MLB Player News
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JR Ritchie SP | ATL
Braves' JR Ritchie: Strong start to campaign
Ritchie has posted a 1.72 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB through 15.2 innings over three starts for Triple-A Gwinnett this season.
The 22-year-old right-hander is coming off his best outing of the year so far Tuesday, allowing just one run over seven innings against Nashville with a 7:1 K:BB. Ritchie isn't yet on the 40-man roster and may be behind Didier Fuentes in the pecking order for a promotion as a result if Atlanta needs rotation help, but he's building a string case to make his big-league debut at some point in 2026.
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Jose Franco RP | CIN
Reds' Jose Franco: Sent to Triple-A
The Reds optioned Franco to Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
Franco made his MLB debut with the Reds on March 30 and worked three games out of the bullpen, registering a 3.18 ERA, 2.12 WHIP and 4:5 K:BB across 5.2 innings. He'll need to work on his command in the minors. In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled Kyle Nicolas from Louisville.
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Chase Dollander SP | COL
Rockies' Chase Dollander: Fares well behind opener
Dollander allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against San Diego on Thursday.
Dollander has yet to start a game this season, but he's completed at least four innings in all three of his appearances so far. The right-hander tossed 81 pitches Thursday, throwing 55 of them for strikes and getting a healthy 14 whiffs. Dollander opened the season in poor fashion by allowing four runs over four innings against Toronto on March 30 (while ironically picking up his lone win of the campaign so far), but he's since given up just two runs while posting a 9:2 K:BB across 8.2 frames over his subsequent two outings. It remains to be seen if he'll eventually be moved into a traditional starting role, but for now he seems to be feeling comfortable in bulk relief after struggling to a 2-12 record and 6.52 ERA across 21 appearances (all starts) as a rookie last season.
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Seth Lugo SP | KC
Royals' Seth Lugo: Takes loss despite quality start
Lugo (1-1) took the loss against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out four batters over 6.1 innings.
Lugo was a bit wild with his four walks, but he got three double plays from his defense and gave up just one earned run. However, Kansas City was unable to score any runs, consequently saddling the right-hander with his first loss. Lugo has opened the season in strong form, notching two quality starts through three outings and posting a 1.53 ERA across 17.2 frames. His next start is projected to come on the road versus the Tigers.
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Nolan McLean SP | NYM
Mets' Nolan McLean: Lacks support in tough-luck loss
McLean (1-1) took the loss against Arizona on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over 6.1 innings.
McLean rolled through six scoreless innings having given up just two hits. He faltered a bit in the seventh, giving up a walk and a single around his eighth strikeout, which led to him getting pulled. Luke Weaver entered and gave up a pair of hits while allowing both inherited runners to score (plus two more), which ultimately saddled McLean with the loss. Despite the defeat, this was another promising outing for the 24-year-old, who now carries a 2.70 ERA and 20:6 K:BB through three starts spanning 16.2 frames. He'll face a tough test his next time out, as he's lined up to start in Los Angeles against the Dodgers next week.
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Eduardo Rodriguez SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Eduardo Rodriguez: Excellent again Thursday
Rodriguez (1-0) earned the win over the Mets on Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over six innings.
Rodriguez allowed a solo homer to Luis Robert in the first inning, but New York was unable to score after that. That long ball represented the first -- and only -- earned run Rodriguez has given up through three starts, spanning 18 innings, in what has been a dazzling start to the campaign. The veteran southpaw's 11:5 K:BB is far less impressive, but as long as he continues to limit runs, fantasy managers will be happy to roll him out every fifth game. Rodriguez is next scheduled to take the mound in Baltimore against an Orioles squad that ranks in the bottom half of the league in runs scored so far this season.
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Cade Winquest RP | NYY
Yankees' Cade Winquest: Dropped from 40-man roster
Winquest was designated for assignment by the Yankees after Thursday's 1-0 loss to the Athletics, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
He is the odd man out with Luis Gil set to make his return to the major-league roster Friday. It does come as a bit of a surprise that Winquest lost his spot on the 40-man roster though, and he will now be subject to waivers. The right-hander made the Opening Day roster after joining the Yankees as a Rule 5 Draft pick in the offseason, but he never appeared in a game. If Winquest clears waivers, he'll be first offered back to the Cardinals, his original team, before he'll be eligible to remain with the Yankees' organization.
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Drew Rasmussen SP | TB
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: May be cleared to start Saturday
Rasmussen (personal) is on track to be activated from the paternity list no later than Saturday and could start the Rays' game that day against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Tampa Bay placed Rasmussen on the paternity list Wednesday, and he looks set to spend the maximum three days away from the team before rejoining the club Saturday. Steven Matz will draw the start in Friday's series opener, but Rasmussen could slot back into the rotation later in the weekend.
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Ryan Weathers SP | NYY
Yankees' Ryan Weathers: Takes tough-luck loss Thursday
Weathers (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Athletics, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks with seven strikeouts across eight innings.
Unfortunately for Weathers, the Yankees weren't able to score any runs against Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who allowed just one hit across seven shutout innings. Weathers had some of his best stuff on 101 pitches Thursday but took the tough-luck loss and remains winless through three starts with New York. Weathers has a 2.81 ERA and 18:5 K:BB across 16 innings and is slated to face the Angels at home Tuesday.
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Jack Flaherty SP | DET
Tigers' Jack Flaherty: Takes no-decision Thursday
Flaherty allowed one run on five hits across 5.2 innings and did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Twins. He walked three and struck out six.
Flaherty dealt with his fair share of baserunners on the afternoon, but he limited the damage and ultimately had a solid outing. The only run allowed by the righty came on a Josh Bell solo homer in the fourth inning. This was Flaherty's longest start of the season so far, and he managed to lower his ERA to 5.14 in the process. He also has 14 strikeouts across 14 total innings. Flaherty is still in search of his first win of the year, and he'll look to pick that up in his next appearance, which is scheduled for Wednesday against Kansas City.