MLB Player News

Lively (0-1) took the loss against the Padres on Wednesday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters in 4.1 frames.

Lively got off to a decent start Wednesday, striking out four of the first nine batters he faced. However, things took a turn for the worse in the third inning after four consecutive hits -- capped off by a Jackson Merrill homer -- gave San Diego a 4-0 lead that it would never relinquish. Lively is now up to a 6.75 ERA through his first two starts of the year but should have a decent chance to bounce back in his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled to come next week against the White Sox.

Skubal (0-2) took the loss against the Mariners on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out eight across 5.2 innings.

Skubal limited the damage to three runs despite allowing nine baserunners, but the Tigers were unable to generate enough offense to prevent his second straight loss to begin the year. The 28-year-old southpaw has failed to complete six innings in each of his first two starts and has begun the season with a 5.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 10.2 innings. Things won't get easier for Skubal, as he's slated to face the Yankees next week at home.

Eflin (1-1) was handed the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks in six innings Wednesday against Boston. He struck out five.

While Eflin registered a quality start, he was significantly outshined by Garrett Crochet's eight scoreless innings for the Red Sox. Trevor Story tagged Eflin for a solo home run in the second inning, and then the right-hander watched Ceddanne Rafaela and Rafael Devers plate one run apiece in the third frame. On tap for Eflin is a tough matchup early next week in Arizona, where he'll be seeking his third consecutive quality start to open the campaign.

Crochet (1-0) earned the win after throwing eight scoreless innings on four hits and one walk Wednesday against Baltimore. He struck out eight.

After throwing five solid innings in his Red Sox debut Opening Day against Texas, Crochet built on that showing Wednesday by spinning eight shutout frames and scattering four singles for a brilliant performance on the road. The hard-throwing southpaw has allowed just two runs to go with 12 punchouts over 13 innings so far this year. Crochet will look to keep the good times rolling in his next start, which is slated to come at home against Toronto early next week.

Castillo (1-1) came away with the win Wednesday against the Tigers. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five across seven innings.

Castillo limited the Tigers to three baserunners across the first four innings, but his shutout efforts were lost in the fifth frame when he gave up a solo homer to Trey Sweeney. Castillo gave up a second run in the same frame on a fielder's choice, but he managed to pitch into the seventh inning without much trouble and came away with the quality start and win. Castillo has started the season with a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across 12 innings. He'll look for a second straight win in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next week against the Astros at home.

Springs (1-1) took the loss against the Cubs on Wednesday. He gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out three across three innings.

Springs started out strong with two first-inning strikeouts, but things unravelled in the second frame when he gave up four runs, three of which came from a Seiya Suzuki home run. Springs needed 82 pitches to record just nine outs, which is a major step back from the six shutout frames he delivered in his season debut last week. The 32-year-old southpaw will look to get back in the win column in his next start, and he's lined up to face the Padres next week at home.

Burke (1-1) took the loss Wednesday as the White Sox were downed 6-1 by the Twins, surrendering six runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

After a sharp 2025 debut Opening Day, Burke crashed back down to earth in his second outing, although a rain delay of over three hours before the contest started likely played a big role in that. Four of the hits off the righty went for extra bases, including homers by Byron Buxton and Harrison Bader, and Burke got the hook after 77 pitches (50 strikes). He'll take a 5.23 ERA and 4:0 K:BB through 10.1 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Cleveland.

Lopez (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over over seven innings in a 6-1 victory over the White Sox. He struck out five.

The game was delayed over three hours by rain, but Lopez didn't lose his focus while waiting it out. The right-hander tossed 67 of 98 pitches for strikes, and he took a shutout into the seventh inning before Brooks Baldwin got hold of a changeup that stayed up in the zone and drove it over the fence in right-center field for a solo shot. Lopez will take a 2.25 ERA and 8:1 K:BB through 12 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Kansas City.

Valdez (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in five innings Wednesday against the Giants. He struck out nine.

The star left-hander was ambushed early, promptly serving up a two-run home run to Willy Adames in the first inning. Luis Matos then hit a solo homer in the second, and Heliot Ramos also doubled to drive in a pair of runs later in the frame. Valdez did settle in to throw three scoreless innings thereafter and fanned nine, but overall it was a poor performance after delivering seven shutout frames Opening Day.

Kikuchi came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 12-5 loss to the Cardinals, giving up three runs on four hits and five walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw battled both his control and command, tossing only 59 of 104 pitches for strikes and getting tagged for a pair of homers by Ivan Herrera. Even so, Kikuchi was briefly in line for the win when the Halos took a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but the bullpen made a mess of things. Kikuchi has a 4.50 ERA and 11:5 K:BB though his first two trips to the mound for Los Angeles, both of them quality starts, and he'll look for his first win of 2025 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Tampa Bay.