MLB Player News

Thornton (0-2) gave up four runs on six hits with three walks while striking out three through 4.2 innings in a loss to the Twins on Wednesday.

Thornton allowed nine baserunners and surrendered four runs to get the loss. After two solid starts with a combined 15 strikeouts to start the year, the 25-year-old has only struck out six in his last two outings. The right-hander has a 0-2 record with a 5.40 ERA through four starts this season. Thornton gets his next start Tuesday against the Giants.

Leclerc gave up one run on one hit with a walk while striking out two to earn his fifth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Angels on Wednesday.

Entering the game with a two-run lead, Leclerc made it interesting by loading the bases and working out of it while only allowing one run. Even though he has a 6.14 ERA, the 25-year-old has five saves and continues to get opportunities for the time being.

Farmer (1-1) was charged with the loss Wednesday against the Pirates, as he allowed one run on three hits and a walk, while retiring just two batters.

Farmer started off the top of the 10th inning by allowing a double and two singles. He was able to minimize the damage some by inducing a double play, but the 28-year-old still took the loss when the Tigers failed to score in the bottom half of the inning. Despite the hiccup, Farmer still has a solid 1.69 ERA across his first 5.1 innings of work this season.

Moore (knee) will miss the rest of the 2019 season after undergoing meniscus surgery Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Moore initially believed he could avoid surgery, but the Tigers later determined a procedure would be necessary. The southpaw was optimistic that his surgery would keep him sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks, but his timeline was pushed back after doctors detected more damage than expected. Moore will become a free agent after the season and may have to settle for a one-year contract with limited guaranteed money after missing nearly all of 2019 due to injury.

Armstrong, who was activated from the 10-day injured list last Friday, has allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks over 2.2 innings while recording three strikeouts across his first three appearances of the season.

Those numbers are far from pretty, but all the trouble came in Armstrong's first outing of the season last Friday against the Astros. The 28-year-old allowed four earned runs on four hits over 1.1 innings versus Houston. He's bounced back with consecutive scoreless efforts, including a ninth inning against the Indians on Tuesday where he allowed a hit and a walk. Armstrong projects for middle-relief work now that he's healthy, with occasional hold opportunities likely to come his way.

Duffey threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Thursday's loss to Toronto. Duffey has worked with new Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson to throw higher in the strike zone and quit using his sinker, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Twins and Johnson have changed the team's philosophy, with pitchers throwing strikes higher in the strike zone, and Duffey may benefit as he had six scoreless innings at Triple-A with 11 strikeouts before he as called up before Tuesday's game. Duffey could provide the Twins with a much needed boost in middle relief, while high-leverage opportunities can be had if he has success.

Manager Chris Woodward believes Miller will turn around his slow start, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Miller, who is coming back from elbow surgery, has pitched just 10 innings across three starts, and those starts have not gone well. However, Woodward saw the positive in Monday's outing during which the right-hander retired five of the last six batters faced. "He showed me a lot, because I told him after the third inning I was going to take him out," Woodward said. "He insisted that I leave him in there. I was really hoping he would say that. I was hoping he wouldn't just accept ... OK, I'm done." The manager didn't confirm Miller will remain in the starting rotation, but Woodward's comments suggest Miller will be on the hill Sunday at home against the streaking Astros.

Devenski struck out one and did not allow a hit in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 9-1 win over the Athletics.

Devenski mopped up the final two outs for his third scoreless outing in five appearances. Tuesday's effort was the first of the five in which the right-hander did not allow a baserunner. Devenski will be used in low-to-mid leverage situations out of the bullpen and has posted an 8:1 K:BB though six innings.

Hand allowed one hit and struck out one to earn his sixth save of the season in a 4-2 victory against the Mariners on Tuesday.

The other two outs Hand recorded were loud outs -- line drives that fielders made nice plays on -- which was particularly nerve-racking with a runner at second, but Hand earned his sixth save. While he does have a loss this season, Hand is 6-for-6 in save opportunities with a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 8.2 innings.

McHugh (3-1) threw six shutout innings, allowing only two hits with five strikeouts and two walks in a victory against the Athletics on Tuesday.

The Astros have now won 10 straight since a sluggish start, and McHugh has won three of those contests. He only threw 89 pitches and probably could have pitched longer, but with a nine-run lead in the seventh, the Astros handed the game over to the bullpen. McHugh has been stellar this season, going 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in 23 innings over four starts. His next scheduled outing is at home against the Twins on Monday.