MLB Player News

Smyly (personal) and the Cubs won't play Friday against the Dodgers after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Smyly was a potential starter for Friday's matchup after spending time on the bereavement list, but the game ultimately won't be played. The southpaw will take the mound in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, while Daniel Norris will start in the nightcap, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Bello allowed one unearned run on three walks while striking out five over seven hitless innings Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader for Double-A Portland.

Bello lasted seven innings for just the second time in his career and did it with a flourish. The right-hander is off to a flying start for the Sea Dogs, posting a 1.95 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks over 27.2 innings.

Houck (2-2) picked up the loss Thursday, allowing seven runs on five hits, one walk and a hit batsman while striking out four over 2.1 innings against the Angels.

Houck's second turn as a piggyback pitcher behind Rich Hill did not go as well as his first. After Hill's five scoreless innings, Houck allowed a two-run home run to Jared Walsh in the seventh inning then was raked for five runs in the eighth. It's unclear what the next step is for Houck, who opened the season in the rotation but pitched in relief since missing a turn in Toronto due to his unvaccinated status. What is becoming clear is that Boston can't afford to leave Garrett Whitlock in the rotation -- he's much more valuable in the bullpen, which is seriously underperforming (4.50 ERA, 25th) -- so Houck could return to the rotation as a traditional starter.

Mikolas (2-1) allowed one run on seven hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against San Francisco on Thursday to earn the win. He struck out three.

The right-hander allowed plenty of traffic on the basepaths, but only one of the hits against him went for extra bases, and he got help from his bullpen to escape a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and remain in line for the win. Mikolas mostly pitched to contact -- he registered only five swinging strikes and three punchouts -- but was able to extend his streak of starts with two or fewer runs allowed to six games to begin the season. He has posted a 1.53 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 35.1 innings thus far, and he'll look to keep rolling in his next projected start, which lines up to come against Baltimore at home next week.

Luzardo (2-2) took the loss against San Diego on Thursday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven.

If not for Manny Machado, the outcome could have been dramatically different for the left-handed hurler. Machado swatted a pair of solo homers for San Diego's only two runs of the game, and the Marlins offense was unable to muster much of a protest against a trio of Padres pitchers. Despite the disappointing outcome, this was another positive outing for Luzardo, as he racked up 13 swinging strikes and finished with his second consecutive quality start. He'll carry a 3.08 ERA into his next appearance, which is tentatively slated to come in Arizona on Tuesday.

Ray (2-3) suffered the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.

Ray had one bad inning in the start -- Tampa Bay netted four runs against him in the fourth -- but that was enough to seal his fate on a night when Seattle produced only three runs. The southpaw nonetheless can take some positives away from the performance, as he racked up 15 swinging strikes and tossed his most innings since his first start of the campaign. Ray has gone at least six frames in all but one of his appearances this season and has a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 30.1 innings. He's lined up to face Philadelphia at home early next week.

McClanahan (2-2) earned the win over Seattle on Thursday, completing 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five.

After striking out at least seven batters in each of his first five starts of the season, McClanahan racked up a more modest five punchouts and induced just eight swinging strikes Thursday. Nonetheless, the southpaw kept the Mariners off the scoreboard for the first four innings and departed after 5.1 frames having done enough to earn the win. McClanahan has yet to surrender more than three runs in an outing this season and has looked the part of an ace with a 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB across 32.1 innings. He's expected to next take the mound in Los Angeles against the Angels on Tuesday.

Gil tossed five innings in a start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine.

The right-hander finally had a solid outing, going five innings for the first time this season and registering a campaign-best nine punchouts. It's otherwise been a struggle for Gil at Triple-A this season, as he has registered a 9.53 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over five starts. The 23-year-old is considered one of the Yankees' top pitching prospects after posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 38:19 K:BB across 29.1 innings in his first big-league stint in 2021.

Walker allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out two across four innings Thursday against the Phillies. He did not factor into the decision.

Walker surrendered three hits and two walks in the first inning, which accounted for three of his earned runs. He also surrendered back-to-back homers to Nick Castellanos (wrist) and Bryce Harper in the fourth inning. Walker had yet to allow an earned run across his first two starts this season, but he wasn't sharp in Thursday's appearance.

Nola allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven across seven innings Thursday against the Mets. He did not factor into the decision.

Nola allowed just a solo home run to Starling Marte in the seventh inning in an otherwise dominant outing. He exited the game with a 7-1 lead, but the Philadelphia bullpen imploded to blow what appeared to be a certain win for Nola. After allowing seven earned runs across his first two starts of the season, Nola has allowed only six earned runs across his last four starts and 25.1 frames. Overall, he owns a 3.38 ERA with a 41:6 K:BB across 34.2 innings.