MLB Player News

Wittgren allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with no strikeouts in two innings during Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Wittgren's rough May continued Tuesday -- he's allowed runs in six of his 11 appearances this month. The 30-year-old now sports a 4.86 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB across 16.2 innings. He's picked up four holds, but none since May 2, indicating he may have slipped out of the high-leverage conversation for now.

Hicks (1-4) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on four hits and five walks over three-plus innings as the Cardinals were routed 8-1 by the Blue Jays. He struck out three.

The conversion of Hicks from the bullpen to the rotation continues to go poorly, and Tuesday's five walks were a season high as he got only 40 of 78 pitches over the plate. The right-hander has managed to last five innings only once in seven starts and he's issued multiple free passes in all seven, posting a 5.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 24:18 K:BB over 24.2 innings during that stretch.

Jansen (3-0) picked up the win despite blowing his second save of the season Tuesday, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk in an inning of relief in a 6-5 victory over the Phillies.

Entrusted with a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Jansen served up a two-run homer to Bryce Harper but then got bailed out when Atlanta scored twice in the bottom of the frame. The veteran closer has given up runs in three straight appearances, sending his ERA soaring to 3.86 on the year, but his 0.86 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB through 18.2 innings remain sharp.

Mears (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Mears began the season on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from arthroscopic elbow surgery, and his rehab assignment will likely be the final step in his recovery process. The right-hander isn't eligible to be activated until early June, so he'll presumably make several appearances in the minors before rejoining the Pirates' bullpen.

Manager Buck Showalter said Szapucki will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Szapucki will likely just be making a spot start before returning to the minors, as the Mets had to temporarily transition to a six-man rotation as a result of their doubleheader with the Rockies last weekend. Ideally, Szapucki will be able to give the Mets a decent amount of length in his first MLB start and second career appearance in the majors, as New York needed five relievers to cover the final 4.1 innings of Tuesday's 13-12 loss. Through seven outings with Syracuse in 2022, Szapucki has compiled a 2.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB across 22 innings.

Bednar (1-1) allowed an unearned run on one hit while striking out one to take the loss Tuesday against Colorado.

Bednar entered the game in the 10th inning with the score knotted at one. He retired the first batter he faced but allowed a single to Connor Joe, which drove in a run and stuck Bednar with the loss. Bednar has been excellent to begin the season, maintaining a 0.78 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and a 30:4 K:BB across 23 innings.

Diaz (1-1) took the loss and blew the save during Tuesday's 13-12 defeat at the hands of the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

Diaz was brought in to protect a one-run lead in the ninth and was able to erase a leadoff single on a double play, but a walk and three singles immediately followed to give San Francisco a walk-off victory. The blown save is Diaz's third overall and second in his last three games. Diaz now possesses a 2.89 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with a 34:9 K:BB ratio in 18.2 innings.

Williams saved Tuesday's 4-1 win against the Padres, striking out two in the ninth inning.

With closer Josh Hader on the bereavement list, manager Craig Counsell turned to Williams for the save and the righty delivered with a stress-free outing. The 27-year-old threw 24 pitches during Monday's loss yet was still able to induce an impressive three swinging strikes and two whiffs on 12 pitches Tuesday. Williams could see a few more save chances this week while Hader is away from the team.

Melancon saved Tuesday's 8-6 victory over the Royals, allowing one hit with one strikeout in the ninth inning.

Melancon worked around a leadoff single to convert his fifth straight save chance, albeit with two losses mixed in. The 37-year-old has now recorded a strikeout in three straight appearances after failing to do so in his previous five games.

Gsellman earned a save during Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Reds after giving up two runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk over three innings.

The right-hander entered during the seventh inning with the Cubs holding an eight-run lead, and he closed out the game to record an unconventional save. Gsellman has appeared in six games since Chicago selected his contract in early May, and he has a 5.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB over 12 innings.