MLB Player News

Kikuchi picked up the win Wednesday against the Yankees, tossing six innings and surrendering one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven against the Yankees.

Kikuchi put together his best outing of the season Wednesday, ultimately ending the Yankees' 11-game win streak. The 30-year-old notched a season-high seven strikeouts on his way to his first quality start and win of the campaign. The only blemish on his line came in the top of the third inning when Joey Gallo took him deep for a solo shot. Kikuchi now owns a 4.35 ERA and 1.55 WHIP while registering 20 strikeouts over 20.2 innings.

Kluber allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven across six scoreless innings Wednesday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision.

Kluber needed only 64 pitches to retire 18 batters, and he has now completed six innings in consecutive starts. He also generated 10 swinging strikes to aid him to a season-best seven strikeouts. Kluber has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his five starts to begin the campaign, and he owns a 2.36 ERA with a 25:6 K:BB across 26.2 frames.

Montas allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six across seven scoreless innings Wednesday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.

Montas was dominant for his entire outing, as he scattered three singles and a double across his seven innings of work. He wasn't prolific in terms of strikeouts, though he does have at least six punchouts in five of his six starts this season. Montas has also allowed two or fewer earned runs four times to begin the campaign, resulting in a 3.44 ERA across 36.2 frames.

Ashby is scheduled to start Sunday's game in Atlanta, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The 23-year-old pitched in long relief Tuesday behind Brandon Woodruff and delivered 2.1 scoreless frames, and he'll rejoin the rotation this weekend. The Brewers apparently want to keep their starters on a six-day pitching schedule, and Ashby will bounce between the bullpen and rotation as needed. The left-hander has pitched well early in 2022 with a 2.33 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 22:13 K:BB across 19.1 innings.

Irvin underwent an MRI on his left shoulder Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Irvin is being evaluated for shoulder soreness, and it's not a major surprise that evaluation includes an MRI. The 28-year-old's next turn through the rotation comes up Friday at Minnesota, and his availability for that start is questionable at best.

Manager David Bell said Castillo (shoulder) is "penciled in" to return from the 10-day injured list to start in the Reds' series opener Monday against the Brewers in Cincinnati, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Castillo will likely be confirmed to make his season debut Monday once he completes a bullpen session over the weekend. Bell's comments on the right-hander's upcoming return came shortly after Castillo dominated in his third minor-league rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Louisville. He worked 4.1 innings and tossed 76 pitches (48 strikes) in the outing, striking out seven while giving up zero runs on three hits and two walks. Castillo should be in line for about a 90-to-100-pitch workload when he returns from the IL next week.

Castillo (shoulder) made his third rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Louisville, striking out seven over 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and two walks.

Castillo tossed 48 of his 76 pitches for strikes in the start and generally steered clear of trouble during the afternoon. Given his workload and how effectively he pitched Wednesday, Castillo is likely to come off the 10-day injured list to make his next start with the Reds. He tentatively lines up to start Monday's series opener against the Brewers in Cincinnati, though it's possible the Reds extend him an extra day of rest before clearing him for his season debut.

Manager Alex Cora said Hill will likely be piggybacked by Tanner Houck during the lefty's upcoming start Thursday against the Angels, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Hill and Houck previously worked in a tandem during the former's most recent start April 29 in Baltimore. The pairing yielded favorable results, as Hill submitted four scoreless innings and allowed one hit and no walks before Houck stepped in to deliver three scoreless frames. Unfortunately for Hill, it was Houck who came away with the win, and the latter may continue to have the clearer path to factoring into the decision Thursday by virtue of working later in the contest. Cora said that the Red Sox will reassess their rotation setup next week, at which point it's possible that Houck reclaims a starting role of his own while Garrett Whitlock moves back into the bullpen.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Houck is likely to be used in a piggyback arrangement when Rich Hill's next turn in the rotation comes up Thursday against the Angels, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

After Houck was reinstated from the restricted list April 29, he was used behind Hill in the latter's most recent start in Baltimore later that same day. The pairing bore favorable results, as Houck struck out four over three scoreless frames en route to picking up the win after Hill turned in four scoreless innings before him. Cora indicated that he plans to see how the Hill/Houck pair plays out this time around before reassessing whether to add Houck back to the rotation next week in a traditional starting role or to keep him on hand in the bullpen. If the Red Sox do decide to reintegrate Houck into the rotation, Garrett Whitlock would likely head back to the bullpen and serve as a versatile multi-inning arm.

Manager Mark Kotsay said Wednesday that Irvin is being evaluated due to shoulder soreness, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

While the left-hander hasn't yet been ruled out for Friday's start against Minnesota, Zach Logue has been added to the Athletics' taxi squad in case Irvin is unable to pitch. Kotsay said the Athletics will decide Thursday whether Irvin is able to take the mound during Friday's matchup, so he should tentatively be considered day-to-day.