MLB Player News

Steele (0-2) took the loss against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five over 6.1 innings.

Steele made short work of the first six batters he faced in the contest before giving up a leadoff single to Michael Harris to open the third, followed by a two-run shot off the bat of Adam Duvall. The lefty then appeared to settle in over the next three frames, but again found himself in trouble after allowing three of the first four batters to reach in the seventh. He would end up being charged with another three runs in the inning, with two coming home after he was relieved by Jose Cuas. Steele has now given up four or more runs in three consecutive starts and is still looking for his first win of the season. On a positive note, Wednesday also marked the first time this season in which he's gotten through six innings.

Snell didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks across 3.1 innings. He struck out five.

Snell looked sharp to begin his first start after a month-long IL stint, keeping the Pirates scoreless after three frames. However, the 31-year-old crumbled in the fourth inning, yielding two walks, a hit-by-pitch and an infield single to let a run score and leave the bases loaded with one out for Sean Hjelle. Hjelle gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced and pushed Snell's earned run total to four. Snell hasn't completed five innings in a start this season and is 0-3 with an 11.40 ERA through 15.0 innings. He's projected for a home start against the Phillies on Monday.

Jones didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Giants, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks across six innings. He struck out five.

The rookie delivered a fourth consecutive quality start Wednesday and generated a double play in three separate innings to keep the Giants from putting a runner in scoring position until the fifth frame. In that fifth inning, Jones allowed a double and an RBI single to the first two batters he faced, then he surrendered a two-run homer to Matt Chapman in the sixth. Jones is one quality start shy of the league lead and holds a 3.05 ERA with a 68:10 K:BB across 59.0 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Tigers in Detroit on Tuesday.

Fried (4-2) earned the win over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in a complete game. He struck out nine.

Fried dominated the Cubs' lineup in his second complete game of the season, retiring the first 15 batters he faced before surrendering a leadoff double to Ian Happ to open the bottom of the sixth. The lefty produced 18 whiffs in the contest and finished with a season-high nine strikeouts, while also not issuing any walks for first time in his last five starts. He's now gone at least seven innings in three of his last four outings, posting a 23:9 K:BB over that stretch.

Smith-Shawver will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Smith-Shawver will be making his first big-league start of 2024 on Thursday after logging a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 31 innings across eight starts in Triple-A. He appeared in six games for Atlanta last season with mixed results, though he could find some success against a Cubs offense that ranks 10th in the National League with a .683 OPS.

Walker didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Texas, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Walker issued a season-high four walks Wednesday, two of which came in the fifth inning before he was yanked. After taking a comebacker off the foot in his last start end exiting early, Walker threw 86 pitches and didn't seem to be limited in any capacity. Although the 31-year-old owns a 5.06 ERA across 26.2 innings, he holds a 3-0 record and hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since his 2024 debut. He's projected to make his next start Monday at the pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Kelly will undergo an MRI later this week to see how his strained right shoulder is progressing, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Kelly's shoulder has kept him out of action since April 23, though he may be able to begin a throwing program in the near future if his MRI results come back clean. If the 35-year-old righty is cleared to begin throwing, a more defined return timeline may emerge, although he isn't eligible to return to Arizona's rotation until June 22.

Freeland (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

It's a significant step in Freeland's rehab program, as it's the first time he's thrown off a mound since he landed on the injured list in mid-April with an elbow strain. The left-hander now needs to build up his arm strength before facing live batters and embarking on a rehab assignment, so he's likely still about a month away from rejoining Colorado's rotation.

The Diamondbacks optioned Cecconi to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

The right-hander followed an opener Monday against the Dodgers but still took the loss after he was tagged for six runs over five innings. Cecconi pitched well in his first two starts for the Diamondbacks in late April with just three runs allowed, but in four subsequent outings he has an 8.41 ERA and 11:7 K:BB, and he's given up seven homers during that stretch.

Quintana did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Guardians, allowing three runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out four.

Quintana was excellent for most of the day Wednesday, allowing just one hit through his first five scoreless innings. However, after allowing a pair of hits in the sixth, Quintana surrendered a two-out, three-run homer to Andres Gimenez that tied the game 3-3, leaving the southpaw with a no-decision. It's just the second quality start for Quintana in 10 outings this season though he's looked better of late, allowing five runs on eight hits and no walks in his last two starts (11.1 innings). He'll carry a 5.13 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB into his next start, currently scheduled for early next week against the Dodgers.