MLB Player News

Pfaadt took a no-decision in his major-league debut against the Rangers on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk across 4.2 innings.

The 24-year-old was called up from Triple-A Reno earlier Wednesday, and he was rocked in his first taste of the big leagues as Texas launched four home runs, including two off the bat of Josh Jung. Pfaadt totaled 218 strikeouts across 167 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels last year and has major strikeout potential, but he generated just seven swinging strikes versus the Rangers. Assuming he sticks in the rotation, the right-hander tentatively lines up for a matchup with Miami early next week.

Cubs manager David Ross was noncommittal Wednesday when asked whether Taillon (groin) might be activated to start Thursday versus the Nationals, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Ross ruled out the idea Monday, but that was before Taillon threw a successful 45-pitch simulated game Tuesday in Washington. "Oh, I don't know," the skipper said Wednesday at Nationals Park. "We'll see." Taillon, 31, has been on the injured list since April 20 because of a left groin strain.

Fried's next scheduled start will be pushed back from Thursday to Friday at home against the Orioles, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

It sounds like Atlanta just wants to give the left-hander an extra day of rest. The team has not yet decided who will start Thursday in Miami, as it wants to see how Wednesday's game plays out first.

Webb (2-5) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 7.2 innings against Houston. He struck out five.

Webb was excellent Wednesday, holding the Astros scoreless until Alex Bregman's two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning. The 26-year-old Webb has allowed two runs in each of his last three starts, pitching into the seventh inning in all three outings. He now has a 3.80 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 48:7 K:BB through seven starts (45 innings) to begin the season.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Woodford will be available out of the bullpen beginning with Thursday's game against the Angels, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Woodford's demotion to the bullpen comes with Adam Wainwright (groin) in line to return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday against the Tigers. Woodford had struggled to a 5.72 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB through 28.1 innings (six starts) this season for St. Louis.

Lucchesi didn't factor into the decision Wednesday in the Mets' 6-5 loss to the Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader after he gave up four runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out one and issued no walks.

Though Lucchesi served up three extra-base hits (including two home runs) on the day, he was relatively efficient in the start, as he needed only 46 pitches to record 12 outs. Under normal circumstances, the Mets would have left Lucchesi in for at least another inning or two, but manager Buck Showalter told Tim Healey of Newsday after the game that the southpaw was pulled early so he could be better preserved for a start Sunday against the Rockies on three days' rest. Because of the doubleheader, the Mets will close the week with six games in five days, and Showalter apparently views Lucchesi on short rest as the team's best option for Sunday rather than delving into the minor-league ranks for a spot starter. The Mets are likely to scale back to a five-man rotation next week and Carlos Carrasco (elbow) also appears to be on track to return from the injured list, so Lucchesi could end up getting optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse immediately following Sunday's outing.

The Nationals recalled Irvin from Triple-A Rochester ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Cubs.

Just as manager Dave Martinez said would be the case following Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs, Irvin will step into the rotation Wednesday for what will be his MLB debut. The 26-year-old right-hander supplied a 5.64 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while striking out 20 over 22.1 innings at Rochester, but he could nonetheless have a chance to stick around as the Nationals' No. 5 starter with a solid showing against the Cubs.

Suarez (elbow) will make the third start of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

He'll get his pitch count up to the 70-to-75 range in what will likely be his final rehab start before he returns from the 15-day injured list. If Suarez is indeed back with the Phillies following the upcoming rehab start, he would be in line to make his 2023 big-league debut next weekend in Colorado. The left-hander has been sidelined since early March with a left elbow strain.

Syndergaard isn't scheduled to make a start this week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

An off day Thursday allows the Dodgers to realign their rotation, which they'll do by setting up Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Julio Urias to make starts this weekend in a big divisional series with San Diego. Manager Dave Roberts didn't specify whether Syndergaard will be available out of the bullpen this weekend, as the right-hander is expected to use some of his time out of the rotation to address some mechanical issues. Syndergaard owns a 6.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB over 31.1 innings this season, but he managed to pick up his first win his last time out Sunday against the Cardinals.

Perez struck out 11 batters over five innings Tuesday for Double-A Pensacola, and pitching coach Dave Eiland believes the 20-year-old is ready for a promotion to Triple-A, Ben Weinrib of MLB.com reports.

"He had his best fastball command that I've seen out of him in the year-plus that I've had him, and of course, that sets up everything else," Eiland said after the game. "That's saying a lot as well as he pitched last year. Just as far as the way he uses his pitches, the way he's commanding them all, the way they all complement one another. That's what you want to see in a young pitcher, a young prospect." Including his stint with Pensacola in 2022, Perez now sports a 3.69 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 139:32 K:BB through 100 innings at Double-A, and the only benchmark left for him to reach before a bump up to Triple-A could be tied to his workload. He hasn't yet been allowed to take on a regular five-day schedule in the Blue Wahoos' rotation, instead taking the mound every sixth day this season.