MLB Player News

Cecconi did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

Cecconi was sharp Thursday, blanking the Reds until Jeimer Candelario's solo home run in the fifth inning. It was a nice bounce-back outing from the 24-year-old right-hander after he gave up six runs in 4.1 innings during a loss to San Diego in his previous outing. Overall, Cecconi is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB through his first four starts (21.2 innings). He figures to remain in the rotation while Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) are sidelined. Cecconi's currently in line for a home rematch with the Reds in his next outing.

Rom underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder last week, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

It sounds as though the operation wound up being less invasive than initially anticipated, with a return before the end of the season for Rom not totally ruled out. The left-hander had been plagued by shoulder issues since mid-March before finally opting for surgery.

Gasser will be promoted from Triple-A Nashville to start Friday's game against the Cardinals, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers were forced into a six-man rotation after Freddy Peralta was hit with a five-game suspension, and the team will now call upon one of its top pitching prospects to fill the open spot. The 24-year-old Gasser got off to a late start after a bone spur in his elbow sidelined him for the first several weeks of the season, and he has posted a 5.25 ERA and 1.50 WHIP alongside a 17:6 K:BB through 12 innings in Triple-A since returning. Gasser may be sent back to Nashville after making his MLB debut Friday, though a strong start could allow him to stay in Milwaukee, as the Brewers have struggled with rotation depth to begin the year.

Freeland (elbow) played catch Thursday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

It's the first time the left-hander has done any throwing since he landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-April with a left elbow strain. Freeland will continue with a throwing progression as tolerated but it's too soon to say when he might be ready to re-enter the Rockies' rotation.

Oviedo (elbow) is expected to get clearance to resume throwing within the next week, MLB.com reports.

Oviedo will be out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early December of 2023. He'll build back up slowly and is unlikely to appear in any game action until spring training next year.

Rodriguez is close to being able to begin a throwing program after an MRI on Wednesday showed healing in his left shoulder, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Rodriguez has been sidelined all season and had to be shut down from throwing in mid-April after he felt renewed tightness in his shoulder. However, it appears the recent period of rest did him some good, and he's almost ready to ramp things back up again. The left-hander is still likely at least a month or so away from being able to join the Diamondbacks' rotation.

Ashcraft (3-2) took the loss Wednesday, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings as the Reds fell 4-3 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

After back-to-back quality starts, Ashcraft took a step backwards Wednesday, walking more batters than he struck out for the first time this season and managing only 14 called or swinging strikes among his 86 pitches. The 26-year-old right-hander has still had a solid first month-plus of the campaign, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB through 39.2 innings. He lines up for a rematch with the D'backs in Arizona early next week.

Hicks (3-1) earned the win over the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames.

Hicks pitched well for most of the contest and allowed just one run up until the fifth inning. However, that's where the right-hander would run into trouble after allowing four consecutive batters to reach with one out, ultimately leading to two more runs coming across for Colorado. The seven hits and three runs allowed both marked season highs for Hicks, who has now failed to go beyond five innings in back-to-back starts. He now holds a 5.00 ERA over two May starts to go along with an 8:6 K:BB.

Montgomery (2-2) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings in a 4-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out two.

While he again wasn't dominant, Montgomery worked seven frames for the second time in four starts since joining the Arizona rotation and delivered his third quality start. The veteran southpaw will take a 4.70 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB through 23 innings into his next outing, which lines up for a home rematch with Cincinnati early next week.

Perez allowed four earned runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out five across five innings Wednesday against the Angels. He did not factor into the decision.

Perez worked five effective innings, allowing only two earned runs. However, he allowed the first two hitters he faced in the sixth inning to reach base, who then came around to score after Luis Ortiz entered the game. Perez has faded in the sixth inning in consecutive starts, allowing five earned runs combined in the frame. Overall, he still has a positive 3.60 ERA, though that comes with a less impressive 1.40 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB.