MLB Player News

Howard (undisclosed) threw two innings in his debut with Double-A Chattanooga on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out one.

Howard was sidelined by an undisclosed injury for nearly all of the first two months of the 2019 season. The Reds' first-round pick in 2014 (19th overall), Howard has been a disappointment so far in his career, but he had a decent run at Double-A last season (3.00 ERA in 18 innings) and will look to build on that progress while working out of the Chattanooga bullpen. He's a long shot to reach the majors this year.

Davies will now start Sunday against the Pirates, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Davies will move up with Gio Gonzalez heading to the injured list with arm fatigue. He'll gain a two-start week this week (though the news comes far too late for fantasy owners in weekly leagues to take advantage of the information) and lose one next week.

Velasquez is available to pitch multiple innings following opener Jose Alvarez on Saturday against the Dodgers, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

It was originally assumed that Cole Irvin was being called up to start Saturday's game in place of the injured Zach Eflin (back). As it turns out, both Irvin and Velasquez could pitch several innings behind Alvarez. The decision hints at a possible future for Velasquez, who fits the profile of a "bulk guy" as a pitcher who has been just shy of good enough to be trusted as a starter but who still possesses the ability to throw multiple innings.

Irvin won't start Saturday against the Dodgers as expected but will be available in relief following opener Jose Alvarez, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Irvin threw three innings in a minor-league start Wednesday, so he wasn't going to be available for a full start Saturday. Vince Velasquez is also available to throw several innings in relief, so there's no guarantee Irvin pitches enough innings to be fantasy relevant (or even pitches at all). The Phillies' likely plan is to open with the lefty Alvarez, switch to the righty Velasquez and then switch back to another lefty in Irvin, with neither Velasquez nor Irvin pitching more than three innings.

Lucchesi (4-3) struck out five and picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on two hits and a walk over 6.1 innings in a 5-2 victory over the Marlins.

The southpaw allowed only one baserunner through five innings before Rosell Herrera ended any thoughts of a shutout with a home run in the sixth. Lucchesi has delivered three straight quality starts after failing to record one through his first eight trips to the mound, and he'll take a 3.96 ERA and 62:15 K:BB over 61.1 innings into his next outing Wednesday, at home against the Phillies.

Wheeler (5-3) struck out nine en route to the win in a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday. He allowed four runs on seven hits over seven innings.

The right-hander was on cruise control until the sixth inning, when he got taken deep twice, but Wheeler pushed through and helped give a weary Mets bullpen a breather. He's become the staff's bulldog, working at least seven innings in seven of his last nine starts and posting a 3.96 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 70:13 K:BB in 61.1 frames over that stretch. He should be in line for another strong outing Wednesday, at home against the Giants.

Maeda (7-2) pitched six innings Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out six to earn the win in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Phillies.

Maeda won his fourth straight start with another strong outing, as he's now allowed only five runs over his last 23.2 innings while striking out 28 in that span. For the year, Maeda has a 3.61 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 62.1 innings. He'll look to keep the win streak rolling versus the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Marquez (6-2) picked up the win in Friday's 13-6 rout of the Blue Jays, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out seven.

The right-hander got handed a 4-0 lead after one inning and never looked back, putting together his sixth quality start of the season -- but only his second on home soil at Coors Field. Marquez will carry a 3.48 ERA and 83:17 K:BB through 85.1 innings into his next outing Wednesday, on the road against the Cubs.

Mikolas didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Cubs, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out three.

The right-hander gave up a sac fly to Yu Darvish in the second inning but otherwise kept Chicago off the board, throwing 66 of 104 pitches for strikes en route to his seventh quality start of the season, and fifth in his last six trips to the mound. Mikolas will carry a 4.41 ERA and 49:12 K:BB through 69.1 innings into his next outing Thursday, at home against the Reds.

Darvish pitched six innings of one-run ball but did not factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. He allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out six.

This was one of Darvish's best outings of the season, but he still hasn't factored into a decision since grabbing a win on April 27. The Japanese righty has generally not gone far enough into games to pick up wins, though it is encouraging that he's now gone six innings or more in three straight starts. Darvish will carry a 5.02 ERA into his next turn in the rotation, which is slated for Wednesday against the Rockies