MLB Player News

Lopez (3-2) picked up the win against the Orioles on Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out 11 over five innings.

Lopez set the tone in the first inning by striking out the side, which he also did in the third and fifth. His lone blemish came in the fourth frame, when he yielded an RBI double to Ryan Mountcastle. Lopez finished his outing with 18 whiffs on 98 pitches (58 strikes), and his 11 punchouts were his most since June 23, 2024 against the Athletics (14). He has three quality starts this season with a 2.18 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 37:5 K:BB across 33 innings, and he is lined up to face the Giants at home this weekend.

Soroka (biceps) will be activated from the injured list and start Wednesday against the Guardians, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Manager Dave Martinez said Soroka will claim the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation upon returning, which will force Brad Lord to move back to the bullpen. Soroka has been on the injured list since early April after suffering a biceps strain during his first start of the season. He has since made three rehab starts in the minors, most recently striking out 11 batters across five innings of one-run ball at Triple-A Rochester.

Double-A Northwest Arkansas placed Zobac on its 7-day injured list April 16 due to right knee patella tendinitis, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Zobac was shut down after laboring through his first two starts of the season with Northwest Arkansas, producing a 9.39 ERA, 2.50 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB across 7.2 innings. According to Preston Farr of FarmToFountains.com, Zobac won't require surgery on his knee, but the 24-year-old righty is facing an uncertain timeline for a return.

Liberatore (3-3) picked up the win Tuesday against the Pirates after allowing one run on three hits and three walks in seven innings. He struck out eight.

During what's already been a promising start to the year for Liberatore, he delivered perhaps his finest performance of the campaign so far. The 2018 first-rounder set season highs in innings and punchouts, generating 17 whiffs in the process. Although his three walks did mark a season worst, Liberatore threw at least six frames and surrendered two runs or fewer for the fourth time in his past five outings. The left-hander owns an outstanding 3.07 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 38:6 K:BB over 41 innings in 2025, but he's in line for a tough test in his next scheduled appearance against the Phillies next week.

Skenes (3-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Cardinals after allowing two runs on three hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out six.

While Skenes matched a season high in walks, he also tied a season best with just three hits allowed. After issuing only four free passes through his first six starts in 2025, Skenes has now given up eight walks in his past two outings. On a positive note, the star right-hander has lasted at least five innings in each of his eight appearances this season. He'll take an excellent 2.77 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB over 48.2 frames into his scheduled next start, which lines up for next week in a difficult assignment against the Mets.

Bloss got imaging on his right elbow Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Bloss left in the fourth inning of his last Triple-A start Saturday after experiencing discomfort in his throwing elbow. He's undergone tests to determine the severity of the injury, but the 23-year-old right-hander could be facing a stint on the 7-day injured list.

Scherzer (thumb) is in line to face live batters Wednesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Scherzer is progressing in his recovery from right thumb inflammation that landed him on the 15-day injured list in late March. He'll continue to build up his workload and pitch count, and how his thumb responds following Wednesday's session will give the Blue Jays a better sense of when the veteran right-hander can return.

Burnes (shoulder) remains on track to make his next start Saturday against the Dodgers in Arizona, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Burnes was initially slated to make his seventh start of the season Monday, but the Diamondbacks ended up skipping his turn after he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation following an MRI late last week. Following the MRI, Burnes received a cortisone shot to address the shoulder issue, and the injection appears to have had the desired effect. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, and if all goes well, the Diamondbacks will lock him in for a start this weekend.

Young (shoulder) was placed on Triple-A Norfolk's 7-day injured list Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Young is working through right shoulder discomfort, which he experienced following Friday's start against Charlotte. The injury isn't severe enough to warrant an MRI at this point, but he will rest for an extended period of time before embarking on a rehab program. Young is 2-1 across four starts in Triple-A this season with a 2.82 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB across 22.1 innings.

The Diamondbacks recalled Mena from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

With Tommy Henry headed back to the minors, the Diamondbacks will call upon Mena to presumably serve as a long reliever for the big-league squad. The 22-year-old righty gave up four earned runs in three innings during his MLB debut last season, and he's turned in a 5.76 ERA through 29.2 innings in Triple-A this year.