MLB Player News

Wenninger struck out a season-high 11 batters for Double-A Binghamton on Sunday, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks over six innings.

In the process, the 23-year-old right-hander crossed the 100-K threshold on the season, becoming the sixth pitcher in the minors this season to reach triple digits in strikeouts. Wenninger, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Illinois, has taken a big step forward this year in his first taste of Double-A, posting a 2.76 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 100:20 K:BB in 81.2 innings. Wenninger's best pitch is a nasty splitter, and he has a deep enough arsenal to profile as a rotation option once he's ready for the majors, even if he doesn't have the pure upside of other Mets prospects like Jonah Tong or Nolan McLean.

The Cardinals are having "internal discussion" about McGreevy replacing Erick Fedde in the rotation and starting Saturday against Atlanta, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Fedde has been pummeled for 17 runs over his last three starts and lasted only 1.1 frames in Sunday's loss to the Cubs. The team is expected to use its off day Monday to decide whether to let Fedde take his next turn Saturday or give that opportunity to McGreevy instead. McGreevy also started Sunday at Triple-A Memphis, so he is on the same schedule as Fedde, though he was torched for eight runs over three innings in Sunday's outing. In three starts and one relief appearance with the Cardinals in 2025, McGreevy holds a 4.22 ERA and 16:3 K:BB over 21.1 innings.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was noncommittal when asked Sunday whether Fedde would make his next start, which is tentatively set for Saturday versus Atlanta, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "I think we have to use [Monday] as a day we take a step back and figure out what that looks like," Marmol said, regarding his plans for the rotation.

Fedde was charged with three earned runs on two hits and four walks while recording only four outs in Sunday's loss to the Cubs. He's been clobbered for 17 earned runs with a 2:9 K:BB over 10 innings covering his last three starts. Michael McGreevy started Sunday at Triple-A Memphis and would likely be the replacement in the rotation for Fedde if the Cardinals decide to make a change.

Lopez (2-5) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out eight over 4.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Giants.

Lopez had a shaky first inning and gave up a run when Willy Adames drew a bases-loaded walk. Adames added a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Lopez found more trouble in the fifth before his exit. In between, however, he was nearly untouchable, striking out seven straight batters at one point. The southpaw has allowed eight runs (seven earned) over his last two starts, covering 7.2 innings with a 9:2 K:BB in that span. He's walked precisely one batter in seven of his last nine outings, but the overall results have been fairly mixed. For the season, he has a 4.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB through 50.2 innings over 13 appearances (nine starts). Lopez is lined up to make his next start at home versus the Blue Jays.

Hart (3-2) struck out two over 3.2 perfect innings of bulk relief to earn the win Sunday over the Rangers.

Hart was sharp following opener David Morgan, who gave up one run on four hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. Hart had struggled in earlier stints in the majors, but this was a positive outing. He's now at a 5.83 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 29.1 innings over seven games. There's an open spot in the rotation even with Yu Darvish (elbow) set to make his season debut Monday, so Hart could stick around in the majors after replacing Stephen Kolek on the big-league roster.

Leiter (4-6) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Padres.

It wasn't an outright bad performance, but Leiter's pitch count got up early, and he was pulled at 85 pitches (54 strikes) after running into trouble in the fourth inning. He's fallen short of the five-inning mark in three of his last five starts while allowing 16 runs with a 21:10 K:BB over 23.1 innings in that span. Overall, Leiter has a 4.32 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 63:34 K:BB across 75 innings through 15 starts this season. The 25-year-old is projected to make his next start in Houston.

Boyd (9-3) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out nine over five shutout innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Boyd was at 87 pitches (60 strikes) after five frames, but the Cubs were ahead 11-0 at the time, so they had no need to push the starter for another inning. He's strung together eight starts allowing two runs or fewer, with his nine strikeouts Sunday representing a season high. Boyd has a 40:8 K:BB in that span and a 96:23 K:BB to go with a 2.52 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through 103.2 innings over 18 starts this season. His next start is projected to be on the road versus the Yankees.

Fedde (3-9) allowed three runs on two hits and four walks while failing to record a strikeout over 1.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Cubs.

Fedde needed 53 pitches (26 strikes) to get the four outs. After giving up seven runs in each of his last two outings, it looks like Fedde was on a short leash for this one. He's also walked nine batters over his last 10 innings, and his BB/9 on the year is at 4.3 through 18 starts. Fedde will have trouble getting things back on track if he continues to issue such a high number of free passes. He's added a 4.79 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 57:45 K:BB across 94 innings this season. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus Atlanta.

Smith (3-7) yielded five runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against Colorado.

Smith served up a leadoff shot to Mickey Moniak in the first inning and allowed another run in the second. Smith then worked through a pair of quick frames before the Rockies plated four more runs in the fifth inning, with three being charged against the right-handed rookie. He posted a 2.37 ERA through his first 13 starts of the year but now owns a 4.20 ERA across 83.2 frames. Smith has been tagged with 22 runs (21 earned) in just 15.1 innings over his last four appearances, leading to four consecutive losses. He'll look to snap the streak in his next outing, which is projected to be at home against the Guardians.

Dollander did not factor in the decision during Sunday's win over the White Sox. He allowed three runs on five hits and four walks over 3.2 innings while striking out two.

Dollander worked through two scoreless frames with little issue before unraveling. He coughed up a pair of runs in the third inning and another in the fourth. He fired 92 pitches (50 strikes) despite not finishing four innings. Dollander has combined to throw 6.1 frames over his last two outings and has failed to complete five innings in eight of his 15 big-league outings. He now owns an unsightly 6.68 ERA with a 52:33 K:BB across 68.2 frames. Dollander is currently in line for a start in Cincinnati next weekend.