MLB Player News

Lugo (calf) will face live hitters soon and hopes to return to the Padres without needing a minor-league rehab assignment, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lugo threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Friday and completed running drills Saturday before another scheduled bullpen Monday, so he appears to be well on his way to a return from the calf strain that led to his placement on the 15-day IL in mid-May. Though the right-hander hopes to rejoin the big club without a rehab stint, it's uncertain whether the organization will follow that plan given that Lugo has already spent more than the minimum time on the injured list. Whenever he does return, Lugo should have a spot in the rotation waiting for him, as Ryan Weathers has been mostly unimpressive as his fill-in.

Hendricks (0-2) took the loss against San Diego on Monday, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four batters over six innings.

In Hendricks' third start of the campaign, he was able to go a season-high six innings, though he also yielded a season-high four earned runs. The veteran was efficient enough in throwing 54 of 84 pitches for a strike and issuing no free passes, but he also missed very few bats, notching just six swinging strikes. Hendricks has been so-so with a 4.70 ERA and 1.50 ERA through 15.1 innings thus far. His lack of strikeouts has long been a weight on his fantasy value, and that's not likely to change in his age-33 campaign.

Snell (2-6) earned the win over the Cubs on Monday, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over six scoreless innings.

Snell didn't resolve his season-long command issues -- he handed out multiple free passes for the sixth straight outing -- but he yielded just two hits, both of which were singles. The left-hander also racked up 17 whiffs and fell one shy of his season high with eight strikeouts. Snell appears to be finding his groove, as he has posted back-to-back scoreless starts, during which he has surrendered just five hits and tallied 15 strikeouts over 12 innings. His ERA was up to 5.40 through May 19, but with three strong outings since then, it now stands at a much more respectable 4.06.

Wainwright didn't factor in the decision against Texas on Monday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 5.1 innings.

This was by no means a virtuoso performance for the veteran, but he rebounded from a three-run second frame to give the Cardinals decent length and allow them to stay competitive. Wainwright needed 106 pitches to get through 5.1 innings, though he retired eight of the final 10 batters he faced to go out on a good note. The right-hander missed over the first month of the campaign due to a groin injury and hasn't quite found his footing since returning May 6, posting a 5.97 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB through 31.2 innings.

Perez allowed an unearned run on three hits and one walk over seven innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Monday. He struck out five batters.

Perez tossed arguably his best game of the campaign, giving up a season-low three hits and tying a season high by completing seven frames. The only run he allowed was unearned, and he finished with his fifth quality start. The southpaw was in line for the win when he departed, but Grant Anderson gave up two runs in relief in the eighth inning, sending Perez to a no-decision. Despite that disappointment, Perez bounced back nicely after giving up six earned runs over 4.2 frames against Detroit his last time out.

Teheran (1-2) took the loss against Cincinnati on Monday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 6.1 innings.

Teheran couldn't quite match the excellence of rookie hurler Andrew Abbott, who allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings for the Reds. However, the veteran pitched well in his own right, throwing a season-high 6.1 frames and notching his second straight quality start. Though Teheran has lost two of his three starts on the campaign, he's given up just three earned runs over 17.1 innings for a 1.56 ERA. He isn't striking out many batters, pitched in independent ball last season and hasn't posted a season ERA lower than 3.50 in the majors since 2016, so there's reason to be skeptical about his resurgence. That said, Teheran has had major-league success in the past, so there's a chance he could can maintain fantasy relevance even if his numbers eventually fall back closer to his career norms.

Abbott (1-0) earned the win over Milwaukee on Monday, allowing one hit and four walks while striking out six batters over six scoreless innings.

Abbott's control was a bit shaky, but he gave up just one hit -- a fifth-inning Joey Wiemer double -- in six scoreless frames. The rookie southpaw walked four batters, though some of that may be chalked up to nerves as three of them came to the first six Brewers he faced. Abbott was already expected to get more than just a spot start, and his results Monday should cement that decision. He's tentatively slated to face the Cardinals on the road his next time out.

Hart signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Monday.

Hart was let go by the Phillies in April, and he'll now head to Seattle where he'll likely serve as organizational depth. He last appeared in the big leagues during the 2020 season with Boston, when he struggled to a 15.55 ERA and 3.09 WHIP with a 13:10 K:BB across 11 innings.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Rodon (back/forearm) is slated to face hitters Wednesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

While Rodon appears to be past the forearm strain that emerged early in spring training, he's been set back by an unrelated back injury that required a cortisone shot several weeks ago. The southpaw has subsequently started ramping back up and resumed mound work in late May. With throwing sessions against live hitters now in the forecast, Rodon appears to be inching closer to making his Yankees debut, though even if he encounters no further obstacles he's likely still several weeks away. It's possible that he could return in late June, though an early July target may be more feasible.

Sears allowed one run on two hits and five walks over 4.2 innings in Monday's loss to the Pirates. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision.

Sears tossed four shutout frames before the Pirates finally broke through in the fifth inning. His lack of command caused him to throw a career-high 112 pitches despite not finishing five innings. On the bright side, he's given up two or fewer earned runs in five straight starts, dropping his ERA to 4.20 through 64.1 frames. Sears is currently lined up to start in Milwaukee this weekend.