MLB Player News

Alexander didn't factor in the decision against Colorado on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.2 innings.

Alexander was handed a 5-0 lead through three frames, but he wasn't able to go deep enough to qualify for the victory. The southpaw didn't allow Colorado to catch up, though he yielded constant traffic on the basepaths -- the Rockies put multiple runners on base in each of the four frames in which Alexander pitched. After impressing with 5.2 scoreless innings his previous trip to the mound, this was a bit of a disappointing step back for Alexander, though it was far from a disastrous outing since Milwaukee ended up winning in a 17-2 rout. There's a good chance Alexander will stick in the rotation, at least in the short term, given the Brewers have already been decimated by injuries to starting pitchers.

Lugo (1-1) took the loss against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six batters over 5.2 innings.

Lugo nearly got through the outing with a one-run quality start, but after retiring the first two batters he faced in the sixth, he gave up a double, issued an intentional walk and yielded a single to surrender a second run before getting the hook. The veteran righty would have taken the loss even if that run wouldn't have scored, though, as the Royals were unable to cross the plate against Joe Ryan and a pair of Twins relievers. Lugo has been steady but unspectacular to begin the campaign, posting a 3.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB over 16.2 frames across three starts. His next appearance lines up as a tough matchup on the road against the Yankees early next week.

Holmes completed four scoreless innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing three hits and issuing four walks while striking out six batters in a no-decision.

There were definitely positives to take away from Holmes' performance, as he notched 12 whiffs en route to six punchouts while holding the Phillies scoreless. However, the right-hander was very inefficient -- he needed 104 pitches to get through four innings due in part to issuing four free passes. Holmes has struggled with his control early in the campaign, handing out eight walks across his first nine innings, though he's also racked up 11 strikeouts in that span. His inability to complete more than four innings in his first two starts (he also has a one-inning relief appearance) isn't promising, but Holmes will likely stick in the rotation even when Spencer Strider (elbow) returns to the big-league club, given Reynaldo Lopez is set for an extended absence after undergoing shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Matthews appears to be the leading candidate to receive a call-up from Triple-A St. Paul and enter the Minnesota rotation if Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is placed on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Matthews made a start for St. Paul on Tuesday, so he would line up to fill in for Lopez's spot in the rotation Sunday against Detroit. Matthews has a 1.80 ERA with a 13:1 K:BB in 10 innings at Triple-A. He reached the big leagues for the first time in 2024 and struck out 43 batters over 37.2 innings, but he served up 11 home runs and finished with a 6.69 ERA and 1.65 WHIP.

Walker tossed 4.2 scoreless innings against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out five batters in a no-decision.

Walker followed his six-inning scoreless outing in his first start of the campaign with another no-run effort Wednesday. This time around, though, he wasn't as sharp, as he needed 94 pitches (only 53 of which were strikes) to get through 4.2 frames. Walker departed with two outs in the fifth after loading the bases on a single and two walks, but reliever Jose Ruiz was able to continue the shutout bid by getting Austin Riley to pop out. Walker has hurled 10.2 frames without yielding a run across his first two starts, and he'll look to extend the scoreless-inning streak his next time out, which lines up to be a home matchup against the Giants early next week.

Ryan (1-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits with no walks over seven scoreless innings against the Royals. He struck out four.

Ryan struggled a bit in his second start by allowing four runs over five innings against Houston. He pitched in warmer weather Wednesday than in his previous starts, which he said helped him stay loose. He hasn't walked a batter in 17 innings this season and lowered his ERA to 2.65.

Kikuchi (0-2) took the loss in Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay. He gave up four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across six innings.

All four of the runs Kikuchi yielded came off a Jose Caballero grand slam in the first inning. Kikuchi was able to retire 11 of the next 13 batters he faced and was able to escape the sixth frame without giving up a run after allowing two baserunners. However, the damage from Caballero's grand slam was enough for the southpaw to come away with his second loss of the season. Kikuchi has tossed 104 pitches in each of his last two outings, and he has begun his Angels tenure with a 5.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB across 18 innings. He's tentatively slated to start next week on the road against the Rangers, when he'll look to earn his first win in a Halos uniform.

Pepiot (1-1) earned the win against the Angels on Wednesday. He gave up three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across five innings.

All three of the runs Pepiot gave up came on solo home runs, but he got enough help from the Rays' offense (mostly from Jose Caballero's grand slam in the first inning) to earn his first win of the 2025 season. Pepiot generated 16 first-pitch strikes and 15 whiffs on 91 pitches, and through three starts he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB across 16 innings. He'll look to make it two wins in a row in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next week at home against Boston.

Lopez was diagnosed Wednesday with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Lopez suffered the injury in the fifth inning of his start during Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Royals. He was able to walk off the field under his own power after he was visited on the mound by a team trainer, but follow-up tests revealed that he sustained the hamstring strain, which will force him to miss some time. Zebby Matthews could be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to enter the rotation the next time Lopez's turn comes up Sunday versus the Tigers. Through his first three starts of the season, Lopez has gone 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 16.2 innings.

Houck did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-innings loss to Toronto. He allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out two across 6.2 innings.

Houck gave up his lone run in the first inning on a Will Wagner groundout that brought Vladimir Guerrero home, but Houck did not yield another run over the rest of his outing and came away with his first quality start of of the year. The 28-year-old right-hander logged a career-best 154 strikeouts in 2024, but he's punched out only 10 batters across three outings to start the season. Houck's next start is slated to take place next week on the road against Tampa Bay, when he'll look to earn his first win of 2025.