MLB Player News

Anderson allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Mets on Saturday.

Anderson has seemingly defied Coors Field for three straight starts, allowing just three runs over 15.2 innings since he joined the Rockies. The right-hander was able to limit the damage to a Pete Alonso solo shot in the fourth inning, but the Rockies' bullpen couldn't maintain the lead. Anderson now has a 1.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 20.2 innings overall.

Williamson allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs on Saturday.

This was pretty similar to Williamson's last outing, though this was the first time in three starts he's avoided giving up a home run. He threw 52 of 81 pitches for strikes Saturday, but he's now logged a 12:9 K:BB over his first 14.1 major-league innings. Getting the walk rate under control would go a long way to solidifying his place on the Reds' roster. He's added a 5.02 ERA and 1.47 WHIP so far, numbers he'll look to improve upon in a tough tentative home start versus the Brewers next week.

Wacha did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings against the Yankees. He struck out four.

Wacha continued his domination in May, finishing the month with a 3-0 record to go along with a 0.84 ERA and 7.3 K/9 through five starts (32.0 innings), all of which were quality starts. However, his streak of starts without allowing a home run came to an end at four, as Wacha gave up a solo homer to DJ LeMahieu in the seventh. Wacha has flashed an impressive strikeout punch this season, collecting double-digit Ks twice already. He will have another opportunity to put up gaudy punchout numbers in his next projected start, which comes against a Cubs team that strikes out fifth most in MLB.

Taillon allowed four runs on six hits across 4.2 innings and didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Reds. He walked one and struck out five.

For the fifth straight start, Taillon failed to complete five innings, and he's allowed four earned runs or more in four consecutive outings. On the heels of another poor showing, the righty is now sitting on an 8.04 ERA overall, and while he's been the victim of some bad luck (.378 BABIP, 48.9 percent strand rate), Taillon hasn't helped himself by serving his pitches up on a platter for hitters. According to BaseballSavant.com, Taillon ranks in the 13th percentile among all pitchers in barrel rate allowed (career-worst 11.7 percent, up from 8.3 percent in 2022).

Kershaw allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six batters over five innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Kershaw looked good through three scoreless frames and carried a 3-0 lead into the fourth. However, the Rays converted a walk and two hits into two runs in that inning before taking the lead on a Harold Ramirez two-run homer in the fifth. Kershaw's outing ended after five frames and 83 pitches, marking the third straight outing during which he's had a relatively early exit. The veteran southpaw has allowed 10 runs over 12.2 innings over that span, pushing his season ERA up to 3.32. Kershaw is still piling up strikeouts -- he has 34 across his past 24.1 frames -- but he's uncharacteristically issued 11 free passes during that span after walking just five batters across his first 38 innings this season.

Henry threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief against the Red Sox on Saturday, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed that Henry will still start Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Henry was a bullpen option for the Diamondbacks if Zach Davies needed to exit early, and since Henry needed just 18 pitches to get through the outing while facing only five batters, the left-hander will still be fine to go for Wednesday's start against Colorado.

Velasquez was removed from Saturday's start against Seattle with right elbow discomfort. He allowed four runs on seven hits over two innings with three strikeouts and one walk before exiting, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Velasquez was making his first start since early May, as he was sidelined with inflammation in the same elbow. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day at this stage, but his next start is very much in doubt.

Contreras is expected to move into a bullpen role for the near future, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Contreras still has time to deliver on his prospect pedigree, as he's just 23 years old, but his season so far has been a disappointment. He owns a 4.50 ERA through nine starts, with a 5.44 xFIP and 5.48 SIERA indicating that things could be considerably worse. His 16.4 percent strikeout rate, 10.8 percent walk rate and 35.5 percent groundball rate are all significantly worse than average. There's been no indication that the Pirates intend to permanently move him to the bullpen, but spending at least a few weeks there could help him reset while also help keep his innings in check. He threw 129.1 frames last season, so 150 innings is probably a fair target for this year.

Pfaadt was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

Pfaadt was one of the games' more hyped pitching prospects over the offseason, but things haven't gone to plan through his first five big-league starts, as his 8.37 ERA indicates. After posting a 31.2 percent strikeout rate in the upper minors over the last two seasons, his strikeout rate dipped to 16.8 percent upon promotion, and he also allowed eight homers in 23.2 innings. Zach Davies returns from an oblique injury to take Pfaadt's spot in the rotation, and the rookie may have to show some improvement in the minors across multiple starts before being considered for another opportunity.

Davies (oblique) was reinstated from the injured list as expected Saturday ahead of his scheduled start against Boston.

Davies recorded a 5.79 ERA and 7:6 K:BB across a pair of starts at the beginning of the season before suffering an oblique strain. He now owns an even 5.00 ERA over the last three seasons, but he'll nonetheless step back into a rotation role with Brandon Pfaadt taking his 8.37 ERA back to the minors.