MLB Player News

German (0-1) gave up three runs on four hits and a walk while fanning two across three innings to take the loss Sunday against the Blue Jays.

German tossed nine scoreless innings while striking out 13 and walking just one during spring training, but he wasn't able to replicate those results in the season opener and lasted only three innings before being lifted. He will try to bounce back in his next start, scheduled for April 10 on the road against the Rays.

Hill allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks across four innings in a loss to the Marlins on Saturday. He struck out four and did not factor into the decision.

The veteran left-hander worked up to 71 pitches in his planned tandem start with Chris Archer and gave up a run apiece in each of his four frames. Hill was able to get 52 of his offerings into the strike zone, but his penchant for allowing hard contact -- he surrendered a pair of doubles and a solo home run -- helped lead to the relatively poor outing. Adam Berry of MLB.com reports Hill is slated to make a conventional start in his second turn through the rotation, which currently lines up for either Friday or Saturday against the dangerous Yankees.

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday that Ray (elbow) is "really close" to returning from the 10-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Ray appears to have come out of his bullpen session Friday without any setbacks to his bruised elbow, and at this point, Walker said the lefty just needs to build back up after a brief shutdown period. He'll likely throw again Monday or Tuesday, and if all goes well, Ray could be ready to rejoin the rotation at some point during next weekend's series with the Angels.

The Blue Jays selected Milone's contract ahead of Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Though Milone was unable to secure a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster after attending camp on a minor-league deal, he had to wait only a few days to receive his first call-up of 2021. He'll provide Toronto with a lefty option out of the bullpen who's capable of eating innings. The Blue Jays transferred Kirby Yates (elbow) to the 60-day injured list to clear room on the 40-man roster for Milone.

Flexen (1-0) earned the win against San Francisco on Saturday, tossing five scoreless innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six.

Flexen carried over the momentum from two strong Cactus League outings into the regular season, holding San Francisco to only one extra-base hit and no runs over five frames. He induced only eight swinging strikes and ran his pitch count up to 94, but those concerns are easy to look past considering the final outcome. Flexen turned his career around with a strong showing in the KBO last season, and he could quickly become a fantasy commodity if he's able to put together more outings like the one he posted Saturday. The right-hander's next start will come Sunday at Minnesota.

Lynn was charged with two unearned runs on six hits over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Saturday. He struck out six and issued two walks.

A ball that looked like a routine pop-up in the third caromed off center fielder Luis Robert's head, allowing David Fletcher to score and extending the inning. Lynn was effective otherwise, but inefficient; he could not complete five innings despite throwing 99 pitches. It was probably not the way he envisioned his White Sox debut, but there will be better days ahead, likely beginning next week at home against Kansas City.

Cobb allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on Saturday.

He could not slow down the hit machine that is Yermin Mercedes. However, Cobb limited the damage from the rest of the lineup and provided the Angels with some much-needed length after the bullpen covered six innings in relief of Andrew Heaney on Friday. The 33-year-old righty should still be considered a high-risk fantasy option next week in his projected matchup against the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida.

Berrios (1-0) tossed six scoreless innings Saturday against the Twins. He got the win while fanning 12.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Berrios looked "at the top of his game right now" following his final spring start, and Berrios lived up to those remarks in his season debut since he was tossing a no-hitter before being pulled after six innings. He will attempt to build on this stellar debut in his second start of the season, scheduled for April 8 at home against the Mariners.

Irvin (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the A's fell 9-1 to the Astros, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.1 innings while striking out two.

The southpaw rode an impressive spring to the fifth starter role in Oakland, but Irvin's regular-season debut for the A's left a lot to be desired. He threw only 55 of 82 pitches for strikes, but on the bright side he didn't give up too much hard contact as only one of the seven hits off him went for extra bases, and two of his earned runs scored after he left the game in the fifth when his replacement, Lou Trivino, was greeted by a Yordan Alvarez three-run homer. Irvin is is line for a rematch with the Astros in Houston on Thursday, but it wouldn't be too surprising if the A's elected to give one of the pitchers he beat out for a rotation spot, Daulton Jefferies or A.J. Puk, a look instead.

McCullers (1-0) picked up the win Saturday in a 9-1 victory over the A's, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander was his typically inefficient self, needing 95 pitches (54 strikes) to record the minimum 15 outs necessary to qualify for the win, but McCullers got plenty of support from the Astros' offense. He lines up for a rematch with Oakland on Thursday back in Houston.