MLB Player News

Brown is a candidate to pitch multiple innings behind opening pitcher Luke Little in Wednesday's game against the Rockies at Wrigley Field, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Little pitched an inning in Tuesday's 12-2 win over Colorado and is unlikely to work more than a frame or two before turning the game over to the bullpen. Though he'll be available on only three days' rest after he tossed 1.2 innings and 44 pitches in his MLB debut Saturday against the Rangers, Brown seems to be the most logical option to cover the bulk of the innings once Little exits the contest. Brown thus could be in a good position to scoop up a win against a Rockies club that enters Tuesday's game with a 1-5 record and a minus-33 run differential.

Freeland (0-2) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering seven runs on nine hits and three walks over 3.1 innings as the Rockies were routed 12-2 by the Cubs. He struck out two.

Chicago put at least one run on the board in every inning the southpaw pitched, starting with a two-run homer by Seiya Suzuki in the first inning. Freeland has had a brutal beginning to the season, coughing up 17 runs in only 5.2 innings -- and he hasn't even pitched at Coors Field yet. The 30-year-old lines up to make his first home start early next week against Arizona, the team that lit him up for 10 runs on Opening Day.

Heaney (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Rays after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out seven in 4.2 innings. He did not issue a walk.

Heaney started the game on fire, striking out four of the first seven batters he faced. He endured some tough luck in the third after the Rays scored on a base hit that likely would've been a ground out had the ball not deflected off Heaney's glove. The southpaw opened up the fifth with back-to-back punchouts but couldn't finish the frame after a Jared Walsh error kept the inning alive and led to four more runs, none of which were charged to Heaney. He's set to take the mound again next week versus the Astros and will hope for some better fortune against the Rangers' division rivals.

Eflin (1-1) picked up the win over the Rangers on Tuesday after allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.1 innings.

Eflin needed just 69 pitches to get through six innings before running into some trouble in the seventh. He allowed two hits to the first three batters he faced that inning before a Jonah Heim single drove in the Rangers' first run of the day and led to Eflin being pulled from the game. It was a major bounce-back performance against one of the league's most dangerous lineups after Eflin struggled a bit in his first start of the year. He's lined up to take the mound on the road against the Angels early next week.

Luzardo (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Angels after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings.

The Marlins dropped their sixth straight game to open the 2024 season, though Luzardo pitched well enough. A fourth-inning solo home run by Aaron Hicks was the lone blemish against him until he wound up being charged with two more runs in the sixth. Luzardo's only given up six hits while maintaining a solid 13:4 K:BB in 10.1 innings over two starts. He projects to face the Yankees on the road in his next start as he searches for his first win this year.

Anderson (1-0) earned the win over the Marlins on Tuesday after scattering four hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Anderson had arguably his best start in an Angels uniform and was the first Angels' starter this year to reach six innings. It was also the first time he's gone seven scoreless since Sept. 12, 2022. Anderson had his changeup working, as he threw it 41 percent of the time and recorded all five punchouts with that pitch. The 34-year-old southpaw tentatively lines up for a two-start week next week beginning with the Rays at home.

Irvin (0-1) took the loss Tuesday versus Kansas City, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters over five innings.

Irvin accumulated a 6.23 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 17.1 innings during spring training, and his camp woes seem to have followed him into the regular season. Nick Loftin and Maikel Garcia combined to drive in three runs against the left-hander in the second inning Tuesday, and Garcia capped off the scoring with an RBI triple in the fourth. Irvin is lined up to start again versus Boston next week, though his time in Baltimore's rotation will likely come to an end once Kyle Bradish (elbow) or John Means (forearm) return from their respective injuries.

Bello did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings against Oakland. He struck out six.

All four of the runs charged to Bello came on a pair of two-run homers, one in the second inning off the bat of Shea Langeliers followed by a JJ Bleday blast in the third. The 24-year-old Bello's now allowed six earned runs through his first 10 innings this season after going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 132:45 K:BB last year. He's currently lined up to face Baltimore in the Red Sox home opener next Tuesday.

Cortes (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

Cortes allowed three runs in the first inning for a second straight start Tuesday. Like his previous outing versus Houston, Cortes would rebound to blank the Diamondbacks over his final four frames, though he'd ultimately take the loss as the Yankees couldn't crack Zac Gallen in a shutout defeat. Cortes will look to limit the early damage in his next start, currently lined up for next week versus Miami.

Kopech allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out one across 1.2 innings to earn the save Tuesday against Atlanta.

Kopech relieved John Brebbia in the eighth inning with a 3-0 lead while inheriting runners on first and second base. He walked the first batter he faced before inducing a double play to get out of the jam. Kopech then returned to the mound in the ninth frame and served up a home run to Marcell Ozuna before allowing two additional runners to reach base. This usage suggests Kopech will get the initial chance in the closer role for the White Sox, though his first career save hardly came convincingly.