MLB Player News

Gallen (1-1) earned the win Monday, allowing zero runs on three hits and one walk over seven innings in a 3-0 victory over the Brewers. He struck out 11.

The only time the Brewers got multiple runners on base against Gallen came in the second inning, but the right-hander got out of the jam by striking out back-to-back batters and went into cruise control after that. Gallen's first two starts of the campaign were a bit shaky, serving up nine earned runs across 10.2 innings, but Monday's outing should put him right back on track. Across 31 starts last year (184 innings), Gallen posted a 2.54 ERA with a 192:47 K:BB.

Atlanta optioned Dodd to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Dodd pitched well in his major-league debut but was knocked around in his second outing. With Kyle Wright (shoulder) returning from the 15-day injured list and rejoining the rotation, Dodd will now head to Gwinnett as he waits for another opportunity.

Atlanta activated Wright (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

After missing his first two turns through the rotation while rehabbing a shoulder injury, Wright has been cleared to make his season debut Tuesday versus the Reds in Atlanta. The right-hander's velocity was down during his lone rehab start last week at Triple-A Gwinnett, during which he allowed five runs over six frames. With that in mind, fantasy managers might want to wait on activating him until he gets through Tuesday's outing.

Crawford was optioned to Triple-A Worcester by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Crawford's two fill-in starts were a mixed bag and he will now head to Worcester with Garrett Whitlock back in the fold. Crawford is likely to see more big-league action this season, whether it's as a starter or reliever.

Whitlock was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Whitlock is set to make his season debut Tuesday as he attempts to cool off the red-hot Rays. The right-hander pitched well on his rehab assignment, allowing just two runs with a 14:2 K:BB over 10 innings. Whitlock held a 4.15 ERA in nine starts last season versus a 2.75 ERA in 22 relief appearances.

Matz (0-2) took the loss against Colorado on Monday, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.

Matz surrendered just two extra-base hits -- both of which were doubles -- in the outing, but he allowed 12 total baserunners to put himself in constant trouble. Half of those baserunners came across the third and fourth frames, during which the Rockies piled up four combined runs. Matz has struggled to get runners out during his first two appearances of the campaign, yielding a combined 19 hits and 10 runs over 11 innings. He's posted a decent 11:3 K:BB over that span, but after registering a 5.25 ERA in his first campaign as a Cardinal last year, it's becoming increasingly difficult to see him as a viable fantasy asset.

Greinke fell to 0-3 with a loss against the Rangers on Monday. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.

Though Greinke lost his first two starts of the campaign, he pitched quite well, allowing just three runs over 11.1 combined innings. The veteran didn't fare as well Monday, but he kept the Royals competitive before the team's bullpen fell apart following his departure. Greinke was stung by a pair of Rangers homers -- the first two long balls he has given up this season -- and he struck out a season-low three batters. He still has a solid 3.31 ERA through three outings, but he may not rack up many victories this season while pitching for a Kansas City club that thus far has displayed one of MLB's worst offenses.

Heaney (1-1) earned the win against Kansas City on Monday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters over five innings.

Heaney's outing didn't start off well, as three of the first four batters reached base against him, though one was by way of an error that resulted in an unearned run. Things got significantly better for the left-handed hurler from there, as each of the nine batters he faced following the error went down on strikes. The run of consecutive punchouts tied an American League record and was one behind Tom Seaver's MLB record set in 1970. Heaney finished the outing with a massive 19 swinging strikes and 10 total punchouts in earning his first victory as a Ranger. He's always had big strikeout potential, highlighted by a career-best 13.6 K/9 with the Dodgers last season. However, with a career ERA of 4.60 and after allowing seven runs on 2.2 innings in his season debut, it's hard to count on consistency from Heaney on a game-to-game basis.

Castillo did not factor in the decision against the Cubs on Monday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

Castillo wasn't quite as dominant as in his first two starts of the campaign, when he threw a combined 11.2 scoreless frames during which he allowed just three hits. Though he gave up his first two runs of the season Monday, the talented right-hander earned a quality start and kept the Mariners competitive in a low-scoring affair. Castillo has posted a minuscule 1.02 ERA through his first three starts, though has just one win to show for it.

Smyly pitched five innings against Seattle on Monday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. He did not factor in the decision.

Smyly did not fare well in his first appearance of the campaign, yielding six earned runs over 4.2 innings against the Reds. The left-hander turned things around Monday, limiting the Mariners to just three baserunners, all of whom reached in the fourth inning. Smyly finished his outing by striking out the side in the fifth, and he racked up 11 swinging strikes in the contest. Though the Cubs weren't able to get him the win, this was a positive bounce-back for the veteran hurler, who tentatively lines up for a tough road start against the Dodgers his next time out.