MLB Player News

Walker is slated to start Friday's game against the Brewers in Philadelphia, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.

Aaron Nola is eligible to return from the injured list Friday, but he looks as though he'll require a little more time beyond the minimum 15 days to recover from a right ankle sprain before getting activated. As a result, Walker will receive a second straight turn in the rotation in Nola's stead. While making his first start since May 1 last Wednesday in Colorado, Walker scooped up a win while allowing three runs on six hits and two walks and striking out two over five innings. He'll head into Friday's outing with a 2.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB in 39.1 innings through his nine appearances (seven starts) on the season.

Paddack (2-5) took the loss against Tampa Bay on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings

Paddack allowed just three hits through five scoreless frames but ran into trouble in the sixth, surrendering a single and a double while retiring only one batter. That resulted in the right-hander getting the hook, and he was charged with two runs when both of the runners he left behind scored on a Jonathan Aranda homer off reliever Brock Stewart. Minnesota was unable to come back, resulting in Paddack's fifth loss of the campaign, but this was nonetheless another promising outing by the veteran hurler. After giving up 12 earned runs over his first two starts of the season, Paddack hasn't yielded more than three earned runs in any of his subsequent nine outings. He's posted a 2.34 ERA during that span, bringing his mark down to a respectable 3.92 overall.

Littell (4-5) earned the win over Minnesota on Monday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 6.1 innings.

Littell cruised through six scoreless frames, giving up just three hits -- all singles -- during that span. He was lifted after hitting Ty France with a pitch with one out in the seventh despite being at only 72 pitches, and Littell was charged with a run when Carlos Correa brought France home on a two-run long ball off reliever Garrett Cleavinger. Nonetheless, Littell finished with his seventh quality start of the campaign, which is tied for 11th-most in the majors. A few clunkers early in the campaign have kept his ERA at a modest 3.97, but Littell hasn't given up more than three runs in an outing over his past eight starts and has a 2.96 ERA during that span. His next start is projected to be a road matchup against Houston this weekend.

Williams (4-3) took the loss against the Dodgers on Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and six walks while striking out three batters over 4.2 innings.

Williams' outing began ominously when Shohei Ohtani laced his first pitch to right field for a home run. That ended up being the only extra-base hit Williams allowed, but his struggles for the remainder of his time in the game were mostly centered on his control -- he issued a season-high six free passes and needed 109 pitches to get through 4.2 frames, with just 66 of his offerings being strikes. The control issues are nothing new for Williams, as he now leads the majors with 32 free passes allowed on the season. He's offered glimpses of excellence, especially with his 60 punchouts through 52.2 frames, and he racked up an impressive 15 whiffs Monday. However, Williams' WHIP stands at an inflated 1.58 due largely to the control issues, and his 4.27 ERA is well below league-average.

Patrick did not factor into the decision during Monday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and two walks and striking out six.

Patrick departed the game with the Brewers out in front, but did not quite make it the five innings required to qualify for the win. Still, he held his own against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet in a pitcher's duel. It continues a pattern for the 26-year-old as he has failed to reach five innings in five of his 11 starts, but he hasn't allowed over three runs in a single one all season. By keeping the Brewers in every game he's pitched in, the right-hander, even without a high volume of extended starts, is making a compelling case to stick in the rotation once the team gets healthier. His next scheduled start is on the road against the NL East-leading Phillies.

Kochanowicz (3-6) allowed four runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batsman over 6.2 innings to take the loss versus the Yankees on Monday.

Kochanowicz was perfect the first time through the order, but the Yankees sent everyone to the plate in a four-run fourth inning that gave them all the offense they needed. The 24-year-old right-hander has had mixed results in May -- he's had two starts allowing just one run, but he's given up four or more in his other three outings this month. For the season, he's at a 5.07 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 40:29 K:BB across 60.1 innings over 11 starts. His next start is projected to be on the road in Cleveland.

Yamamoto (6-3) earned the win over Cleveland on Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Yamamoto allowed just one extra-base hit (a double) and finished with his third straight quality start. The right-hander has fanned at least six batters in four of his past five outings and moved up to eighth in MLB with 75 strikeouts on the campaign. He also ranks second among qualified NL starters with a 1.97 ERA and ranks fifth in the majors with a 0.91 WHIP to put his name into firm early contention for Cy Young consideration. Yamamoto is tentatively projected for a tough challenge his next time out, as he's lined up to face the Yankees in Los Angeles this weekend.

Weathers allowed two unearned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Monday.

Weathers continued his strong start to the campaign Monday, coming up one out short of a quality start against his former team. This was the first time he's been tagged for multiple runs across three starts, as a two-out error by Connor Norby allowed the Padres to extend a rally in the fourth inning. Weathers threw 94 pitches (53 strikes) in this outing, displaying a bit of shaky control, but he looks fully stretched out at this point after opening the year on the injured list due to a forearm strain. Weathers has a 1.15 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB across 15.2 innings. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Giants over the weekend.

Crochet dropped to 4-4 on the season in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.2 innings.

After surrendering a leadoff home run to Jackson Chourio to begin the game, Crochet righted the ship and turned in yet another quality start. He has now posted six straight starts of allowing two earned runs or fewer, and he has gone no fewer than five frames in any start all season. Crochet owns a 2.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 75 innings in his first season in Boston and looks every bit like the ace the Red Sox had expected him to be when they acquired him over the winter.

Houser logged a no-decision against the Mets on Monday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out six batters over six-plus innings.

The Mets appeared mystified against Houser throughout most of Monday's matchup, as they managed to put just two runners on base over the first six innings. The veteran right-hander bent a bit in the seventh, allowing the first two New York batters to reach base, and was subsequently pulled; however, Chicago's bullpen was able to strand both runners to keep Houser unscored upon through two starts covering 12 frames with the team. It's been an improbable beginning to Houser's White Sox tenure, as he hasn't finished with an ERA below 4.12 in the majors since 2021 and was stuck in the Rangers' minor-league system to begin this year until being released May 15. He's earned a continued spot in Chicago's rotation and is tentatively scheduled to face Baltimore his next time out.