MLB Player News

Abel (1-0) yielded five hits over six shutout frames Sunday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Pirates.

Abel was promoted for his MLB debut Sunday and put on a clinic. He fired 62 of 84 pitches for strikes and threw 16 first-pitch strikes to the 22 batters he faced. Abel generated 18 whiffs, including eight with his curveball and seven with a fastball that averaged 97.3 mph. The 23-year-old posted a 6.46 ERA through 108.2 frames with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024, but he hit his stride this season with a 2.53 ERA across 46.1 innings before his promotion. It's unclear what the Phillies plan to do with Abel, but his next turn in the rotation would likely be on the road against the Athletics next weekend if he gets another start.

Skenes (3-5) allowed one run on three hits and a walk over eight innings Sunday, striking out nine and taking a loss against the Phillies.

Skenes was in elite form Sunday and completed eight innings for the second time in his MLB career. He didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and gave up just three singles in the outing. Skenes tossed 71 of 102 pitches for strikes and generated a career-high 22 whiffs, including seven with his fastball that averaged 98.2 mph. Since coughing up five runs against the Cardinals on April 8, he's produced a 2.03 ERA with a 42:13 K:BB over his last seven outings. Skenes has produced a quality start in three of his five losses this season. He'll carry a 2.44 ERA into his next matchup, which is lined up to be at home against the Brewers.

Eflin (3-2) took the loss against the Nationals on Sunday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Eflin threw 61 of 93 pitches for strikes but was tagged for four home runs over the first two innings. The 31-year-old had allowed only eight total earned runs across 23 innings in his first four outings, and he still managed to pitch into the sixth frame Sunday despite the rough start. He'll carry an inflated 5.08 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB across 28.1 innings into a road matchup with the Red Sox next weekend.

Soroka (1-2) earned the win against the Orioles on Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Soroka took advantage of an early lead, tossing four scoreless innings before allowing three runs across the fifth and sixth frames. The 27-year-old generated 10 whiffs in his longest outing of the season, though he was limited to only 82 pitches. He'll take a 5.95 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 23:4 KBB across 19.2 innings into a home matchup with the Giants next weekend.

Leiter did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Astros, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over seven innings.

Leiter had a no-hitter broken up in the seventh inning and departed with a 3-1 lead after allowing the first two batters to reach in the top of the eighth. Both came around to score on a three-run home run later in the inning. After surrendering 12 earned runs across his first three outings since returning from the injured list April 27, the 25-year-old has yielded just four runs combined over two straight quality starts. He'll carry a 4.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB across 36 innings into a favorable matchup with the White Sox next weekend.

Valdez (3-4) earned the win against the Rangers on Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over seven innings.

Valdez allowed three runs in the fourth inning but worked six scoreless frames otherwise. The southpaw generated 12 whiffs on 98 pitches and has now completed at least seven innings in three straight outings. On the season, he owns a 3.57 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 59:19 K:BB across 63 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Mariners next weekend.

Darvish (elbow) won't pitch during San Diego's three-game series in Toronto that begins Tuesday, Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Darvish made a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A El Paso last Wednesday and allowed two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out four batters over four innings. He threw 51 pitches and averaged 94.5 mph on his fastball, leading to some speculation that the veteran right-hander could make his next start with San Diego, However, Padres manager Mike Shildt confirmed Sunday that Darvish won't return during the three-game series versus the Blue Jays that begins Tuesday, saying, "What I can tell you is he's going to continue to work on throwing and getting some other things taken care of, and he will not be pitching in Toronto." It isn't yet clear when -- or if -- Darvish will make another rehab start with El Paso, but he appears to be nearing activation from the injured list and still seems to be on track to return by the end of May.

Kikuchi (ankle) is feeling fine following Sunday's 6-4 win over the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Kikuchi exited the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning with right ankle irritation after retiring two batters in the frame. The left-hander explained that he would've stayed in the contest and pitched through the issue had it been earlier in the game. Kikuchi appears to be all set to toe the rubber for his next projected start Friday against the Marlins.

Jones (elbow) may have to undergo Tommy John surgery, John Perrotto of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Jones has missed the entirety of the 2025 season to this point while nursing a UCL sprain in his right elbow, and it now appears that he'll require surgery. With the Pirates well out of contention, the move comes as no surprise since there's no reason to take any chances with his health. It's a disappointing turn of events for fantasy managers though, as the right-hander was coming off of a 2024 rookie campaign in which he compiled a 4.14 ERA and 9.8 K/9 over 121.2 innings in 22 starts with Pittsburgh. Jones will now likely be sidelined for not only the remainder of 2025, but likely most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign.

King (4-2) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over 5.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Mariners.

King ran into trouble in the fourth inning, where he allowed three runs, and the Padres were unable to answer. He had not allowed more than three runs in any of his first nine starts this season. Despite his overall success -- 2.59 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 64:17 K:BB through 55.2 innings, he's completed six innings in just two of his 10 outings so far. His next start is tentatively projected to be at Atlanta. He's already faced Atlanta once this season, allowing three runs over 2.2 innings in his first start of the campaign, but he's had no trouble bouncing back from that humble season debut.