MLB Player News

Elder came away with a no-decision in Wednesday win over the Cardinals, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out two.

While the right-hander wasn't dominant -- Elder managed just five swinging strikes among his 99 pitches (63 total strikes) -- he did deliver his first quality start of the season. He was actually on the hook for the loss however, until Atlanta's offense woke up in the seventh inning. Elder appears to have little competition for the fifth starter role at the moment, as AJ Smith-Shawver lasted only 3.2 innings in his most recent start at Triple-A. Elder will take a 5.57 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB through 21 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week at Coors Field.

Williams didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.

The 32-year-old righty has yet to record an out in the sixth inning in any of his five starts, but Williams was effective Wednesday until getting the hook after 99 pitches (61 strikes). It's his second straight outing in which he allowed just one run, but on the season Williams is still dragging around a 5.11 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB through 24.2 innings. He'll look to continue his turnaround in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Mets.

Lowder (forearm) is expected to throw and up-and-down bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

The Reds are targeting a return sometime in May for Lowder, who missed all of spring training. It's unclear if the organization plans to have the right-hander begin his season at Triple-A Louisville or join the major-league roster.

Rodriguez didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rays after allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in 6.2 innings. He struck out five

It was a mixed bag by the left-hander, who matched a season high with four runs allowed but did turn in his longest outing of the year. Rodriguez has worked at least five frames in each of his first five starts of the campaign, submitting a strong 1.29 WHIP and 34:7 K:BB in spite of a 4.40 ERA through 28.2 innings. Although the quality of his pitching appears to be better than his ERA suggests, Rodriguez could have a hard time improving on those numbers in a tough spot at New York against the Mets for his next scheduled appearance.

Heaney (2-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Angels, allowing one hit and zero walks while striking out nine batters across six shutout innings.

Heaney's bid for a no-hitter was broken up by a Travis d'Arnaud double in the fifth inning, but the southpaw managed to close out the frame without allowing a run to score. Wednesday's performance gives Heaney 13.1 consecutive shutout frames and a 13:2 K:BB across his last two starts. He's due for a test during his next outing, however, which is tentatively scheduled to come at home against the Cubs, who boast the highest OPS (.806) of any team in the majors.

Webb (3-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Brewers after allowing six hits and three walks in 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out six.

Other than escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, Webb didn't face very much trouble from Milwaukee. He scattered six singles and threw a season-high 106 pitches, also tossing at least six innings for the fourth time in his last five starts. The star right-hander holds a sparkling 1.80 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 33:4 K:BB over 25 frames in the month of April, but he'll encounter a tough test in his next scheduled outing on the road against the Padres.

Peralta (2-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Giants, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out three.

Although the right-hander yielded a season-high three runs, he tossed at least five innings in his sixth consecutive start to open the campaign. Peralta was mostly sailing until the sixth inning, when he allowed three straight baserunners to reach, with the bullpen allowed all three to come around to score. Peralta still holds a strong 2.43 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB over 33.1 innings this year, and he'll have a prime opportunity to rebound from Wednesday's showing in his next scheduled start against the White Sox.

Boyd (2-2) collected his second win Wednesday against the Dodgers, giving up six runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk while striking out four batters across six innings.

Boyd can thank his own throwing error in the fifth inning for taking three earned runs off his final statline. He can also thank the Cubs' hitters for allowing him to collect a win by keeping up with the Dodgers' star-studded offense, which had little trouble creating traffic on the basepaths against the 34-year-old lefty. Thanks to two straight scoreless starts to begin the campaign, Boyd still carries a 2.54 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 28.1 innings, and he's lined up to have a favorable matchup during his next start against the Pirates, who own the second-lowest OPS (.639) in the National League.

Marquez and the Rockies won't face the Royals on Wednesday, as the game was postponed due to rain.

The two teams will play two games Thursday to make up for Wednesday's contest, and Marquez will presumably toe the slab in one of them. The 30-year-old will be looking to shake off a disastrous outing during his last start against the Dodgers, which saw him surrender seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

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

The quality start was the first of the season for Alcantara, who needed 102 pitches (68 strikes) to cover six innings for the first time in 2025. The 29-year-old righty is still trying to regain his form after Tommy John surgery, and he'll carry a 6.56 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB through 23.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.