MLB Player News

Lodolo (calf) is listed as the Reds' probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Marlins.

Lodolo had been in line to start Thursday's series finale with the Mets at Great American Ball Park, but he'll instead make his next turn through the rotation in Miami after the Reds opted to push him back two days in the pitching schedule while he managed a sore left calf. Provided Lodolo doesn't have any setbacks while he likely throws a bullpen session Thursday, he shouldn't face any restrictions Saturday as he prepares for his eighth start of the 2023 campaign.

Syndergaard (finger) was able to play catch in the outfield Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Syndergaard lasted just one inning in his start in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Brewers before departing with a bleeding blister/cut on his right index finger, but the fact that he's throwing a day after suffering the injury bodes well for his chances of avoiding a stint on the injured list. The Dodgers will presumably wait and see how Syndergaard fares during a potential bullpen session over the weekend before determining whether he's fit to make his next scheduled start, which would fall Monday or Tuesday versus the Twins.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters Wednesday that Velasquez (elbow) will throw live batting practice next week, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Tomczyk is confident that Velasquez will only miss the minimum 15 days after being placed on the injured list May 5 with inflammation in his right elbow. The right-hander will likely need to throw a few more bullpens and possibly make a rehab start, but all signs point to him being back right around May 20 to make more starts for the Pirates.

Morton (4-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in a 9-3 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out seven.

The veteran right-hander racked up 33 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches as he delivered his fourth quality start in his last five outings. Morton has alternated wins and losses to begin the season and has issued multiple walks in all seven of his starts, but the 39-year-old has remained reliable with a 3.32 ERA and 39:17 K:BB through 40.2 innings. He'll look for his first win streak of the year in his next trip to the mound, which is likely to come on the road early next week against the Rangers.

Nola (3-2) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in an 8-4 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out six.

The veteran right-hander appears to be warming up along with the weather. Nola's four-seam fastball averaged a season-high 93 mph in this outing and topped out at 95 mph, easing concerns about his April velocity, and he's delivered five quality starts in his eight trips to the mound in 2023. He'll take a 4.44 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB through 48.2 innings into his next outing, which is likely to come this weekend in Coors Field.

Peterson (1-5) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks over 3.1 innings as the Mets fell 7-6 to the Reds. He struck out four.

The southpaw was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of April, but Peterson was brought back up after just one minor-league start when Max Scherzer (neck) wasn't able to take his turn. Peterson failed to capitalize on his second chance and needed 87 pitches to record only 10 outs, although he did avoid serving up any homers for just the second time in seven big-league outings this season. Peterson could remain in the Mets' rotation for now if Scherzer isn't ready to return over the weekend, or if the team simply wants to give the whole rotation an extra day of rest, but his 7.68 ERA and 1.68 WHIP don't make a compelling case to stick around for the long term.

Davies (oblique) threw two innings and 34 pitches in an extended spring training start Tuesday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

This marked Davies' first action since he suffered a left oblique strain in the second week of the season. The right-hander is on target to pitch again in five or six days, when the Diamondbacks plan to stretch him out to 50 or 55 pitches.

Flaherty allowed three runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs on Tuesday.

Flaherty has walked five or more batters in three of his eight starts this season, though he'd seemingly gotten the issue under control recently. He avoided taking a third straight loss Tuesday, but it was still a less-than-impressive outing. The right-hander is at a 6.18 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 39:27 K:BB across 39.1 innings. He's tentatively projected for a tough home start versus the Brewers next week.

Corbin (1-5) allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits and struck out three without walking a batter over six innings, but he took the loss Tuesday versus the Giants.

Corbin gave up a two-run double to Mitch Haniger in the first inning and a solo home run to Casey Schmitt in the fourth. Over his last five outings, Corbin has managed four quality starts, and this was his second no-walk effort in a row. The southpaw had a 4.87 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB through 44.1 innings over eight starts this season. He's projected for a home start versus the Mets next week.

Webb (3-5) allowed a run on nine hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Nationals.

Webb threw a stunning 85 of 102 pitches for strikes. While the Nationals got their hits, only one went for extra bases, and Webb was effective at limiting the damage to a Dominic Smith RBI single in the sixth inning. After allowing four runs in each of his first four starts, Webb has kept opponents to two runs or less in each of his last four outings. He owns a 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 55:8 K:BB over 52 innings this season. The right-hander is projected for a road start in Arizona this weekend.