MLB Player News

Lopez (3-3) earned the win Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out six.

Lopez has given up four or more runs in four of his last seven starts as he hasn't hit his stride yet after some struggles in late April. He's still a good source of strikeouts with an 11.2 K/9.

Crawford was removed from Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks with a bruised right ankle, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Crawford was hit in the ankle by a comebacker, and he was unable to continue after throwing a few warmup pitches. The right-hander will likely need to undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury, but for now he's considered day-to-day.

Crawford was removed from Saturday's game against Arizona with a trainer after being hit in the foot by a comebacker, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Crawford was able to make the play after the ball hit him in the foot, but after a few warmup pitches he was removed from the contest. Chris Martin has entered the game in Crawford's place. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day at this stage.

Velasquez was removed from Saturday's start against Seattle with right elbow discomfort. He allowed four runs on seven hits over two innings with three strikeouts and one walk before exiting, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Velasquez was making his first start since early May, as he was sidelined with inflammation in the same elbow. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day at this stage, but his next start is very much in doubt.

Contreras is expected to move into a bullpen role for the near future, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Contreras still has time to deliver on his prospect pedigree, as he's just 23 years old, but his season so far has been a disappointment. He owns a 4.50 ERA through nine starts, with a 5.44 xFIP and 5.48 SIERA indicating that things could be considerably worse. His 16.4 percent strikeout rate, 10.8 percent walk rate and 35.5 percent groundball rate are all significantly worse than average. There's been no indication that the Pirates intend to permanently move him to the bullpen, but spending at least a few weeks there could help him reset while also help keep his innings in check. He threw 129.1 frames last season, so 150 innings is probably a fair target for this year.

Pfaadt was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

Pfaadt was one of the games' more hyped pitching prospects over the offseason, but things haven't gone to plan through his first five big-league starts, as his 8.37 ERA indicates. After posting a 31.2 percent strikeout rate in the upper minors over the last two seasons, his strikeout rate dipped to 16.8 percent upon promotion, and he also allowed eight homers in 23.2 innings. Zach Davies returns from an oblique injury to take Pfaadt's spot in the rotation, and the rookie may have to show some improvement in the minors across multiple starts before being considered for another opportunity.

Davies (oblique) was reinstated from the injured list as expected Saturday ahead of his scheduled start against Boston.

Davies recorded a 5.79 ERA and 7:6 K:BB across a pair of starts at the beginning of the season before suffering an oblique strain. He now owns an even 5.00 ERA over the last three seasons, but he'll nonetheless step back into a rotation role with Brandon Pfaadt taking his 8.37 ERA back to the minors.

Whitlock (elbow) was activated from the 15-day injured list and will start Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Whitlock will join the Red Sox in Arizona and make his first major-league start since being placed on the 15-day IL on April 28 with right elbow ulnar neuritis. The 26-year-old allowed one run on nine hits and a walk while striking out eight batters over 8.2 innings in two starts with Triple-A Worcester during his rehab assignment. In three outings with Boston this year, Whitlock has produced a 6.19 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with a deflated 6.2 K/9, which is far below his career average of 9.7 from his first two seasons. To make room on the major-league roster for Whitlock, left-hander Brennan Bernardino was optioned to Triple-A on Friday.

Pfaadt does not have a locker in the Diamondbacks' clubhouse, which likely means he's been optioned, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

It would seem several roster moves are imminent. Zach Davies (oblique) is set to return from the injured list and Drey Jameson is said to be with the team, presumably to provide bullpen depth after Pfaadt only went 3.2 innings in Friday's loss. The future is bright for Pfaadt, but he's struggled to keep the ball in the yard in his first cup of coffee, resulting in an 8.37 ERA through five starts.

Ortiz is expected to start Sunday's game against Mariners, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

As delos Santos notes, Roansy Contreras had previously been scheduled to pitch Saturday. However, Vince Velasquez (elbow) was deemed ready to return and Ortiz is apparently getting another chance Sunday, which leaves Contreras' next start TBD. Perhaps the Pirates will go with six arms a turn or two through the rotation. Ortiz had some bumps in the road early but bounced back this week with 7.2 innings of two-run ball against the Rangers.