MLB Player News

Imanaga did not factor into the decision Monday against Atlanta, allowing seven hits and three walks over five shutout innings. He struck out eight.

With his five shutout frames Monday, Imanaga shaved his ERA down to 0.96, a sterling mark for his first 46.2 major league innings. However, the Atlanta offense made the Cubs lefty work hard for his scoreless night as they had 10 baserunners and drew three walks, both setting season-highs allowed for Imanaga. He draws a much easier opponent in his next start, scheduled against Pittsburgh at home this upcoming weekend.

Lopez was lifted from Monday's start against the Cubs early due to back tightness, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. He didn't factor into the decision after allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four over five scoreless innings.

Lopez was removed from the game firing 71 pitches, and he likely would've gone back out for the sixth had his back not become an issue. He'll be considered day-to-day leading up to his next outing, but the club expects him to be ready for his next start, per Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Berrios did not factor into the decision Monday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out four.

Berrios allowed two solo homers to Adley Rutschman but otherwise only allowed one additional single through seven quality innings. It was a nice bounce-back performance for Berrios, who was lit up for eight runs in his last start against the Phillies after having allowed just seven runs total through his first seven appearances. He will carry a 2.82 ERA and 1.05 WHIP into his next start, tentatively scheduled to take place over the weekend when the Blue Jays host the Rays.

Burnes did not factor into the decision Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two.

Burnes did not allow an extra-base hit as a walk and two singles in the sixth led to the lone run he allowed. The two strikeouts are the fewest Burnes has recorded in a start during his career and represent the eighth consecutive start in which he's recorded six or fewer K's after opening the season with an 11-strikeout effort. While he's not been as dominant in Baltimore as he was in Milwaukee, Burnes has still been plenty effective, allowing three or fewer runs in every start this season. His next outing is tentatively slated to take place this weekend when the Blue Jays come to Camden Yards for a three-game set.

The Mets promoted Sproat from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton on Monday.

The No. 56 overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, Sproat has moved quickly through the Mets' farm system less than a year into his professional career. Though he didn't make his pro debut last summer due to the heavy workload he logged in the spring during his final collegiate campaign at the University of Florida, Sproat was pushed to High-A to begin the 2024 season and passed the test with flying colors. Over his six outings (five starts) with Brooklyn, Sproat compiled a 1.07 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB in 25.1 innings.

Baz (elbow/oblique) worked 1.2 innings and struck out one while allowing three earned runs on one hit and five walks Friday in his second rehab start with Triple-A Durham.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Baz's control has been spotty in his first two rehab starts in his first game action since July 2022 following a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery and two minor setbacks with his oblique. After working three innings and spotting 22 of his 39 pitches for strikes in his start with Durham on May 4, Baz found the strike zone on just 29 of his 59 pitches Friday and also hit a batter in addition to issuing five free passes. The fact that Baz was able to increase his pitch count was a positive takeaway, but he'll still need to improve his efficiency as he continues his buildup process in the minors. Baz will presumably need at least two more rehab starts before he returns from the 15-day injured list and makes his 2024 debut with the Rays.

Astros manager Joe Espada said that Brown will make a start during the team's three-game home series versus the Brewers this weekend, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Espada didn't specify which day Brown will start, but Friday's series opener looks like the logical target for him to slot back into the rotation. Brown's spot in the rotation looked to be on thin ice after he supplied an 8.89 ERA and 2.20 WHIP over 27.1 innings in his first seven starts of the season, prompting the Astros to skip over his turn this past week. The right-hander was available out of the bullpen for the weekend series in Detroit and excelled in long relief behind Cristian Javier in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Tigers, tossing five innings of one-run ball while tying his season high with seven strikeouts. Houston will move to a six-man rotation this week to accommodate Brown, but he may still need a strong showing against Milwaukee to ensure he sticks in a starting role moving forward, especially with Jose Urquidy's (forearm) return from the injured list on the horizon.

Bradford (ribs) played catch Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

According to MLB.com, manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Bradford could be cleared to begin throwing off a mound at some point later on this week during the Rangers' six-game homestand. Bradford was originally placed on the 15-day injured list April 14 with lower-back soreness, but follow-up tests revealed that the southpaw had a "very small" stress fracture on the 12th rib on the right side of his body. Bochy said that the Rangers are expecting Bradford to be sidelined for another month, which would put him in line for a return around the middle of June. Bradford went 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three starts prior to landing on the IL, but the Rangers may not have a rotation spot available for him once he's healthy.

Medina (knee) is scheduled to throw around 45 pitches Wednesday in a simulated game at extended spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The upcoming sim game will likely represent the final hurdle for Medina to clear in his recovery from a Grade 2 MCL sprain before he heads out on what will likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment. With injuries mounting in the Oakland rotation, Medina should have a starting role with the big club waiting for him once he gets fully stretched out in the minors.

Parker will start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox.

This won't disrupt Parker's routine, as he was already scheduled to take the mound Tuesday. He'll get the ball for the nightcap after Trevor Williams toes the rubber in Game 1.