MLB Player News

Skenes didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Giants, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out three.

While Thursday's outing wasn't as dominant as Skenes' 11-strikeout performance in his previous start, the rookie right-hander was still effective, coaxing a pair of key double-play balls to limit the Giants to just one run and post his second straight quality start. However, the Pirates bullpen would implode late, leaving Skenes with a no-decision in an eventual 7-6 loss. Skenes now sports a 2.25 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and an impressive 21:4 K:BB through his first three starts (16 innings). He's currently in line for a road matchup with the Tigers in his next outing.

Alexander is in line to serve as a bulk reliever in Friday's game versus the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The left-hander carried a perfect game into the eighth inning of his last outing in Toronto as a traditional starter, but he's slated to follow opener Shawn Armstrong on Friday. Alexander holds a 5.06 ERA in six traditional starts and a 5.40 ERA in bulk relief this season.

Bido (finger) started Saturday for Triple-A Las Vegas in the club's 11-3 loss to El Paso, covering four innings and striking out three while allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks.

After being called up from Las Vegas on May 8, Bido started the second game of the Athletics' doubleheader with the Rangers that day but exited midway through the third inning after developing a blister on his pitching hand. He was returned to Las Vegas two days later, but he didn't start last week while he was given more time to heal up from the finger issue. Ostensibly healthy again, Bido should continue to make regular turns out of the Las Vegas rotation but will be near the top of the list for a call-up if the Athletics should require a spot starter again.

The Rays reinstated Baz (elbow/oblique) from the 15-day injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Durham.

Baz has been on the IL all season while completing the final stages of recovery from his July 2022 Tommy John surgery in addition to a pair of oblique injuries. The 24-year-old righty started four games at Triple-A during his rehab assignment, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.92 WHIP while striking out eight batters and walking 11 through 12 innings. He'll remain with Durham despite being fully healthy, though Baz should get the chance to join the Tampa Bay rotation at some point this season if he can eventually show improvement at Triple-A.

Gibson allowed three unearned runs on five hits and struck out three without walking a batter over four innings in a no-decision versus the Orioles on Wednesday.

Gibson exited the contest after a rain delay, and the Cardinals got him off the hook for the loss once play resumed. This was the first time in 10 starts this season he didn't walk a batter, though he was a little shaky with just 50 of 84 pitches thrown for strikes and one wild pitch in the contest. He's at a 3.81 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 46:23 K:BB over 59 innings this season, and he's allowed more than three runs just three times. Gibson is lined up to make his next start at Cincinnati.

Irvin will re-enter the Orioles' rotation following the injury to John Means (forearm), Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Each of Irvin's last two appearances have come in relief, but he's been terrific in seven starts this season, collecting a 2.90 ERA and 28:8 K:BB over 40.1 innings of work. Means' next turn comes up Monday in Baltimore against the Red Sox, and Irvin would be on regular rest that day after throwing 3.1 relief innings in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals.

The Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

It's the same injury that forced Means to the IL prior to Opening Day. The left-hander experienced a flareup of the forearm issue during his latest start Wednesday in St. Louis. He'll be eligible to return from the IL in early June, but it's possible he'll need more time than the minimum 15 days given that it's a recurring injury. Cole Irvin is the likeliest candidate to slide into Means' spot in Baltimore's rotation.

Boyle (back) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas in coming days, the Associated Press reports.

Boyle completed a "two-up" bullpen session Sunday that apparently went well, given the news of a rehab assignment serving as his next step. The right-hander was placed on the injured list May 6 after being lifted from a start against the Marlins a day earlier due to a back strain, and he may need only one or two rehab starts before being deemed ready for activation.

Medina (knee) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Tacoma on Wednesday, allowing five earned runs on four hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batsman over 2.1 innings. He struck out one.

Medina moved up from the Athletics' rookie-level AZL club after opening his rehab assignment there May 15, and as his line indicates, the results were far from encouraging. Medina had a similarly difficult time in his first rehab start against a much lower caliber of competition, so it's clear he has plenty of kinks to work out before a move to the big-league club can be considered. Given Wednesday's results, it remains to be seen if Medina will be shifted to a lower-level affiliate for his next rehab appearance in an effort to allow him to build some confidence and positive momentum.

High-A Vancouver placed Rojas on the 7-day injured list April 23 with an undisclosed injury.

The 21-year-old Cuban southpaw gave up three earned runs while recording just two outs in his first start of the year and followed that up with five scoreless innings in his second start before landing on the shelf. Rojas had a 3.75 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 84 innings at Single-A Dunedin in 2023.