MLB Player News

Whitlock will likely start Saturday's game against the Rays, unless he's used in relief Thursday or Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Whitlock served mainly as a starter in the minors, but his first 50 big-league appearances have come in relief. He's been effective early in 2022, posting a 0.93 ERA and 0.62 WHIP in 9.2 innings while picking up a win and converting one of two save chances. However, the Red Sox are shuffling their rotation ahead of their upcoming road trip to Toronto, so manager Alex Cora said Whitlock will likely make his first major-league start on the road against Tampa Bay on Saturday. The rotation change is expected to be temporary, brought about by unvaccinated starter Tanner Houck being unable to start when the Red Sox head to Canada for a series in Toronto.

Rasmussen allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four across three innings Wednesday against the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.

Rasmussen was handed a 4-0 lead in the opening frame, but he failed to work efficiently and lost the chance to earn his first win of the campaign. He wasn't hit particularly hard, though multiple batters reached base in every inning that he worked. Positively, Rasmussen generated four groundball outs and threw a first-pitch strike to 13 of the 16 hitters he faced. Rasmussen has a 5.25 ERA and has failed to complete five innings in two of his three starts to begin the season.

Toussaint was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Toussaint spent just two days on the big-league roster and didn't get into a game. He'll head back to Triple-A to await his next chance, a level where he's struck out 16 batters in 8.2 innings across a pair of starts.

Woodruff tossed six scoreless innings and picked up the win in Wednesday's victory over the Pirates. He allowed just one hit and two walks to go along with nine strikeouts.

Woodruff has turned things around in a big way after allowing seven earned runs in his season debut, going 2-0 over his last two starts while giving up just four hits and posting an 11:3 K:BB over 11.0 innings. Woodruff toed the rubber only once again Pittsburgh last season, but he is set to face them for a second straight start next week.

Berrios (1-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Red Sox, giving up one run on eight hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six.

Boston got to him for a run in the first inning, but Berrios settled in after that and cruised to the win after Toronto erupted for five runs in the second frame. The right-hander tossed 68 of 96 pitches for strikes in his first quality start of the season, and while his ratios remain shaky due to his brutal outing Opening Day, he has a 3.27 ERA and 11:4 K:BB through 11 innings over his last two starts.

Keuchel (1-1) allowed 10 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and one walk with zero strikeouts across one inning to take the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Keuchel was let down by his defense in the outing, as the White Sox committed three errors on the first six balls in play. However, he was hit hard thereafter, allowing eight consecutive hits in the second inning -- with the biggest being a grand slam by Jose Ramirez. It was an unequivocally disastrous effort, though it is worth noting that Keuchel had his start pushed back twice due to postponements caused by weather. He also threw better in his initial appearance of the season, when he surrendered three earned runs across five innings while striking out five against the Mariners. Given that, Keuchel should have the chance to rebound in his next turn through the rotation, which is currently projected to come Tuesday at Kansas City.

Kelly (1-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's 11-2 rout of the Nationals, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander saw his scoreless streak to begin the season end at 15 innings, but he still put together another excellent outing in his first quality start of the season, and this time he actually got some run support. Kelly sports a 0.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB through 15.1 innings, and while some regression is clearly due, even his current 1.70 FIP is outstanding.

Odorizzi (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering six runs (three earned) on two hits and four walks over two-thirds of an inning as the Astros fell 6-0 to the Angels. He struck out two.

The first five Los Angeles batters all reached base against Odorizzi, and while a Yuli Gurriel two-out error after he'd already gotten the hook tacked some additional runs onto his ledger, there's no silver lining for the right-hander here. Odorizzi has a brutal 9.00 ERA, 2.56 WHIP and 5:7 K:BB through nine innings over his first three starts, and it may not be long before he loses his spot in the rotation entirely given how effective Cristian Javier has been in long relief, including 3.2 scoreless frames Wednesday.

Keller (0-3) allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks while striking out seven across 5.1 innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Brewers.

Keller entered Wednesday's start having walked five batters across only 7.2 innings of work. However, he was consistently in the zone against the Brewers, as 58 of his 75 pitches went for strikes, and he started ahead in the count for 17 of the 20 batters he faced. The overall results followed this improvement, as Keller allowed only a solo home run to Rowdy Tellez in the second inning. Though he still took the loss, this was an encouraging step for Keller, who lines up to make his next start Tuesday at home in a rematch against Milwaukee.

Alcantara didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Cardinals, allowing four hits and a walk over eight scoreless innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander shut down the Cardinals' offense over 98 pitches (62 strikes), and Alcantara didn't allow a runner to get past second base all night. Unfortunately, the Marlins' bats couldn't get anything going either, and he exited the game in a scoreless tie. Alcantara will take a 1.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB through 19.1 innings into his next outing.