MLB Player News

Thornton could be a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to replace the injured Clay Holmes (fibula) in the Mets' big-league rotation.

Holmes was struck by a comebacker Friday and fractured his right fibula, creating another hole in the rotation. While Thornton doesn't have the prospect pedigree of Jonah Tong or Jack Wenninger, the 24-year-old southpaw has added velocity and advanced quickly through the system since being a fifth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft. Thornton's two-seam and four-seam fastballs sit in the low 90s but can touch 95 miles per hour, and he also works with a potentially plus slider, a cutter, a changeup and a curveball. He was promoted to Triple-A at the beginning of May, and through two starts for Syracuse he sports a 2.25 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 12 innings. Thornton isn't yet on the 40-man roster, but he's on turn to potentially replace Holmes, having also pitched Friday.

The Royals reinstated Falter (elbow) from the injured list Saturday.

Falter has been on the injured list since early April with left elbow inflammation, but he's been playing in rehab games at Triple-A Omaha since April 15. The 29-year-old posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.27 WHIP alongside a 19:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings during his month-long rehab assignment. Now fully healthy, he'll replace Matt Strahm (knee) in Kansas City's bullpen and likely take on a middle-relief role.

Wenninger could get a chance to replace Clay Holmes (fibula) in the Mets' rotation, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Holmes was struck by a comebacker Friday and fractured his right fibula, creating another hole on the big-league staff. Wenninger has been impressive of late for Triple-A Syracuse, tossing 16.2 scoreless innings over his last three starts while allowing only seven hits with a 19:7 K:BB, but his overall 38:18 K:BB in 33.1 frames this season suggests he could still use some more development time. The 24-year-old right-hander is next set to take the mound Sunday for Syracuse, while the Mets will need a new starting pitcher May 20 when Holmes' next turn would have come around, so whether Wenninger gets scratched this weekend will provide an early clue as to the organization's plans.

Yesavage didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The 22-year-old right-hander delivered his first quality start of the season on 88 pitches (54 strikes) while racking up 19 swinging strikes. Yesavage has looked sharp since his belated season debut due to a shoulder impingement, and over four starts and 19.1 innings he sports a 1.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB. He faces a tough test in his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Yankee Stadium.

Peterson is slated to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Huascar Brazoban during Saturday's game against the Yankees at Citi Field, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Peterson will work out of the bullpen for the fifth time in six appearances and for the third time in a row behind the right-handed Brazoban, who will likely work an inning or two before giving way to the lefty. The Mets have gotten far better results from Peterson while using him in relief this season and will likely continue to use him out of the bullpen when his future turns in the rotation come up. Peterson has posted an 8.10 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 11.2 K-BB% across 23.1 innings in five starts and a 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 16.9 K-BB% across 16 innings in four relief appearances.

Littell (2-4) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles, allowing two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out three.

The 30-year-old right-hander put together his best performance of the season on 87 pitches (49 strikes), as Littell lasted at least five innings for the first time since April 22 and didn't serve up a homer for only the third time in nine trips to the mound. After a ghastly April, Littell has found a rhythm in May, posting a 2.13 ERA. 0.95 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB though 12.2 innings over three appearances, two of them as a bulk reliever. He'll look to keep rolling in his next turn through the rotation, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mets.

Baz (1-5) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over seven innings as the Orioles were downed 3-2 by the Nationals. He struck out four.

The right-hander produced his longest outing of the season and his first quality start on 108 pitches (69 strikes), but a lack of run support kept him out of the win column. Control remains Baz's biggest bugaboo, as he's issued at least three free passes in three straight starts and carries a 42:22 K:BB through 51.1 innings to go along with a 5.26 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. He'll try to build on this performance in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in his old Tampa Bay stomping grounds.

Miles is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Mason Fluharty during Saturday's game in Detroit, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Toronto has a spot available in its rotation until the team gets one of its injured starters back from the shelf, and Miles looks to be the choice to fill the opening for the time being. When the fifth spot in the rotation last came up Sunday against the Angels, Miles made his first MLB start but was deployed as more of an opener in front of southpaw Eric Lauer, who covered five innings out of the bullpen. With Lauer having since been designated for assignment, Miles will be on tap to cover the bulk of the innings for Toronto while Fluharty likely works the first inning or two as an opener. Expect Miles to build on his workload from last Sunday, when he tossed 38 pitches over three shutout innings.

Nola didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning win over the Pirates, coughing up six runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

The veteran right-hander labored through 80 pitches (47 strikes) and served up homers to Brandon Lowe and Marcell Ozuna before getting lifted with the Phillies down 6-1, but Nola's offense was able to bail him out. It's the third time in his last five starts that Nola has been tagged for five or more runs, and he'll carry a 5.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 46:18 K:BB through 45.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Reds.

May didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Royals, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks across six innings. He struck out three.

May has gone winless in his last four starts (0-2), but he's posted a quality start in each of those outings. He's now allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven outings, posting a 2.83 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB across 41.1 frames over that stretch. May will aim to keep this strong run going in his next start, scheduled to come against the Pirates.