MLB Player News

Houser (2-2) picked up the win Friday, scattering two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings in an 11-1 victory over the Cubs. He struck out six.

The 29-year-old right-hander let only one Chicago runner even reach second base, while his offense supported him with six homers. Houser has delivered back-to-back quality starts and sports a 2.53 ERA through 21.1 innings, but his 18.4 percent strikeout rate and 11.5 percent walk rate suggest he's been more lucky than good so far.

Hendricks (1-2) took the loss Friday, surrendering six runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over 4.1 innings as the Cubs got routed 11-1 by the Brewers. He struck out two.

Six of the seven hits off the veteran right-hander went for extra bases, but he was far from the only offender on the Cubs and the Brewers slugged six homers in all on the night. Hendricks had served up only one long ball in his first four starts of the season, but Friday he looked more like the hurler who got taken deep 31 times in 181 innings in 2021. Hendricks will carry a 5.47 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and uncharacteristic 10.0 percent walk rate into his next outing.

Clevinger (knee) is expected to pitch May 3 or 4 in Cleveland if his upcoming bullpen session goes well, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Though he remains on the injured list, Clevinger flew to Pittsburgh to join the Padres following his third minor-league rehab start Thursday and is slated to throw a bullpen in the next few days. If he makes it through that session without incident, the right-hander will likely start one of San Diego's two games in Cleveland -- where he pitched during the first four-plus seasons of his big-league career -- next week. He'll almost certainly be on a pitch count in his initial outings, as Clevinger topped out at 67 pitches during his rehab assignment and hasn't thrown in a major-league game since 2020.

Anderson (2-1) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings in a 6-3 victory over the Rangers. He struck out five.

Atlanta jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and Anderson never let Texas back into the game despite firing only 51 of 90 pitches for strikes before exiting. It was the first quality start of the season for the right-hander, but his control remains an issue in the early going -- Anderson's 13.3 percent walk rate is a huge jump from his 9.9 percent rate in 2021, while his 20.5 percent strikeout rate has dropped a similar amount.

Anderson (2-0) picked up the win during Friday's 5-1 victory over Detroit, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings.

Making his second start in place of Andrew Heaney (shoulder), Anderson worked quickly through his five innings aside from a mini rally in the third that put one run on the board. This was the 32-year-old's first win as a starter this season. Heaney has yet to resume throwing, so Anderson appears on track to make at least one more turn through the rotation, likely next weekend against the Cubs.

Nola (1-3) allowed three runs on seven hits over six frames Friday, striking out nine and taking a loss against the Mets.

Nola found himself locked in a pitcher's duel with Tylor Megill to begin the game. He yielded just two singles through four shutout innings before the Mets finally broke through in the fifth. He gave up a two-run single to Jeff McNeil before Pete Alonso tacked on an insurance run with his sixth-inning solo blast. The Phillies were no-hit, handing Nola his third loss in the last four outings. He'll carry a 3.90 ERA into his next outing, a home rematch with the Mets next week.

Megill (4-0) issued three walks over five scoreless, no-hit innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over Philadelphia.

Megill fired the first five innings of the Mets' combined no-hitter, throwing 53 of 88 pitches for strikes and inducing 12 whiffs. The 6-foot-7 righty lowered his season ERA to an impressive 1.93 through 28 innings. Megill has gone at least five frames in each of his first five starts this season, and three of those were scoreless performances. He'll look to keep riding that momentum at home against Atlanta next week.

Darvish (2-1) gave up three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out five in six innings Friday against the Pirates. He picked up the win.

This was a baseline quality start, although Darvish scattered a season-high eight hits. He has now gone six-plus innings in three straight starts and four of five total on the season. Darvish lines up for a home start in the middle of the week against the Marlins.

Cobb (groin) will likely come off the injured list to start Sunday against the Nationals, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

On the one hand, Cobb won't line up to face the Dodgers next week, but on the other hand, his fantasy managers in weekly leagues probably left him on their benches this week. Cobb completed a two-inning side session Thursday in preparation to be activated Sunday.

Boyd (elbow) played catch Thursday and threw a side session Friday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

He continues to make small progress in his throwing program, but we won't see him until June at the earliest, given that he is on the 60-day injured list.