MLB Player News

Valdez (3-4) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits over eight innings against the Angels. He struck out 12.

Valdez delivered his best outing of the season in a showdown with Shohei Ohtani. Valdez posted season highs in innings and strikeouts, punctuating the evening by sitting down Mike Trout on three pitches in the eighth. Valdez has been a tough-luck loser this season with four losses despite never allowing more than three runs. The Astros offense ranks 27th in OPS, giving Valdez less margin for error so far.

Varland did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Padres. He struck out six.

Varland made his second consecutive start Tuesday, taking advantage of Tyler Mahle's (elbow) and Kenta Maeda's (triceps) injuries by turning in his best outing of the season. After giving up four home runs across his first two starts of 2023, Varland allowed just one extra-base hit while keeping the ball in the park against San Diego. Though it's unclear how long Varland will remain in the rotation, he is expected to take the mound at least once more and should be an intriguing streaming option considering he has racked up at least six strikeouts in each of his three starts this season.

Schmidt (1-3) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Athletics. He struck out seven.

Schmidt made it six innings for the first time all season, fanning seven batters and allowing just two runs to earn his first win. However, Schmidt's trouble with power sustained, as he gave up a solo home run to Jordan Diaz in the fourth inning, marking his eighth long ball allowed in as many starts. Though Schmidt will likely find himself on the outside looking in on the Yankees rotation once Carlos Rodon (back) and Luis Severino (lat) return from the injured list, he should remain a high-risk, high-reward streaming option given his high strikeout rate (10.95 K/9).

Eflin (4-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings against the Orioles. He struck out four.

Baltimore tallied three runs against Eflin in the third inning and another in the fourth, handing the 29-year-old right-hander his first loss of the season. It's also the first time Eflin has allowed more than three runs in a start this season. He still has a solid 2.91 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 35:4 K:BB through six starts (34 innings) in his first season with Tampa Bay. Eflin will look to get back in the win column in his next outing, tentatively lined up for next week against the Yankees.

Rucinski (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks over five innings in a 10-5 loss to the Yankees. He struck out two.

Though Rucinski managed to make it through the first two innings without a blemish, he could not bring the early success into the third, walking Jose Trevino and Aaron Hicks to open up what would become a five-run inning. Despite the rough frame, Rucinski did not allow a single extra-base hit, instead giving up four singles, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly. The rest of the damage came in the seventh, when Gleyber Torres launched a two-run homer that plated Anthony Rizzo. Rucinski picked up his third loss in as many starts, dropping his ERA on the season to 8.16. Considering Rucinski has struck out just six batters in 14.1 innings, the right-hander should remain firmly out of fantasy consideration.

Rodriguez (2-0) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Rays. He struck out four.

Rodriguez held the first-place Rays at bay for the majority of Tuesday's outing, allowing just a pair of solo home runs as he improved to 2-0. The home-run ball has hurt Rodriguez recently -- he's allowed five homers in his last two starts (seven innings). He now sports a 5.08 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB through his first seven MLB starts. The 23-year-old Rodriguez is currently lined up to face the Angels at home in his next outing.

Lorenzen (1-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing a run on five hits over seven innings against the Guardians. He struck out three.

Lorenzen was excellent Tuesday, but he'd ultimately take the loss as the Tigers' offense couldn't get him any support against Shane Bieber. The 31-year-old Lorenzen has pitched seven innings in each of his last two starts, allowing just two runs on nine hits in that span. He now has a 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB through 28 innings this season.

Bieber (3-1) earned the win Tuesday, allowing seven hits and one walk over six scoreless innings against the Tigers. He struck out nine.

Detroit managed seven hits against Bieber, but the 27-year-old right-hander held the Tigers off the scoresheet thanks to a season-high nine-strikeout performance. Bieber has logged quality starts in five of his six outings this year. He lowered his ERA to 2.61 with a 1.10 WHIP and 39:13 K:BB. He'll look to keep it rolling in his next outing, tentatively lined up for next week against the White Sox.

McCullers (forearm) threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers reportedly reached 91.6 mph with his fastball during the bullpen session. The next step will be for the right-hander to mix in some breaking balls in his next session, which will likely take place before Saturday's game against the White Sox in Chicago. McCullers will then need to rebuild his arm strength and likely go on a lengthy rehab assignment, but the latest positive developments give him a chance to join the rotation in the early part of June.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters before Tuesday's game against Seattle that deGrom (elbow) could be another 2-to-3 weeks away from returning, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Bochy noted that deGrom has been going very easy with testing out his throwing while only playing light catch at this stage in his program. The right-hander has no timetable for when he'll be able to return to the mound for bullpen sessions, and that step will have to take place before a more serious ETA for deGrom's return to the Texas pitching staff. At this point, it seems very unlikely the 34-year-old will back back in the month of May, with the start of June seemingly a more realistic timeline at this juncture.