MLB Player News

Morton pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits, a walk and hit-by-pitch while striking out four in Wednesday's win over the Phillies. He did not factor into the decision.

Morton had a lot of trouble keeping the Phillies off the basepaths, allowing 11 batters to reach base while only registering 13 outs. He gave up a solo home run to Odubel Herrera in the second inning, another run in the fourth frame and surrendered two more in the following inning while only forcing one out. Morton came into Wednesday having only allowed four total runs over 16.1 frames in his prior three starts, watching his ERA jump from 4.95 to 5.28 following the difficult outing. The 38-year-old will look to get back on the right track when he toes the rubber next, which tentatively lines up as a matchup versus the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Hendricks (2-5) allowed four runs on five hits across four innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Reds. He walked one and struck out one.

Hendricks didn't allow seven runs like he did in his last outing, but he was only moderately better Wednesday. It's been a struggle all year for the righty, as he's now sitting with a 5.20 ERA. Hendricks posted a sub-3.50 ERA every year between 2016 and 2020, but that crept up to 4.77 last season, and he's now on pace for a new career worst. Hendricks has always had a small margin for error since he doesn't record too many strikeouts, and that may be catching up to him in his age-32 season. He'll look to turn things around in his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Brewers.

Small (illness) struck out three and allowed one run on five hits and no walks over six innings Tuesday in Triple-A Nashville's 6-4 win over Toledo.

Small missed his last turn through Nashville's rotation after he picked up a non-COVID-19-related illness, but he quickly moved past the ailment. The 25-year-old lefty doesn't have a spot on the 40-man roster, but he's put himself in the conversation for a call-up to Milwaukee if the team requires a spot starter at any point. Through his eight starts at Nashville, Small has compiled a 1.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 49:21 K:BB across 38.1 innings.

Heaney (shoulder) plans to throw three simulated innings during a bullpen session Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Heaney remains without a timeline to resume facing hitters, but he's been steadily increasing his pitch counts in bullpen sessions since he was cleared to begin a throwing progression just over two weeks ago. The lefty was shut down April 20 with shoulder discomfort and may need one or two rehab starts in the minors before the Dodgers pinpoint a target date for his return from the 10-day injured list.

Malone has made a full recovery from the illness that set him back in spring training, but he's now working through a throwing progression as he looks to overcome a recent bout of right shoulder soreness, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Malone resumed throwing live batting practice sessions a week ago and could be ready to pitch in a simulated game at the Pirates' spring training facility within the next few days. Once he's deemed ready to make his 2022 affiliated-ball debut, Malone will likely slot into the Single-A Bradenton rotation.

Priester (oblique) will throw live BP on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Priester resumed mound work earlier in May and has now been cleared to face live hitters. If the right-hander feels good following Wednesday's throwing session, he'll likely be able to begin a rehab assignment soon.

Fried didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The lefty tossed 58 of 99 pitches for strikes before exiting with a 4-2 lead, but Fried was denied his fifth win of the year when Kenley Jansen blew the save in the top of the ninth. The quality start was Fried's second in a row and sixth in nine trips to the mound, and he'll carry a 3.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 52:8 K:BB through 55 innings into his next outing.

Contreras is listed as the Pirates' starting pitcher for Sunday's game in San Diego.

Contreras will be rewarded with a second turn through the rotation after he blanked the Rockies over five innings and struck out five while allowing only five baserunners in his second career MLB start Tuesday. With Pittsburgh having demoted Bryse Wilson to Triple-A Indianapolis and with Mitch Keller moving to the bullpen for the Pirates' six-game week, Contreras looks secure as the team's No. 4 starter at the moment.

Flaherty (shoulder) will face live hitters Thursday, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.

Flaherty began throwing bullpen sessions in early May, and he's now been cleared to face hitters after being transferred to the 60-day injured list last week. The right-hander isn't eligible to be activated by the Cardinals until early June, but it seems like he's trending toward a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Rockies recalled Feltner from Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

He'll be joining the rotation as a replacement for Antonio Senzatela (back), who remains on the 15-day injured list but is expected to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend. As such, Feltner's stint with the Rockies could be short-lived, and he may not be asked to work deep into Wednesday's start since he'll be pitching on three days' rest. He struck out seven over three scoreless innings in his most recent outing for Albuquerque on Saturday.