MLB Player News

Kikuchi is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Orioles in Baltimore, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

After Tuesday's game was postponed, the Blue Jays hadn't initially named a starter for Wednesday's series finale. Rather than pushing Chris Bassitt back a day in the pitching schedule after he had been in line to take the hill Tuesday, the Blue Jays will instead move up Kikuchi and have him take the hill Wednesday on his normal four days' rest. Kikuchi took a loss his last time out Friday against the Twins, but he worked a season-high eight innings and lowered his ERA to 2.64.

Greene (2-2) got the win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five over seven innings.

Greene's only blunder of an inning came in the third after he allowed the first two guys on before they came around to score on a base knock from Blaze Alexander. He otherwise kept Arizona quiet and put together an excellent rebound outing after some mixed results against the Diamondbacks last week. Greene has walked at least a batter in every start this season, but his one free pass was significantly better than the nine he'd given up over his last two starts. The 24-year-old flamethrower now owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 58:22 K:BB in 52.1 innings. He lines up to complete a two-start week against the Dodgers this weekend.

Cecconi (1-3) was charged with Tuesday's loss to the Reds. He allowed six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings.

Cecconi has been dynamite the first time through orders, when opponents are hitting .029 with a .084 OPS, but things go sideways after that. The second time through, Cecconi is allowing a .355 average and 1.283 OPS. He told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that Tuesday's outing brought the struggles into focus: "It's a mental thing," the right-hander said. Cecconi said when he starts to get hit, he focuses on locating the ball, which takes velocity off whichever type of pitch he's trying to execute. He vowed to use Tuesday as a lesson that he can take into his next start Monday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Sale (6-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 7-0 victory over the Cubs, scattering two hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The veteran southpaw simply overmatched Chicago's hitters, and the only runner to get into scoring position against Sale came after one of his two HBPs on the night. He generated 30 called or swinging strikes among his 92 pitches as he produced his second straight quality start and fourth of the season. Sale will take a 2.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and eye-popping 61:8 K:BB through 49.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Padres.

Taillon (3-1) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering seven runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks over four innings as the Cubs fell 7-0 to Atlanta. He struck out two.

The right-hander's own fielding error in the fourth inning softened the blow to his ERA, but Taillon's final line was by no means undeserved as he served up homers to Michael Harris and Matt Olson in his last frame. It's the first time in five starts Taillon has been taken deep multiple times, and he'll take a 1.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB through 28 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Pirates.

Pivetta came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rays, allowing two runs on four hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander generated an impressive 32 called or swinging strikes among his 81 pitches, but both runs off Pivetta came on solo shots by Josh Lowe and Randy Arozarena, with the latter chasing him from the game one out short of his second quality start of the season. Pivetta has served up five homers in two starts since coming off the IL, a worrisome trend, but he'll carry a 3.48 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 22:2 K:BB through 20.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in St. Louis.

Civale came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox, giving up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander kept Boston off the board his first time through the order, but a two-run double by Dominic Smith in the fourth inning and a solo shot by Ceddanne Rafaela in the fifth sent Civale packing after 76 pitches (53 strikes). He's failed to last more than five innings in any of his last five starts, a stretch in which he's stumbled to an 8.87 ERA and 1.71 WHIP, and his rotation spot could be in jeopardy if he doesn't turn things around by the time Ryan Pepiot (leg) and Shane Baz (elbow) are ready to rejoin the team. Civale lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Toronto.

Fedde (4-0) picked up the win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory. He struck out six without walking a batter.

Facing the team he spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with before pitching in the KBO in 2023, Fedde showed the Nats what they were missing, tossing 60 of 99 pitches for strikes as he delivered a second straight scoreless effort and his fourth quality start of the year. The 31-year-old right-hander will take a 2.60 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 50:14 K:BB through 52 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come early next week in Toronto.

Flexen came away with a no-decision in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander was cruising early, scattering four singles over four scoreless innings to begin the afternoon, but Flexen hit a wall in the fifth and left the game after 86 pitches (58 strikes) with the score tied 3-3. Some fatigue was perhaps understandable after he's thrown more than 90 pitches in each of his prior two starts, his longest outings of the season so far. Flexen will take a 4.46 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 30:14 K:BB through 40.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come in Yankee Stadium this weekend.

Parker (2-2) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out three.

The rookie southpaw got little support in a 4-0 loss, with all the damage off him coming on a three-run blast by Andrew Vaughn in the third inning. Parker exited after 82 pitches (50 strikes), and after not serving up a homer in his first four big-league starts, he's been taken deep three times in his last two. He'll carry a 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 32 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Twins.