MLB Player News

Burnes pitched seven scoreless innings against Baltimore on Wednesday, giving up three hits and one walk while striking out eight. He did not factor in the decision.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struggled in his first appearance of the campaign, giving up three runs in five innings. However, he bounced back with a dominant effort against the Orioles on Wednesday, recording 20 swinging strikes among 97 pitches and allowing just one extra-base hit. Burnes was lined up for the win upon his exit, but the Milwaukee bullpen allowed Baltimore to tie the game before the Brewers ultimately rebounded to claim victory. Burnes will look for his first win of the campaign next week in a home start against the Pirates.

Clevinger (knee) will make a rehab start with Low-A Lake Elsinore on Thursday.

Clevinger is on the injured list to begin the season due to soreness in his right knee, but he'll make his first rehab start Thursday in the lower minors. The 31-year-old missed the 2021 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in November 2020, and he didn't have any arm issues while ramping up during spring training. Clevinger made only one Cactus League start before the knee issue cropped up, so he could require more than one rehab start before being cleared to join the big-league rotation.

Lodolo (0-1) pitched four innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four in a loss versus the Guardians on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old struggled in his major-league debut, allowing 10 batters to reach base in four innings on the mound. Lodolo unraveled in the second inning, walking three batters while hitting two others, ultimately giving up two runs in the inning without allowing a hit. He later gave up homers to Owen Miller and Jose Ramirez, the latter a two-run shot. Lodolo's notably struck out 38.8 percent of the batters he faced at Double-A Charlotte and Triple-A Louisville last season, but his production was much more modest during his first regular-season encounter with big-league bats . The rookie's next shot on the mound is expected to come Monday on the road against the Padres.

Kelly struck out six in 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks in a 3-2 win Wednesday over Houston. He did not factor into the decision.

Kelly has not allowed a run in either of his two starts, striking out 13 in 9.1 innings. Not known as a strikeout pitcher, the 33-year-old also struck out 13 batters in seven Cactus League frames this spring. Time will tell if Kelly's recent increase in velocity is here to stay and will continue to result in more strikeouts. His next start is likely early next week in Washington.

Nola (1-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Mets, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks over 3.1 innings as the Phillies fell 9-6. He struck out five.

The right-hander dodged baserunners in each of the first two innings to keep the game scoreless, but Nola's luck -- and Philadelphia's -- began to run out in the third. He got the hook after throwing 76 pitches (47 strikes), and Nola will take a 6.75 ERA and 12:3 K:BB through 9.1 innings to begin the season into his next start, scheduled for Monday at Coors Field against the Rockies.

Kershaw (1-0) did not allow a baserunner while striking out 13 across seven scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Twins.

Kershaw made his long-awaited season debut, and he delivered a perfect game through seven innings. He racked up 20 swinging strikes across 80 total pitches, which helped him match his highest strikeout total since June 13 of the 2021 campaign. Though his pitch count was strictly limited and his velocity was down two mph on both his slider and curveball (per baseball savant), Kershaw delivered an excellent start to his 2022 campaign. He currently projects to return to the mound Monday against Atlanta.

Webb (1-0) pitched eight innings, striking out seven and allowing one run on four hits in a 2-1 win Wednesday over San Diego.

After allowing a one-out RBI triple to Jake Cronenworth in the first inning, Webb shut down the Padres the rest of the way, giving up just two singles. The eight innings pitched was the most of any starter in baseball so far this season. The 25-year-old has given up just one run in each of his two starts in 2022. His next start will likely come early next week against the Mets.

Ashby is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Ashby worked out of the bullpen in his first two appearances of the season, with his last outing coming Monday against the Orioles. He threw 68 pitches over 3.1 scoreless frames in that contest, so he shouldn't face significant workload limitations in his first start of 2022. The Brewers utilized a six-man rotation through most of 2021, and a strong performance from Ashby this weekend could help push manager Craig Counsell to do so again this year.

Gray (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing only one hit and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory over Atlanta. He struck out five.

After a rough start to the season against the Mets, Gray rebounded in impressive fashion. The right-hander fired 50 of 82 pitches for strikes, and Atlanta didn't get a runner past second base until Gray was out of the game. The 24-year-old will take a 4.00 ERA and 10:5 K:BB through nine innings into his next start, scheduled for Monday at home against the Diamondbacks.

Fried (leg) said after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Nationals that he feels "fine" after exiting his start shortly after being struck by a comebacker in the sixth inning, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. He intends to make his next start, which tentatively lines up for Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Fried said Nelson Cruz's line drive to the mound to begin the sixth inning struck him in his right hamstring, but other than experiencing some minor soreness or bruising, the southpaw didn't appear to be in any pain. After Cruz's groundout, Fried allowed back-to-back singles before being pulled from the contest after 78 pitches, six shy of his total from his Opening Day start last week. Fried finished the afternoon with three runs allowed (two earned) across 5.1 innings and was charged with his second loss of the season.