MLB Player News

Williams allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings Sunday versus the Diamondbacks. He did not factor in the decision.

This was Williams' worst start of the season, although the five strikeouts were a season high. He gave up solo home runs to Lourdes Gurriel and Christian Walker, and trouble in the fifth inning led to Williams' early removal, only for Andres Machado to give up another homer to Gurriel. The rough outing raised Williams' ERA from 3.41 to 4.25, and the right-hander now has a 1.33 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB through 36 innings across seven starts. He could have a tough time bouncing back next weekend in a projected home start versus the Mets.

Walker (3-2) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on three hits over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out six.

It was an encouraging performance from Walker, who allowed 13 runs over 7.1 innings in his previous two starts. Triston Casas' solo home run in the fifth was the lone blemish on Walker's line Sunday. The 30-year-old righty lowered his ERA to 5.97 with a 1.41 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB through his first 34.2 innings this season. Walker will look to build on Sunday's performance in his next start, tentatively lined up for next week in Colorado.

Elder did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and four walks over 5.1 innings against Baltimore. He struck out four.

It wasn't Elder's sharpest outing of the season, as he allowed four hits and four walks over 5.1 innings, but he was able to navigate through traffic, holding the Orioles to just one run. The 24-year-old Elder has now allowed just one run over his last two starts (12.1 innings). He's 3-0 this season with an excellent 1.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB through seven starts. While he's due for some regression, Edler's been able to limit damage throughout the year thanks to a 57.6 percent groundball rate.

Stripling (0-2) took the loss Sunday versus the Brewers, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings.

William Contreras and Willy Adames both hit two-run home runs, and the latter also had a sacrifice fly to account for all of the damage against Stripling. The veteran right-hander has started his last three appearances, giving up 10 runs (nine earned) with a 9:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings. Through seven outings (four starts), he has a 6.66 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB through 25.2 innings. Alex Wood (hamstring) started a rehab assignment Sunday, and his return will likely coincide with Stripling's return to a long-relief role.

Houser allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five over 4.2 innings, taking a no-decision versus the Giants on Sunday.

Houser missed the first month-plus of the regular season with a groin injury. He wasn't very efficient, needing 87 pitches (53 strikes) to get through his season debut, but he was able to put in a solid performance despite ending up an out short of qualifying for the win. The right-hander posted a 4.73 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 69:47 K:BB through 102.2 innings last season. If he can trim his walk rate a bit in 2023, he may be slightly better than the back-end rotation option he's been recently. Houser's next start is projected for a favorable home matchup versus the Royals next weekend.

Manager David Bell said Sunday that Overton (elbow) isn't expected to return from the injured list until mid-July, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The right-hander was originally expected to resume throwing a couple weeks after he landed on the shelf with a right elbow strain in mid-April, but he's now slated for a multi-month absence. Overton is working through his rehab program at the Reds' spring training facility in Arizona but isn't yet throwing off a mound.

Feltner did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on four hits and six walks over 3.1 innings during a 13-6 win over the Mets. He struck out three.

Feltner walked the first two batters he faced and ultimately surrendered three first-inning runs. He struggled with his command all game long and was pulled with one out in the fourth after plunking Brandon Nimmo and walking Francisco Lindor to load the bases. Feltner struggled to start the season, allowing 13 runs in 13.1 innings with a 15:11 K:BB over his first three outings, but he had been sharp since, surrendering just two earned runs in 17 innings with a 15:4 K:BB across his past three appearances. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for a three-game weekend set versus Philadelphia.

Lucchesi did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over four innings in a 13-6 loss to the Rockies. He struck out four.

Lucchesi gave up a solo home run to Randal Grichuk in the first and two runs in the third. The left-hander tossed a scoreless fourth and was at only 70 pitches, but he was replaced to start the fifth inning, as he was operating on three-days rest. After tossing seven shutout innings in his first appearance of the season (April 21 versus San Francisco), Lucchesi has allowed three or more runs in three straight outings and surrendered a home run in each of those contests. Carlos Carrasco's (elbow) rehab start has been delayed by an illness, so it looks like Lucchesi will get at least one more turn in the rotation.

Ashcraft was removed during the second inning of Sunday's game against the White Sox after being struck in the leg by a comebacker, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander was headed for an early exit regardless of the injury, as he ended up being charged with eight runs while he recorded just five outs. It was Ashcraft's worst start of the year by a wide margin, as he had given up just eight runs combined in his first six outings. The 25-year-old's status will likely be updated following Sunday's contest, but for now he should be considered day-to-day.

Syndergaard is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Brewers at American Family Field, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Syndergaard found himself as the odd man out of Los Angeles' rotation this past week following the promotion of right-hander Gavin Stone from Triple-A Oklahoma City, but Stone was sent back to the minors after getting tagged for five runs (four earned) in four innings in his MLB debut Wednesday. Though he'll step back in as the Dodgers' No. 5 starter this week, Syndergaard likely doesn't have significant job security after posting a 6.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 12.3 K-BB% through his first six starts. All of those metrics are the worst or second-worst marks of his career.