MLB Player News

Wheeler (1-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against the Nationals on Saturday.

Wheeler gave up a boatload of baserunners, though he was fortunate to allow just a single earned run before his exit, which came after he fired 96 pitches. He's failed to toss a quality start in any of his five appearances, and his ERA sits at 4.78, making him a fairly unreliable fantasy option. However, his main area of strength is his ability to post strikeouts, as he's punched out 25 batters across 26.2 innings. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Braves.

Maeda (2-2) struck out eight and gave up just two runs in seven innings in a win over the Phillies on Friday.

The 29-year-old struggled through his first four starts of the season, but he bounced back in a big way Friday. Maeda used his cutter -- a pitch he never used in 2016 -- to attack Philadelphia's left-handed batters and it resulted in his finest outing this season. This was also the first start in which the righty didn't surrender a home run. After getting hit hard in tough matchups in his previous three outings, Maeda may have restored faith in fantasy owners and saved his spot in the rotation with this dominant showing. He has a favorable matchup against the Padres next Friday, a perfect situation to build off Friday's success.

Lugo (elbow) is slated to throw off the slope of a mound Sunday and is targeting a late-May return, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports.

This will be the first time he'll throw off an elevated surface since getting shut down with a slight UCL tear. Robert Gsellman, Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey have all had their struggles, and Noah Syndergaard is day-to-day with biceps tendinitis, so it's possible Lugo could find his way into the rotation once healthy. However, Steven Matz (elbow) is at the same stage in his recovery, and he figures to get the first look if the Mets need to add a starter.

Matz (elbow) is slated to throw off the slope of a mound Sunday and is targeting a late-May return, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports.

This will be the first time he throws off an elevated surface since he was shut down with the flexor tendon strain. Other than Noah Syndergaard, who is day-to-day with biceps tendinitis, and Jacob deGrom, the Mets have struggled to get solid work from their starters, so a spot in the rotation should be waiting for Matz once he is healthy. Seth Lugo (elbow) is at the same stage in his recovery, but Matz is ahead of him in the pecking order.

Taillon allowed one earned run in five innings Friday, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out four.

The righty labored through five innings, throwing 95 pitches (58 for strikes). Of course, he may have struggled with his concentration when the Pirates took an early 9-0 lead. Taillon has pitched well in 2017 (2.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP), but after walking only 17 batters in 104 innings as a rookie, he's issued 12 free passes in only 30.1 innings this year.

Ray (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season Friday against the Rockies, conceding three runs on five hits and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out nine batters in the outing.

Ray may have been on the losing side of the ledger, but he turned in his fourth quality start in five turns on the season while continuing to pile up the strikeouts. The lefty has now notched at least six strikeouts in all five starts, but will need to trim down his walk rate and cut out some homers if he hopes to maintain a mid-3.00s ERA for the entire season.

DeGrom (1-1) gave up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out 12 over seven innings in Friday's 7-5 win over the Nationals.

It was deGrom's third straight game with double-digit strikeouts, giving him an NL-leading 44 through 31.2 innings, but Friday marked the first time the Mets had provided him with enough run support to get a win as well. The right-hander should be able to keep things rolling in his next start Wednesday in Atlanta.

Eickhoff allowed five runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings in a 5-3 loss to the Dodgers on Friday. He struck out three and walked three.

Eickhoff told Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia after the game that he struggled with his release point on his curveball all night. He's now 0-2 with a 3.56 ERA and a 28:11 K:BB in 30.1 innings. He'll face the Cubs in his next start.

Syndergaard (biceps) refused an MRI on Friday after his throwing session and said he was feeling great and "ready to go on Sunday now," James Wagner of the New York Times reports.

It sounds like Syndergaard will make Sunday's scheduled start against the Nationals. That said, it's less than reassuring that Syndergaard and the Mets didn't get confirmation from an MRI that his bicep is in shape to make the start. Hopefully Syndergaard's instincts are proven correct and he doesn't aggravate the injury.

Solis said Friday that the MRI on his elbow revealed nerve inflammation but did not show any ligament damage, Mark Zuckerman of MASN reports.

The fact there appeared to be no ligament damage has to be extremely positive news for the Nationals considering that it likely means he won't have to miss nearly as much time as they originally feared. It's unknown how long it will take for the nerve irritation to subside, but this likely means Solis should be able return in a matter of weeks.