MLB Player News

Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss Wednesday against Kansas City, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out two.

Rodriguez allowed more than one run for the first time in three starts this season and set a season low in strikeouts after tallying six and seven K's in his first two starts, respectively. While Rodriguez is expected to be pushed into a bullpen role upon the return of Alek Manoah (shoulder), he's been a serviceable fill-in rotation piece, owning a 3.86 ERA and a 15:5 K:BB over 11.2 innings.

Means (forearm) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings in a rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Norfolk.

Means built up to 79 pitches in the rehab start, his fifth overall with Norfolk. The 31-year-old lefty hasn't performed as well as the Orioles had hoped during the rehab assignment -- he holds a 13.89 ERA, 2.41 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings -- but with Wednesday's outing arguably being Means' best yet, he could be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list soon. According to Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, the Orioles haven't ruled out the possibility of Means returning from the IL to start Sunday versus the Athletics, though the club may prefer to have the red-hot Albert Suarez (11.1 scoreless innings through two starts) make another turn through the rotation.

Lopez didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks across seven innings against Miami. He struck out six.

Lopez delivered another quality start Wednesday, exiting the contest with Atlanta ahead 3-1. However, Raisel Iglesias surrendered a pair of runs in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings, spoiling Lopez's chance at a third straight win. Lopez has been one of the more surprising stars of the 2024 campaign, owning a 0.72 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in four starts (25.0 innings). He's slated to make his next start in Seattle during a three-game series early next week.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that an MRI on Miley's left elbow was inconclusive, prompting the Brewers to send the left-hander to Cincinnati for an in-person arthogram, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Miley was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday due to left elbow inflammation, but the Brewers apparently still have some concern that the southpaw may be dealing with some ligament damage. The arthogram should offer more clarity on the matter, while also helping the Brewers in deciding a treatment plan for Miley's injury. Tobias Myers was called up from Triple-A Nashville on Monday and ended up taking Miley's spot in the rotation Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Marsh was removed from his start Wednesday versus Toronto after getting hit by a comebacker, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Marsh took a 94-mph line drive off his right forearm during the fifth inning and looked to be in a considerable amount of pain before leaving the game with trainers. The Royals will take a closer look at him and should offer an update on his status after Wednesday's game. The 25-year-old righty pitched 4.1 innings of shutout ball before exiting.

Gibson (2-2) earned the win against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings while striking out six.

Gibson got off to a rocky start, allowing back-to-back hits while also hitting Joc Pederson with a pitch to open the game. However, the right-hander managed to escape the inning with only one run coming across before shutting out the Diamondbacks over the next five frames. Gibson has now gone at least six innings in each of his first five starts to open the season, posting a 20:12 K:BB over that stretch. He's also gone two starts without allowing a home run after allowing at least one long ball in each of his first three outings.

Montgomery (1-1) took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out four over seven innings.

Montgomery kept the Cardinals' lineup at bay for most of the contest despite allowing the leadoff man to reach base in three of his first four innings of work. St. Louis would finally get to him in the sixth, however, after the lefty allowed back-to-back hits with one out, followed by an unearned run on a wild pitch. Montgomery actually pitched well on the afternoon despite being tagged with the loss, throwing 20 of his first 28 pitches for strikes while going at least six innings for the second consecutive start to begin his 2024 campaign. He also carries a solid 7:1 K:BB through two starts.

Manager Skip Schumaker said Wednesday that Puk (shoulder) will pitch out of the bullpen upon his return from the 15-day injured list, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Miami's rotation recently got back Edward Cabrera and could soon add Braxton Garrett (shoulder), so Puk will shift back to a relief role once he's recovered from the shoulder fatigue. The left-hander went 0-4 with a 9.22 ERA and 12:17 K:BB over 13.2 frames in four starts, so the move isn't a major surprise. Puk primarily worked as the Marlins' closer last season and had 15 saves with a 3.97 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 78:13 K:BB across 56.2 innings, but he'll likely need to be eased back into a high-leverage role after his disastrous run in the rotation.

The Rangers announced that Scherzer (back) will make his first minor-league rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Round Rock.

Texas' decision to place Scherzer on the 15-day injured list rather than the 60-day IL coming out of spring training was the first hint that the veteran righty was making a speedier-than-expected recovery from his Dec. 15 surgery to address a herniated disc in his back, and he appears to have faced no setbacks while advancing through his throwing progression during the first month of the regular season. Scherzer will now move on to the final phase of his ramp-up program by heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, which will likely consist of at least two appearances with Round Rock or another affiliate. According to the Associated Press, manager Bruce Bochy said Scherzer is expected to throw about 50 pitches in Wednesday's outing after he tossed a 40-pitch simulated game this past Friday.

Valdez (elbow) completed a 40-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch Saturday or Sunday against the Rockies in Mexico City, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander landed on injured list with elbow inflammation April 9, and it appears he'll return after missing little more than the 15-day minimum. Valdez will likely face some workload limitations in his first few starts back given he's built up to only 40 pitches, but it will be a welcome return for a Houston rotation that's now also missing Cristian Javier (neck).