MLB Player News

Paxton (hamstring) allowed seven runs on five hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning in a rehab outing for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

Paxton, making the third appearance of a rehab assignment, entered the game as a reliever and was scheduled to throw five innings but was given the hook after 43 pitches. Obviously the results are not what the Red Sox were looking for from the lefty, who was expected to need a couple more outings before joining the Red Sox. It's unclear if Wednesday's performance changes that plan. Of note, the appearance as a reliever suggests the Red Sox may be signaling a relief role for Paxton when he is eventually activated.

Garcia (1-2) earned his first win of the season in Wednesday's 8-1 victory over the Blue Jays, striking out nine over seven scoreless frames while permitting two hits and one walk.

The performance was a welcome sight for fantasy managers after Garcia failed to deliver a quality start in any of his first three outings of the season. The right-hander used his cutter effectively, with 19 of the 23 swinging strikes he generated among his 92 pitches coming on that pitch. The 26-year-old now has a 5.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB over 21 innings for the season and is tentatively slated to face Tampa Bay in his next start.

Berrios (1-3) was the pitcher of record Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over seven innings in an 8-1 loss to the Astros. He struck out three in the start.

Berrios had his best outing of the season, completing seven full innings with just 77 pitches while effectively pitching to contact. However, Toronto's bats were kept quiet, resulting in the right-hander taking his third loss in four games. On an encouraging note, the 28-year-old didn't appear bothered by the knee issue that caused an early exit in his previous outing.

Kluber (0-4) took the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks over five innings in a 10-4 loss to the Twins. He struck out four.

Kluber is off to a rough start this year, posting an 8.50 ERA across four losing starts. The former Cleveland ace still has plenty of time to regain his elite form from previous years, but fantasy managers cannot bank on him as a reliable option yet in 2023. The 37-year-old is tentatively slated to face the Orioles in his next start.

Ryan (4-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk over six innings against Boston. He struck out three.

Ryan now ranks fourth in MLB through Wednesday's games with a 0.76 WHIP. The right-hander has won all four of his starts, and he also ranks eighth in the league with a .167 opponent batting average. The right-hander is tentatively slated for a rematch with the Yankees in his next start after he gave up one run and struck out 10 in seven frames against them April 13.

Bradish improved to 1-0 on Wednesday after holding the Nationals to five hits and one walk over six scoreless innings in the Orioles' 4-0 win. He struck out six in the 92-pitch start.

After being activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day, Bradish was cleared to make his first start since April 3, when he exited his season debut after taking a line drive off his right foot. Bradish was plugged back into the rotation without any restriction Wednesday, as he made quick work of a Nationals offense that ranked 27th in team OPS (.650) heading into Wednesday. Bradish tentatively lines up for a tougher matchup his next time out versus the Red Sox early next week.

Canning allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees in 10 innings. He didn't factor into the decision.

Canning tossed just 69 pitches in his season debut last Wednesday, but he appeared to be untethered in reaching 100 pitches in his second outing. The right-hander was stung by a two-run Aaron Judge homer in the first inning; however, those were the only runs he allowed, and he didn't give up any additional extra-base hits. Canning didn't pitch in the majors last year, so it was uncertain what his role would be coming into 2023. He may be solidifying a spot in the rotation with two respectable starts during which he allowed a combined four runs while posting an 8:3 K:BB across 10.1 frames.

Brito allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Angels in 10 innings. He didn't factor into the decision.

Brito was shelled for seven runs over two-thirds of an inning in his previous outing after giving up just one run across 10 frames over his first pair of big-league starts. Wednesday's performance was somewhere in-between; while he issued a career-high three walks and retired the side in order just once, Brito gave up only one run, which occurred after he departed from the game. The rookie hurler labored by throwing 84 pitches (47 of which were strikes) over his 4.1 frames, but this was a promising bounce-back performance following the blow-up in his previous start. Neither Carlos Rodon (back) nor Luis Severino (lat) are expected to return until at least May, so Brito figures to get at least another couple turns in the rotation.

Gonzales tossed six-plus innings against Milwaukee on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. He did not factor in the decision.

Gonzales pitched for the first time in 11 days as a result of going on paternity leave last Friday. The time off appeared to have done him well, as he tied a career-high mark with nine punchouts in his return. Gonzales also notched his first quality start of the campaign, though a big seventh inning for the Brewers prevented him from picking up the win. Since giving up four runs over five innings in his first start of the season, Gonzales has rebounded by yielding just three runs across 11.2 frames over his subsequent pair of starts.

Rasmussen (3-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing three hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Reds. He struck out seven.

The right-hander got staked to a 6-0 lead before he set foot on the mound, but Rasmussen gave Cincy no glimmers of hope, firing 51 of 78 pitches for strikes before hitting the showers. The 27-year-old rebounded nicely from a shaky outing against the Blue Jays, and Rasmussen will take a 2.01 ERA and 26:7 K:BB through 22.2 innings into his next start, likely to come next week at home against the Astros.