MLB Player News

Garcia allowed five runs on five hits and a walk over six innings in Sunday's win over Toronto. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision.

Garcia cruised through three shutout innings with little resistance before Vladimir Guerrero knocked an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth. He then coughed up a solo home run to Lourdes Gurriel in the fifth followed by a three-run shot from Zack Collins in the sixth. Garcia remains 1-0 through three starts despite giving up eight runs over his last two outings, raising his ERA to 4.60. He's lined up for a rematch in Toronto next week.

Whitlock is penciled in to start Thursday's game in Toronto, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox haven't officially confirmed he will get the ball Thursday, but Whitlock is the most logical choice to stick in the rotation since Tanner Houck isn't eligible to make his scheduled turn in Toronto this week due to his vaccination status. Boston had already seemingly prepared for Houck's absence in Toronto by handing Whitlock his first start of the season Saturday, when the 25-year-old right-hander struck out seven and allowed one baserunner over four scoreless frames. He's thus lined up to return to the hill Thursday on the standard four days' rest, and he should be able to bump up his workload a bit from the 48 pitches he tossed against Tampa Bay.

Kikuchi allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks over 3.2 innings in Sunday's loss to Houston. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.

Kikuchi faced eight batters in the second inning but escaped after allowing just two runs, including a bases-loaded walk to Alex Bregman. He later coughed up a two-run shot to Michael Brantley in the fourth that bounced him from the game. The 30-year-old lefty saw his ERA climb to 3.75 through 12 innings this season. Kikuchi is expected to get a rematch with the Astros at home next week.

Luzardo (1-1) allowed a run on two hits and four walks while striking out eight in five innings to earn the win over Atlanta on Sunday.

Luzardo was charged with his first loss of the year during his last outing, but he entered the win column during Sunday's narrow victory. The 24-year-old has now posted a 3.77 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 14.1 innings while striking out 37.5 percent of the batters he's faced in his first three starts of the year. The southpaw tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Mariners on Saturday.

Houck came on in relief and struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Rays.

Even though Houck tossed five innings in his third start of the season just two days earlier, the Red Sox made him available out of the bullpen Sunday in anticipation of the right-hander not being available for the team's four-game series in Toronto that begins Monday. Because Houck has confirmed that he's unvaccinated, he isn't eligible to cross the border into Canada and will be placed on the restricted list in advance of the four-game series. The Red Sox are expected to turn to Garrett Whitlock to make a spot start the next time Houck's turn in the rotation comes up Thursday, while the latter will have at least four days to rest up before potentially making his next start in Baltimore next weekend.

Castillo (shoulder) tossed 2.1 innings Sunday in his rehab start for High-A Dayton, giving up one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out four.

Castillo needed 48 pitches to retire seven of the 11 batters he faced in his first game action at any level since spring training. He pumped in 27 of his pitches for strikes Sunday, and the Reds will likely want to see him show improved efficiency while simultaneously upping his pitch count in his next rehab start. Castillo could move up to Triple-A Louisville for that outing, which would likely be his last before he comes off the 10-day injured list and slots into the Cincinnati rotation.

Mets manager Buck Showalter clarified that deGrom (shoulder) underwent a CT scan Friday and is due for an MRI on Monday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Showalter seemed to suggest Saturday that deGrom received both the CT scan and MRI earlier in the weekend, but the follow-up imaging won't in fact come until Monday. DeGrom is just over three weeks into a four-week shutdown period after he was diagnosed with a stress reaction of his right scapula April 1, so he could be cleared to begin a throwing program within the next few days if the MRI reveals that he's made good progress in his recovery. Even if the MRI yields good news, deGrom will likely need at least three weeks to get his arm conditioned for a starter's workload, so he's unlikely to make his 2022 debut until the second half of May, at the earliest.

Suarez allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings while striking out six in a 7-6 win Sunday over Baltimore. He did not factor into the decision.

Suarez was the beneficiary of a six-run first inning by the Angels' offense but was unable to get through the fifth to put himself in line for the victory. All of the damage against him came on a three-run homer by Trey Mancini in the third inning. The lefty has pitched 4.1 innings in all three of his starts, allowing two or three runs in each appearance. After allowing a career-low 3.3 BB/9 in 2021, the 24-year-old has walked nine in 13 innings this season. His next start will likely come next weekend against the White Sox.

Giolito allowed one run on four hits and three walks in Sunday's loss to Minnesota. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision.

Making his first start since April 8 after a stint on the injured list for an abdomen issue, Giolito tossed 48 of 76 pitches for strikes and forced an impressive 17 whiffs. The only damage against him was an RBI sacrifice fly by Gio Urshela in the third inning. The 6-foot-6 righty is now sporting a 1.13 ERA with a 15:5 K:BB through eight innings. Giolito is lined up to face the Angels at home next week.

Megill (3-0) registered the win during Sunday's 6-2 victory over Arizona, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

Megill was dominant early, limiting the damage to a Christian Walker solo home run in the fourth, but ran into trouble in the seventh after allowing two hits and a run prompting his removal in what was still a tight game. The 26-year-old has been solid in each of his first four starts and manager Buck Showalter has let Megill pitch deeper into the game during each turn, topping out at 92 pitches Sunday. Megill's currently slated to square off against Philadelphia on Friday.