MLB Player News

Luzardo (6-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 7-2 victory over the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.

The left-hander made a slight mechanical adjustment to try and avoid tipping pitches after getting hammered for 20 earned runs in only 5.2 innings over his prior two starts, a collapse that saw his ERA soar from 2.15 to 4.46. The tweak paid immediate dividends, as Luzardo fanned double-digit batters for the fourth time this season and didn't issue a walk for only the second time. He racked up 30 called or swinging strikes among his 99 pitches (70 total strikes), and he seems back in elite form heading into a potential revenge game in his next outing, a road start scheduled for early next week in Miami.

Brown (3-5) took the loss Wednesday as the Cubs fell 7-2 to the Phillies, coughing up six runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

Half of the hits off Brown went for extra bases, including a massive 431-foot solo shot to right field by Kyle Schwarber and a triple by Nick Castellanos that missed leaving the yard by an inch or two, both in the third inning. It's the third time in his last five starts that Brown has been tagged for at least six runs, and while the other two outings in that time were quality starts, his ERA has swollen to 5.71 as a consequence. The right-hander will look for a better result in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Brewers.

Liberatore (3-6) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over five innings.

Liberatore started strong before allowing five runs over his final three frames. While it was encouraging to see the 25-year-old reach 90 pitches after exiting early with fatigue Thursday, he generated just eight whiffs and allowed 12 hard-hit balls. He'll carry a 3.93 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 62:11 K:BB across 73.1 innings into a favorable matchup with the White Sox next week.

Falter (5-3) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over 5.1 innings during a 5-2 victory over the Marlins. He struck out three.

The left-hander blanked Miami through five innings before serving up a solo shot to Heriberto Hernandez to lead off the sixth, and he quickly got the hook one batter later after just 71 pitches (50 strikes). It was the first long ball Falter had given up since May 3, and over his last eight outings he's compiled an impressive 1.61 ERA and 0.96 WHIP across 44.2 innings despite a mediocre 24:16 K:BB. He faces a tougher test in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Detroit.

Quantrill (3-7) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over five innings as the Marlins were downed 5-2 by the Pirates. He struck out six.

It's the first time since April 30 that the right-hander has been tagged for more than three runs. Quantrill has found a few more whiffs lately, recording at least six strikeouts in four of his last seven trips to the mound while posting a 3.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB in 32.2 innings over that span. With Ryan Weathers (lat) back on the 60-day IL, Quantrill's rotation spot seems secure heading into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Phillies.

Patrick (3-6) took the loss against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over five innings.

Patrick surrendered four of his five runs via the long ball in his first start this season allowing multiple homers. It was a mixed outing for the rookie, who set a career high with eight strikeouts but also saw his streak of 14 consecutive appearances with three or fewer earned runs come to an end. He'll carry a 3.25 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 74.2 innings into a road matchup with the Cubs next week.

Schwellenbach (5-4) earned the win against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over nine innings.

Schwellenbach allowed runs in the second and eighth innings but still went the distance for his first career complete game. He was highly efficient, throwing 76 of 105 pitches for strikes while generating 15 whiffs. The 25-year-old has now worked at least six frames in seven straight outings, six of which have been quality starts. He'll carry a 3.11 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 84:14 K:BB across 89.2 innings into a home matchup with the Mets next week.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Civale will move to the bullpen for the time being, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers are calling up right-hander Jacob Misiorowski from Triple-A Nashville to join the rotation Thursday, and Murphy wants to stick with a traditional five-man setup, so Civale will be the odd man out. Civale could eventually rejoins the rotation if Misiorowski struggles, although the Brewers hope to get Brandon Woodruff (shoulder/ankle/elbow) back from the 60-day injured list in the coming weeks.

The Pirates recalled Mlodzinski from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Mlodzinski is expected to serve in a bulk-relief role, per Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He made nine starts for the Pirates earlier this season, collecting a 5.67 ERA and 28:12 K:BB over 39.2 innings.

Megill might be the odd man out of the Mets' rotation when Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique) are ready to come off the injured list.

Both veteran pitchers are currently on rehab assignments, with Montas on target for a late-June season debut and Manaea tracking to join the 26-man roster in early July. Even if the Mets stick with a six-man rotation at that point, they'll have seven starting pitchers available. Megill and David Peterson both have a minor-league option remaining, but the latter has been the more consistent pitcher this season with a 2.80 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 12 starts and 70.2 innings, compared to Megill's 3.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 13 starts and 64.2 innings. A trade would also solve the logjam, but as things stand, Megill might get bumped to Triple-A Syracuse in a few weeks despite being on pace for the best season of his career.