MLB Player News
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Lucas Giolito SP | SD
Padres' Lucas Giolito: Gets early hook Friday
Giolito came away with a no-decision in Friday's 7-5 win over the Nationals, surrendering four runs on five hits and four walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out one.
Facing the team he made his big-league debut with back in 2016, Giolito struggled right from the jump, serving up homers to Curtis Mead in the first inning and Keibert Ruiz in the second before getting lifted after 77 pitches (41 strikes). Giolito won his first two starts of the year after not signing with the Padres until late April, but through his first 12.2 innings in 2026 he's stumbled to a 4.97 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 6:12 K:BB. The veteran righty will try to rebound in his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Philadelphia.
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Jared Jones SP | PIT
Pirates' Jared Jones: Not sharp in return from IL
Jones didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 win over the Twins, coughing up five runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.
Making his first big-league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of last year, Jones tossed 53 of 77 pitches for strikes but got hit hard when he was in the strike zone, serving up long balls to Kody Clemens in the first inning and Trevor Larnach in the third. The right-hander was headed for the loss until Bryan Reynolds walked it off with a homer of his own in the bottom of the ninth. Jones has plenty of upside, but he'll be a risky fantasy option while he shakes off the rust and works to regain his pre-injury form. He lines up to make his next start on the road next week in Houston.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Twins' Taj Bradley: Escapes Pittsburgh with no-decision
Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday as the Twins were downed 6-5 by the Pirates, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
The Bucs ambushed Bradley for three runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a solo shot by Oneil Cruz, but the right-hander was able to hang around long enough to give the Twins 87 pitches (51 strikes) before getting the hook. Bradley has issued multiple free passes in seven straight starts dating back to April 12, posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 43:17 K:BB in 39.1 innings during that span. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Royals.
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Chris Paddack SP | CIN
Reds' Chris Paddack: Remains winless
Paddack (0-7) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings as the Reds fell 8-3 to Atlanta. He failed to strike out a batter.
The veteran right-hander is 0-2 with Cincinnati after an 0-5 start to the year with Miami. Paddack tossed 52 of 86 pitches for strikes Friday before exiting, and since being picked up to patch a hole at the back of the Reds' rotation, he's managed a 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 8:7 K:BB in 15 innings over three starts. Rhett Lowder (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment next week and may only need one outing before coming off the IL, but that still leaves Paddack to handle at least one more start, which is set to come at home next week against the Royals.
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Grant Holmes SP | ATL
Braves' Grant Holmes: Early exit in no-decision
Holmes didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-3 win over the Reds, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander got handed a 4-0 lead before he took the mound for the bottom of the second inning, but Holmes wasn't efficient enough to stick around and collect the win, getting lifted after 80 pitches (52 strikes) with the tying runner on base for Cincy. Holmes put together a bumpy May, going 1-1 in five starts with a 4.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB over 24.2 innings. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Blue Jays.
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Corbin Burnes SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Faces live hitter
Burnes (elbow) threw to a hitter Friday for the first time post-surgery, MLB.com reports.
The rehabbing Burnes faced the rehabbing Jordan Lawlar (wrist), marking the first time either player has faced a live opponent during their respective recoveries. Next up for Burnes is another batting practice session Tuesday. The right-hander is expected to return midseason, likely following the All-Star break.
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MacKenzie Gore SP | TEX
Rangers' MacKenzie Gore: Tosses 6.1 scoreless frames Friday
Gore (4-4) earned the win Friday against the Royals after tossing 6.1 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out three.
Gore's strikeout numbers are trending in the wrong direction, as he's fanned three or fewer in four of his last six starts, but he has the stuff to improve in that regard as the season goes on. Gore has been putting up good results of late despite the modest swing and miss, giving up one run or fewer while pitching at least six frames in three of his last four outings, with the exception being an abbreviated one-inning outing due to lat tightness. In six May appearances, Gore owns a 3.56 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 30.1 innings. He should make his next start against the Cardinals on the road.
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Stephen Kolek SP | KC
Royals' Stephen Kolek: Tagged with loss Friday
Kolek (3-1) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Rangers after allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out five.
Kolek tossed 60 of his 91 pitches for strikes, but he gave up four runs, including a two-run homer to Brandon Nimmo, before the end of the first inning. He settled down afterwards, but Kolek didn't receive support from an offense that mustered just one run throughout the game. Despite this subpar outing, Kolek remains a capable-if-not-dominant arm in the Royals' rotation with a 3.48 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in five starts so far. He's slated to make his next start on the road against the Reds.
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Erick Fedde SP | CHW
White Sox's Erick Fedde: Gives up two runs Friday
Fedde didn't factor in the decision Friday against the Tigers. He tossed four innings in long relief, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three.
Similar to his last outing against the Giants, Fedde entered the game as the bulk reliever with one out in the second. While this was a step in the right direction after he gave up eight runs on 10 hits over 3.1 frames against San Francisco on May 23, he was far from dominant. Fedde is still searching for his first win of the season. He's 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 11 appearances (53.1 innings) in 2026.
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Troy Melton SP | DET
Tigers' Troy Melton: Not involved in decision Friday
Melton didn't factor into the decision Friday against the White Sox. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out one.
Melton walked the tightrope, allowing only one run on an RBI double from Miguel Vargas in the third inning. Melton has done an excellent job limiting the damage, giving up just two runs on 12.2 innings across two starts for Detroit, but his 4:4 K:BB isn't exactly encouraging from a fantasy perspective. With Casey Mize (adductor), Justin Verlander (hip) and Tarik Skubal (elbow) still out, Melton could have another turn in the rotation since he has a 1.42 ERA in his first two starts of the year. If that's the case, he'd be lined up to make his next start on the road against the Rays.