MLB Player News

Alexander didn't factor in the decision against Colorado on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.2 innings.

Alexander was handed a 5-0 lead through three frames, but he wasn't able to go deep enough to qualify for the victory. The southpaw didn't allow Colorado to catch up, though he yielded constant traffic on the basepaths -- the Rockies put multiple runners on base in each of the four frames in which Alexander pitched. After impressing with 5.2 scoreless innings his previous trip to the mound, this was a bit of a disappointing step back for Alexander, though it was far from a disastrous outing since Milwaukee ended up winning in a 17-2 rout. There's a good chance Alexander will stick in the rotation, at least in the short term, given the Brewers have already been decimated by injuries to starting pitchers.

Holmes completed four scoreless innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing three hits and issuing four walks while striking out six batters in a no-decision.

There were definitely positives to take away from Holmes' performance, as he notched 12 whiffs en route to six punchouts while holding the Phillies scoreless. However, the right-hander was very inefficient -- he needed 104 pitches to get through four innings due in part to issuing four free passes. Holmes has struggled with his control early in the campaign, handing out eight walks across his first nine innings, though he's also racked up 11 strikeouts in that span. His inability to complete more than four innings in his first two starts (he also has a one-inning relief appearance) isn't promising, but Holmes will likely stick in the rotation even when Spencer Strider (elbow) returns to the big-league club, given Reynaldo Lopez is set for an extended absence after undergoing shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Walker tossed 4.2 scoreless innings against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out five batters in a no-decision.

Walker followed his six-inning scoreless outing in his first start of the campaign with another no-run effort Wednesday. This time around, though, he wasn't as sharp, as he needed 94 pitches (only 53 of which were strikes) to get through 4.2 frames. Walker departed with two outs in the fifth after loading the bases on a single and two walks, but reliever Jose Ruiz was able to continue the shutout bid by getting Austin Riley to pop out. Walker has hurled 10.2 frames without yielding a run across his first two starts, and he'll look to extend the scoreless-inning streak his next time out, which lines up to be a home matchup against the Giants early next week.

Alcantara will be reinstated from the paternity list Friday and is penciled in to make his next start Saturday against the Nationals, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Alcantara was originally set to start Sunday against Atlanta, but that game got rained out, and the right-hander went on the paternity list the next day. He'll get another day to rest after he returns to the active roster Friday, which will make Saturday's outing his first appearance in 12 days. He'll be welcomed back by a Washington offense that currently ranks 10th in the majors with a .722 OPS.

Pfaadt (2-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Orioles, allowing four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out three.

It was an impressive outing from Pfaadt, who's now won back-to-back starts while lowering his ERA to 3.50 through his first 18 innings. While the 26-year-old Pfaadt has yet to log more than five strikeouts in a start this year, he's posted an encouraging 2.1 percent walk rate. Pfaadt's currently lined up to face the Marlins on the road next week in his next outing.

Vasquez (1-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Athletics, allowing one run on one hit and three walks over five innings. He struck out one.

Vasquez wasn't overpowering Wednesday, but he was able to hold the A's to a lone second-inning run, which would prove to be enough to earn the win in a 2-1 San Diego victory. Command has been an issue for Vasquez early in the year -- he's now issued 12 walks through his first 15.2 innings. However, the right-hander has pitched to a 1.72 ERA while holding down the fifth spot in the Padres' rotation.

Martinez didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Giants after allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.

Martinez began the outing by throwing three scoreless innings and was staked to an early 5-0 lead, but he struggled mightily in the sixth frame. After giving up a Jung Hoo Lee RBI triple in the fourth inning, Martinez yielded a run on a wild pitch and was then knocked around for three more runs in the sixth before being lifted for Taylor Rogers. The 34-year-old right-hander has a 6.06 ERA through 16.1 innings thus far, but Martinez does hold a more encouraging 1.22 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB over his first three starts.

Verlander didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Reds after allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out nine.

The veteran right-hander did tally his most strikeouts in a start since May of last season, but he ran into trouble after tossing two scoreless frames to open the game. A TJ Friedl double plated one run, an Elly De La Cruz double brought in two more and a Gavin Lux two-run single completed a five-run third inning for the Reds. Due to a Willy Adames fielding error earlier in the frame, an unearned run was charged to Verlander after the righty was pulled in the sixth. With a scheduled matchup in Philadelphia on tap for early next week, Verlander will be tough to trust from a fantasy perspective for that game.

Irvin didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Dodgers after allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out seven.

Although he was ambushed for four runs in the first inning before recording a single out, Irvin salvaged his outing by yielding a lone hit over five scoreless frames the rest of the way. The 28-year-old right-hander does carry a poor 5.63 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB over 16 innings, but it's worth noting his three starts have come against the potent offenses of Philadelphia, Arizona and Los Angeles, respectively. Irvin is tentatively set to face the Pirates on the road early next week, which is a much more favorable draw.

Megill (2-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two unearned runs on six hits and three walks over four-plus innings as the Mets fell 5-0 to the Marlins. He struck out seven.

The right-hander was locked into a pitcher's duel with Max Meyer through four innings, but the first three Miami hitters in the fifth reached base thanks in part to a Brett Baty throwing error, and two of them wound up scoring. Megill got an early hook thanks to an elevated pitch count, as he tossed 56 of 90 pitches for strikes -- including an impressive 31 called or swinging strikes -- before exiting. He'll take a 0.63 ERA and 17:7 K:BB through 14.1 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Minnesota.