MLB Player News

Sterner (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.

Sterner was called upon for his first save chance of the year while the Athletics held a 6-5 advantage, but he was unable to protect the lead in the ninth inning. While the A's have a pretty wide open competition when it comes to save opportunities, Sterner isn't making much of a case for future chances. The right-hander owns a 4.66 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 9.2 innings thus far.

Kurtz went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a walk in Thursday's 9-6 loss to Texas.

The 23-year-old slugger collected a season-high three RBI on Thursday, also posting his fourth multi-hit effort of the year. Although Kurtz mashed right-handed pitching to the tune of a 1.153 OPS a year ago, he's off to a sluggish start versus right-handers in 2026. He has a .650 OPS through 42 at-bats against righties so far, though Kurtz did enter Wednesday with an elite 58.6 percent hard-hit rate overall and should find his power stroke soon enough.

Canha was granted his release by the Rangers on Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Canha will get a chance for a fresh start after opening the 2026 season at the Rangers' extended spring training site. He has yet to play in any contests so far this year. The veteran has appeared in games with the Mets, Brewers, Tigers, Giants and Royals over the last three seasons, and he'll look for another major-league opportunity in the near future.

Lopez took a no-decision Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out five.

The left-hander is making a habit of issuing free passes -- he's now walked at least three in each of his first four starts of 2026. Lopez has fanned at least five in three consecutive outings, but he's yet to give up fewer than two runs in any appearance thus far. His next start currently projects for next week in Seattle versus the division-rival Mariners, but Lopez owns a 6.38 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and an alarming 16:17 K:BB through 18.1 innings and will be tough to trust in fantasy lineups.

Leiter took a no-decision Thursday against the Athletics, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

Leiter really worked to try and make it through six frames for the second time this year, firing a season-high 105 pitches, but a Darell Hernaiz single brought his outing to an end with two outs in the sixth. The hard-throwing right-hander was perhaps a bit fortunate to have surrendered only three runs, considering he gave up a season-high seven knocks and fanned a season-low three. Leiter owns a dicey 4.87 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB over 20.1 innings this year, though he does have a favorable matchup up next versus the Pirates.

Bazzana went 3-for-6 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

Bazzana is breaking out from a slow start and has hit safely in six straight games, going 11-for-24 with six doubles, two steals and four runs scored. The Guardians bypassed the 2024 first-overall pick for a promotion earlier this month when they needed a replacement for the injured Gabriel Arias (hamstring), who is expected to be sidelined until mid-May at the earliest. Instead, the organization promoted Juan Brito, who is currently mired in a 1-for-18 slump. Brito's slump along with Cleveland's second basemen batting .188 (24th in MLB) could open the door for Bazzana to make his MLB debut sooner rather than later (as was expected).

Smith secured the save Thursday against the Orioles, allowing no runs on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning.

The Guardians were leading 4-0 in the ninth inning, but a pair of Baltimore knocks to spoil Parker Messick's no-hit bid wound up creating a save situation for Smith to clean up and collect his fourth save. The right-hander allowed two inherited runners to score but was able to deliver a fourth straight outing without giving up any earned runs. Smith appears to be finding a groove as Cleveland's closer, though his ERA is still high at 4.50 after surrendering five runs in his first six appearances of the campaign.

Baz (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Guardians, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out six.

While Baz put together his longest outing of 2026 and fanned a season-high six, it was still a shaky performance overall. The right-hander has now walked multiple batters in three consecutive starts, and he's given up at least six hits three times through four appearances. Baz will be trying to steady the ship the next time he takes the hill in Kansas City, where he'll carry a lackluster 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across his first 22 frames.

Brito went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore.

Brito swung a hot stick upon his call-up from Triple-A Columbus, going 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles in his first three games in the wake of Gabriel Arias' hamstring injury, which will keep him sidelined until mid-May at the earliest. Brito has moved in the other direction lately, going 1-for-18 with two walks and eight strikeouts over his last six contests.

Messick (3-0) earned the win Thursday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in eight-plus innings. He struck out nine.

Messick pitched better than his already strong final line indicates. The left-hander carried a no-hit bid into the ninth inning, but a single by Leody Taveras broke it up to lead off the frame. Messick then gave up another single before being pulled, and both runners came around to score. The left-hander was magnificent nonetheless -- he racked up 18 whiffs en route to matching a career high in punchouts during the longest outing of his career. Wednesday's appearance added to his brilliant start to the season, which has seen Messick produce a 1.05 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB across 25.2 frames.