but the Cubs scored all six of their runs against him between the third and fifth innings, which included home runs by Yan Gomes and Patrick Wisdom. It's the first time in eight starts Montgomery has given up multiple homers in the same game. He's now lost five of his last six outings since opening the season with a pair of wins. The southpaw has a 4.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 41:12 K:BB through 46 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which projects to come at home versus the Brewers next week.

Steele (6-0) allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over six innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Cardinals.

By his lofty standards in 2023, this was somewhat of a disappointing effort. That said, Steele turned in his seventh quality start in eight outings, and he remains undefeated on the season, though he can thank his offense for strong run support in Wednesday's contest. The southpaw has a 1.82 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 39:14 K:BB through 49.1 innings over eight starts. He's projected for a tough road start in Houston next week.

Horton will make his High-A debut Wednesday after logging a 1.26 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 14.1 innings across four starts for Single-A Myrtle Beach.

The No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft, Horton has one of the best sliders in the minors and was overmatching Single-A hitters in his pro debut. He could feasibly climb beyond High-A this season if he stays healthy, but injuries limited him to 53.2 innings at Oklahoma, so his workload will be monitored.

Reds manager David Bell said Lively will handle a "significant amount" of innings in Thursday's series finale against the Mets, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lively might not get a traditional start, but he'll at least serve as the bulk reliever. The 31-year-old right-hander was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday after the Reds designated Luis Cessa for assignment and looks to be set up for an extended run in a sort of rotation or swingman role. Lively had posted a 2.33 ERA across 27 innings this season at Triple-A, though there isn't much swing-and-miss in his arsenal.

Perez will be recalled from Double-A Pensacola to start for the Marlins on Friday against the Reds, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Perez will make his MLB debut against Cincinnati on Friday, and he's earned the promotion with a 2.32 ERA and 42:9 K:BB ratio for Pensacola over 31 innings in his six starts in the Southern League. The 6-foot-8 right-hander shows four pitches that can miss bats, and he commands all four offerings very well for a 20-year-old. There may be some ups-and-downs for Perez in his first taste of major-league action, but everything is here for him to provide fantasy relevance from the minute he steps on the field.

Hill did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings against the Rockies. He struck out four.

Hill made it through three innings unscathed but ran into trouble in the fourth when the Rockies posted three runs on four hits, a walk and an error. The 43-year-old Hill has failed to make it through six innings in either of his last two starts after logging three quality starts in his previous four outings. The veteran left-hander sports a 4.35 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB through his first 41.1 innings this season.