MLB Player News

Lopez (3-2) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over six innings in a 3-1 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out eight.

Boston pushed across a run in the top of the first inning, but Lopez slammed the door shut after that, generating 19 swinging strikes among his 99 pitches as he tied his season high in Ks. The quality start was the third of the season for the right-hander, and Lopez will take a 4.30 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 45:8 K:BB through 37.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mariners.

Lynch will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha to start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

He'll be entering the rotation in place of the injured Alec Marsh (elbow). Lynch hasn't pitched well this season at Omaha, collecting a 5.86 ERA and 22:9 K:BB over 27.2 innings. He will be pitching on three days' rest Sunday, having thrown 48 pitches over four frames Wednesday in his last start for Omaha. Lynch won't make for a recommended streaming option.

Abbott (1-4) took the loss to the Orioles on Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.

He retired eight straight batters at one point while showing great depth with his breaking pitches, but Jorge Mateo and Adley Rutschman touched him up for solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and that was enough to send Abbott to his fourth loss in five decisions. The lefty has now allowed multiple homers in three of his last four outings, but he still has a highly respectable 3.32 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 38 innings this season. If Abbott can get the homer issue under control, he could take off, though that will be easier said than done as the weather heats up.

Rogers (0-5) took the loss Saturday in Oakland, allowing eight runs on eight hits and three walks over just 2.1 innings.

Rogers gave up a couple runs in the second inning and then the wheels really came off in the third, as he was tagged for six runs during what turned out to be a 10-run inning for the Athletics. It was a disastrous performance in what should have been a favorable matchup for the left-hander. Rogers will carry a 6.15 ERA into his next start, which is expected to be against the Phillies at home.

Schmidt (3-1) picked up the win Saturday over the Tigers, giving up three runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander tied his season high in strikeouts while generating 33 called or swinging strikes among his 91 pitches. Schmidt has been remarkably consistent to begin the season, allowing between one and three runs in every start and completing five innings in six of seven outings, although he has yet to last a full six frames. He'll take a 3.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB through 36 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come next weekend in Tampa Bay.

Mize (1-1) took the loss Saturday against the Yankees, coughing up five runs on nine hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

A three-run shot by Anthony Rizzo in the third inning accounted for most of the damage off Mize, but the right-hander put plenty of traffic on the basepaths. It was the first time this season he'd allowed more than three runs in a start, and Mize will take a 3.98 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 31.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Astros.

Means (1-0) earned the win in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Reds, allowing three hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.

A setback with Means' surgically repaired left elbow put the southpaw on the injured list to begin the 2024 season. After an extended, six-start rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, Means transitioned beautifully to the big-league rotation, blanking the Reds in Great American Ball Park while racking up 19 swings and misses on 85 pitches. The Cincinnati offense has been in a bad way, but regardless it was an impressive return for Means and he's fully built up heading into his next projected matchup at home against the Diamondbacks. An All-Star in 2019, Means has thrown a no-hitter in the majors and owns a 3.67 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 387.1 career innings over parts of seven seasons.

McCullers (forearm) threw a 10-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers had previously done some throwing from the front slope of the mound, but Saturday marked his first time throwing from the top of the bump since he had surgery last June to repair the flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his forearm. It's a big step, but McCullers is still at least a month away from a rehab assignment, with a return from the 60-day injured list perhaps coming in July if all goes well.

Irvin (2-3) was saddled with the loss Saturday versus the Blue Jays, permitting four runs (zero earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Irvin needed 32 pitches to get through the first inning, thanks in large part due to a pair of errors committed behind him. The silver lining is all four of the runs the Jays scored in the opening frame were unearned, so he watched his ERA on the season drop from 4.28 to 3.72. Irvin mostly settled in after that but still required a season-high 107 pitches to cover his five innings. The righty has walked just eight batters in seven starts this season, showing immensely improved control after he issued free passes at a 10.2 percent clip in 2023. His next start is lined up to come in Boston.

Gausman (2-3) picked up the victory Saturday, tossing 5.1 shutout innings on three hits and two walks against the Nationals. He struck out eight.

The Nats made Gausman throw a season-high 112 pitches to get through his 5.1 frames, but the right-hander was able to keep them off the scoreboard. Gausman's eight strikeouts were his highest total this season, and he boasted a 48 percent whiff rate on his splitter. The righty's velocity remains down, but he's allowed just two earned runs over his last four starts and finally piled up some strikeouts in this one. Gausman is projected to face the Twins at home in his next outing.