MLB Player News

Vasquez (2-3) earned the win Friday against the Rockies after allowing two runs on six hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Vasquez cruised Friday, fanning a season-high five and walking a season-low one. The right-hander is still working to improve his ratios after his April 21 start, when he yielded a season-worst six runs in just two innings in Detroit, but he's fired at least five innings while giving up two runs or fewer in five of his other seven outings this year. While Vasquez holds a respectable 3.76 ERA through 38.1 innings, his 1.59 WHIP and 18:25 K:BB are highly alarming. He should still have some deep-league streaming appeal in his next scheduled appearance versus the Angels, who rank last in on-base percentage (.276) through 36 games.

Keller will start Saturday's game against the Mets, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs are going to rely on their bullpen to get through Saturday's contest, and Keller will be the one to get things started for the North Siders. The 29-year-old owns a 3.78 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 16.2 innings this season and isn't likely to last more than one or two frames in what will be his first start of the year. Once he exits, there's a good chance the Cubs turn to Cade Horton to pitch in bulk relief in what will be his MLB debut.

Hicks (1-4) took the loss Friday against the Twins after allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out six.

It was just the second quality start of the season for Hicks, who also fanned at least six for only the third time in eight starts this season. The hard-throwing right-hander has given up at least three runs in six outings already this year, pitching seven innings on a lone occasion. Hicks will take an underwhelming 5.82 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB over 43.1 frames into his next scheduled appearance versus the Diamondbacks, who ranked fifth in runs scored (191) entering Friday's action.

Elder (2-2) took the loss against the Pirates on Friday, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out eight across six innings. He did not issue a walk.

Elder faced the minimum number of batters in four of the first five innings, though he was tagged for a solo home run by Alexander Canario in the third. Elder yielded two more runs in the sixth frame, but he was able to complete the inning to earn his third quality start in his last four outings. He'll take a 4.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP into his next start, tentatively slated for next week at home against the Nationals.

Falter (2-3) earned the win against Atlanta on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three over six scoreless innings.

After yielding three baserunners in the first two innings, Falter proceeded to face the minimum in three of the next four en route to his second scoreless outing of the year. He hasn't generated a ton of whiffs or strikeouts this season, but the 28-year-old southpaw has allowed three earned runs or fewer in six of eight starts and has a 4.36 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 43.1 innings this season. Falter's next start is tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Mets.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday that Peralta (groin) is scheduled to start against the Guardians on Monday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Peralta tweaked his groin near the end of his last start against the Cubs this past Sunday. He was able to throw a bullpen session Friday without issue, and the 28-year-old right-hander is on track to take the hill for the Brewers on Monday while Chad Patrick gets the start against the Rays on Sunday. Peralta is 4-2 in eight starts with a 2.18 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 45.1 innings.

Weathers (forearm) is expected to start Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

It will be Weathers' 2025 debut after he suffered a strained forearm during spring training. He's made three rehab starts while on the 15-day injured list, registering a 1.69 ERA and 13:4 K:BB across 10.2 innings. Weathers threw just 57 pitches in his latest rehab start, so it's likely he won't be fully stretched out Wednesday.

Manaea (oblique) played catch from 120 feet Friday and is soon expected to start throwing off a mound, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

The left-hander restarted his throwing program in mid-April after receiving a PRP injection to address lingering problems with his strained right oblique, and he's now starting to ramp up in his progression. Manaea will still require a considerable buildup period and a lengthy rehab assignment, but it seems like he could make his season debut before the end of June.

Blackburn (knee) will continue his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Blackburn was scratched from his second rehab start in late April due to an illness, but he's since made two appearances in the minors. The right-hander allowed a run on three hits with a 5:1 K:BB over 3.2 frames in his last outing with Syracuse, and he'll continue building up his workload Sunday. Blackburn was unable to earn a rotation spot during spring training and was poised to begin the campaign in a relief role before the knee inflammation surfaced, so a spot in the bullpen likely awaits once he's cleared to be reinstated.

Ashby (oblique) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Ashby started the season on the injured list due to a right oblique strain he suffered in mid-March. He was recently cleared to embark on a rehab assignment, and in his lone outing in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday he allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw is aiming to toss about three innings Sunday, and he'll likely need multiple rehab outings before he's cleared to return to the majors.