MLB Player News

Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Dotel will be utilized as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Mason Montgomery in Monday's home game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Monday had been Braxton Ashcraft's (personal) turn in the rotation, but he won't be eligible to rejoin the Pirates until Tuesday after recently getting placed on the bereavement/medical emergency list. The Pirates will thus turn to Dotel to cover extended innings in Monday's series opener. Dotel has appeared in two contests since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on April 19, giving up one run on two hits and three walks while striking out one batter over 2.2 innings. He had previously gotten stretched out to 5.2 innings over his three starts at Triple-A Indianapolis this season prior to being promoted earlier this month.

Montgomery will operate as the Pirates' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Cardinals, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Montgomery will serve as Pittsburgh's opener for the second time this season, having tossed a scoreless first inning in the team's 2-0 win over Washington on April 15. The southpaw has recorded seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.2 innings during that stretch. Wilber Dotel is expected to follow Montgomery on the mound, handling the bulk role against St. Louis on Monday.

Montero did not factor into Sunday's decision against the Reds. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings.

Montero was handed an early 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run double from Kerry Carpenter in the first inning. However, Montero was unable to maintain that cushion, giving up solo home runs to Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday in the second and fourth frames, respectively, before yielding an RBI double in the fifth. Luckily for Montero, the Tigers' batters scored six runs across the seventh and eighth innings, which was enough for the right-hander to avoid the loss. He has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last three starts, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 16.2 innings in that span. Montero will look to get back into the win column in his next start, which is slated for next weekend at home against the Rangers.

Bradish (1-3) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out three.

It was a solid outing for Bradish overall, as he held the Red Sox scoreless through four innings. However, he gave up a pair of singles in the fifth before Willson Contreras made him pay with a two-out, three-run homer. Bradish continues to struggle with his command early in the season, posting a 5.10 BB/9, and he's made it through six innings in only one of his six outings. Overall, Bradish sports a 4.20 ERA with a 1.73 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB across 30 innings. He's currently slated for a tough road matchup against the Yankees his next time out.

Perez is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Tigers at Truist Park, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The veteran left-hander has been impressive while working as both a starter and long reliever early this season, posting a 2.70 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB over 23.1 innings. Perez will replace Reynaldo Lopez in the rotation Tuesday, though it'll likely be just a spot start since Spencer Strider (oblique) is due back from the injured list in the near future.

Honeycutt left Sunday's contest with High-A Frederick early with left thumb discomfort, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Honeycutt finished his day having gone 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout, and he is now batting .188 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 67 at-bats in 18 games at High-A this year. It's unclear what exactly the outfielder's injury is, but he can be considered day-to-day for the time being.

Lee went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run during the Twins' 4-2 loss to the Rays on Sunday.

The Twins were blanked through the first six innings of Sunday's game, but Lee got his team on the board by cracking a two-run homer off Jesse Scholtens in the seventh frame. It was Lee's second homer of the three-game series and his fifth of the 2026 season. Since April 1, he has slashed .269/.337/.487 with one steal, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored over 86 plate appearances.

Chapman earned the save in Sunday's 5-3 win over Baltimore, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Chapman made easy work of the Orioles to close out the Red Sox's win Sunday, retiring the side on just seven pitches. The left-hander is a perfect 5-for-5 in save chances to start the year. Chapman's given up just one run through nine appearances (8.2 innings) while posting a 0.92 WHIP with 10 strikeouts.

Lopez will be utilized as a reliever going forward while working on some mechanical issues, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander's 3.74 ERA through five starts this year looks solid, but his 1.43 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB tell a different story. Atlanta will soon be getting back Spencer Strider (oblique) from the injured list, while rookie JR Ritchie will also get a longer look in the rotation.

Woods Richardson (0-4) took the loss against the Rays on Sunday, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two across 4.1 innings.

Woods Richardson took care of business through the first two innings of Sunday's start, but things unravelled for him in the third. It started with a throwing error to first base that advanced the runner to second, and after giving up a two-run single to Jonathan Aranda, the game blew wide open after Woods Richardson yielded a two-run home run to Yandy Diaz. After allowing just three earned runs over his first two starts of the season, Woods Richardson has given up at least three earned runs in each of his last four starts, and he sits at a 6.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 15:13 K:BB across 30 innings, with opposing hitters batting .311 against him. He's slated to face the Blue Jays at home next weekend, when he'll look to capture his first win of the 2026 campaign.