MLB Player News

Ryan (0-1) took the loss Saturday, giving up three runs on five hits over six innings as the Twins fell 3-1 to the Guardians. he struck out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander made only one real mistake, but it turned into a three-run homer by David Fry in the second inning and that was too big a hole for the Minnesota offense on the afternoon. Ryan was otherwise sharp, firing 60 of 97 pitches for strikes as he delivered his first quality start of the season. He sports a 3.18 ERA and 12:1 K:BB through 11.1 innings, and Ryan lines up to make his next start in Detroit next week.

Carrasco came away with a no-decision Saturday in a 3-1 win over the Twins, allowing one run on one hit and three walks over three innings. He struck out six.

The 37-year-old right-hander avoided hard contact, but he needed 78 pitches (42 strikes) to record only nine outs, forcing the Guardians to use six different relievers to finish off the victory. Carrasco has a 4.50 ERA and 9:4 K:BB through his first eight innings of 2024, and his job security may have improved following the announcement that Shane Bieber (elbow) would miss the rest of the season. Carrasco lines up for a home start against the Yankees next weekend.

Wacha (1-0) picked up the win Saturday versus the White Sox, permitting just two hits and a walk over seven scoreless frames while striking out eight.

Wacha yielded a one-out double to Martin Maldonado in the sixth inning when the game was still scoreless, but that was the only instance all night he encountered an ounce of trouble. The right-hander cruised through his seven innings on 93 pitches, registering 10 swinging strikes along the way. He's struck out 13 and has allowed only five hits in his first 12 innings this season.

Flexen (0-2) took a loss Saturday in Kansas City, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 6.1 innings of work. He struck out four.

It was a scoreless tie heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and Flexen was still out there with his pitch count low. However, just three pitches into the frame Flexen had yielded a leadoff single and a two-run homer to MJ Melendez. He was pulled after a one-out walk and watched that runner eventually score to add another run to his ledger. Flexen wound up throwing just 77 pitches over his 6.1 frames and registered a quality start but nonetheless was saddled with his second loss.

Maeda (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Tigers were downed 4-0 by the A's, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran right-hander got tagged for a two-run homer by Brent Rooker in the first inning, and Detroit's offense never responded. Maeda still came close to producing a quality start, but he got the hook after 87 pitches (47 strikes). He sports a 5:5 K:BB through 9.0 innings to go along with a 9.00 ERA, and Maeda lines up to make his next start at home against the Twins next weekend.

Blackburn (1-0) picked up the win Saturday against the Tigers, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The veteran righty didn't allow a runner to get past second base as he fired 59 of 85 pitches for strikes. Blackburn has a pristine 0.00 ERA through 13 innings with a 7:1 K:BB, delivering two straight quality starts to begin his 2024 campaign. While he's been impressive so far, his hot streak may not last too much longer considering he hasn't posted an ERA below 4.28 since his 10-start debut in 2017. Blackburn does line up for a favorable matchup in his next start, however, at home against the Nationals next weekend.

Buehler (elbow) struck out six over 4.2 shutout innings in a rehab start with Oklahoma City on Saturday.

Buehler yielded just two hits, didn't walk anyone and induced 12 whiffs on 65 pitches. He averaged 93.8 mph with his four-seamer, which is down 1.4 mph from what he averaged during the 2022 season prior to Tommy John surgery. Buehler is expected to make at least two more rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation, and hopefully he'll rediscover a little more velocity between now and then.

Martinez gave up five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision against the Mets on Saturday.

Martinez looks antsy on the mound with his unique, fidgety setup, and he's made fantasy managers antsy so far with eight earned runs allowed on 14 hits through two starts (10 innings). While he doesn't have overpowering stuff, Martinez has a number of different offerings in his repertoire and is willing to challenge hitters in the strike zone. The Reds are expected to get Nick Lodolo (leg) back next week, which could push Andrew Abbott out of the rotation. Another option would be to transition Martinez to a long-relief/swingman role.

Major League Baseball officially listed Strasburg as retired Saturday.

Strasburg had been set to announce his retirement from professional baseball last September, but he nixed those plans why he and the Nationals continued to negotiate terms of the retirement. With Strasburg's retirement now official, he'll receive the entirety of the more than $100 million that remains on the seven-year, $245 million contract extension he signed in December 2019, though a portion of that money will be deferred, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. The 35-year-old's career came to a premature end after he struggled to bounce back from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in July 2021, but he had a terrific run for Washington after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2029 First-Year Player Draft. Over parts of 13 seasons in the majors, Strasburg compiled 113 wins, a 3.24 ERA, and 1,723 strikeouts over 1,470 innings. Strasburg made three All-Star teams and was the World Series MVP in 2019 when the Nationals won their only title in franchise history.

Severino was charged with two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over five innings in a no-decision against the Reds on Saturday. He struck out seven.

A fielding error by second baseman Jeff McNeil led to the first run of the game, and Severino gave the Reds another run on a bases-loaded walk later in the same inning. However, he buckled down from there and left with a three-run lead, only for the bullpen to give it up. Severino has a 3.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through two starts spanning 10 innings. A projected matchup in Atlanta next week dings his short-term outlook, but the veteran righty will be in the streaming conversation most weeks and should remain rostered in most fantasy leagues, especially in light of the rash of pitching injuries around the league.