MLB Player News

Turnbull (1-0) allowed just one run on two hits across five innings to earn the win in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates. He walked two and struck out six.

Making his 2021 debut after starting the year on the COVID-19 injured list, Turnbull hit the ground running, and he likely could have gone longer if he wasn't making his first start after a long layoff, as he only logged 62 pitches. The Tigers are looking for consistent starters around Matthew Boyd, and Turnbull could be one of them after posting a solid 3.97 ERA across 11 starts last season. He lines up to face the Royals on Monday in his next scheduled start.

Montas didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 13-12 extra-inning win over the Twins, surrendering six runs on nine hits -- including three home runs -- over four innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The right-hander tossed 56 of 76 pitches for strikes but his command within the zone left a lot to be desired, as he served up three doubles in addition to two blasts by Nelson Cruz and one by Josh Donaldson. Montas will drag a 6.75 ERA and more palatable 20:5 K:BB through 18.2 innings into his next start Tuesday in Tampa Bay.

Maeda didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 13-12 extra-inning loss to the A's, coughing up seven runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over three innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

The right-hander got taken deep twice by Matt Olson and once by Seth Brown and got the hook after only 51 pitches (37 strikes), but Maeda was quickly taken off the hook for the loss in a wild back-and-forth affair. He'll take a 6.11 ERA and 17:5 K:BB through 17.2 innings into his next start Tuesday in Cleveland.

Urquidy (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout in five innings versus the Rockies.

Urquidy struggled with the Rockies' order the first time through, giving up all four runs in the first two innings, but he improved as his outing progressed. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 5.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB across 21 innings this season. Urquidy is scheduled to make his next start at home Monday versus the Mariners.

Skubal pitched three scoreless innings in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Pirates, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out two. He did not factor into the decision.

Skubal piggybacked with Michael Fulmer, and the two pitchers were able to preserve the Tigers' bullpen for the nightcap. Skubal was the more effective of the two, although he allowed more baserunners than Fulmer. The 24-year-old Skubal is 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB through 16.1 innings this year. For now, the southpaw is expected to work as a multi-inning reliever as the Tigers manage his innings this season.

The Tigers activated Turnbull (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of his scheduled start in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Pirates, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Turnbull gets a favorable draw in his 2021 debut, taking on an 8-9 Pirates squad lacking one of its top hitters in Ke'Bryan Hayes (wrist). Though manager A.J. Hinch previously suggested that Turnbull would be piggybacked Wednesday, that plan may no longer be in the cards after Tarik Skubal worked three innings behind Michael Fulmer in the opening game of the twin bill. After being delayed due to his recovery from COVID-19, Turnbull isn't yet fully built up to the 75-to-85-pitch range, so it would be surprising if he worked much more than four or five innings Wednesday.

German will return from the Yankees' alternate training site to start against Cleveland on Thursday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

German made two starts early in the campaign and allowed seven runs across seven innings before being sent to the team's alternate site. Manager Aaron Boone suggested at the time that the move was made in response to a light schedule that saw New York play only six games in eight days, so German could be returning to the rotation for more than just a spot start. The Yankees will certainly need a fifth starter, as their next off day won't take place until May 3.

McCullers (illness) is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Angels in Houston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was nearly cleared to start Tuesday's game in Colorado, but the Astros elected to have him skip his turn in the rotation to afford him more recovery time from the side effects he experienced from the second dose of his COVID-19 vaccine. Luis Garcia made a spot start Tuesday in McCullers' stead, but he'll be bound for the bullpen or the Astros' alternate training site now that McCullers will be ready to go for the weekend series.

The Astros will recall Javier from their alternate site to start Thursday's series opener versus the Angels in Houston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston sent Javier back to the alternate site April 10, but that was a byproduct of the team's light schedule over the past two weeks rather than the result of any dissatisfaction with the right-hander's performance through his first two starts of the season. With Houston's next off day not coming until May 3, the club will transition back to a five-man rotation featuring Javier, Zack Greinke, Jake Odorizzi, Lance McCullers and Jose Urquidy.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Skubal will serve as a piggyback starter behind Michael Fulmer in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Pirates, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Hinch initially planned for Skubal to piggyback Spencer Turnbull (COVID-19 injured list) in the latter's season debut, but the team elected to alter its pitching schedule following Tuesday's postponement. The skipper noted that Fulmer will work about 2-to-3 innings before turning the game over to Skubal, who will likely face a similar limitation with his workload.