MLB Player News

Perez had his best start as a pro Friday for Double-A Pensacola, striking out a career-high 12 batters while allowing one hit and zero walks in five scoreless innings.

One of the most exciting and hyped pitching prospects in the minors, Perez turned 19 two weeks ago and just utterly dominated a Biloxi lineup populated by hitters who are mostly 2-to-4 years older than him. He hit two batters and had a wild pitch, but when he threw the ball near the plate there was nothing the opposition could do. Perez understandably got off to a slow (by his standards) start at Double-A, but he now has 30 strikeouts in 17 innings through four starts.

Wainwright (2-3) was charged with the loss to the Diamondbacks on Friday, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks over six innings. He struck out four.

The veteran did himself no favors by handing out five free passes, more than he had in any single start last season. Wainwright has now taken back-to-back losses against Cincinnati and Arizona, and his WHIP is all the way up at 1.56. At least he's striking batters out, and he's only allowed two long balls in 27 innings so far.

Greene (1-3) allowed four runs on six hits -- including two home runs -- over 4.1 innings to take the loss Friday against the Rockies. He struck out six and walked four.

The final line wasn't all that bad for a Coors Field start, but Greene's velocity remained well down from his first few outings, even with two days of extra rest. Per Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Greene averaged 96.7 mph on his fastball Friday. "Trying to keep that in perspective in the days that I do have 100-plus in the tank. Those are the days that are fun," Greene told the Enquirer. "The days like [Friday], you go out there and try to keep hitters off balance and you just try to put your team in a good position to win." The Reds were adamant after his last start that there was no injury concern with Greene.

Senzatela (2-1) allowed one earned run on seven hits and two walks while striking out one across 6.1 innings to earn the win Friday against the Reds.

Senzatela wasn't dominant, but he used groundballs to limit the damage, as he induced double plays to end each of the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. Despite the positive outing, Senzatela has a minuscule 6.9 percent strikeout rate for the season and has failed to punch out more than three batters in any start. He's allowed only one home run across his first 19.2 innings to maintain a solid 3.66 ERA.

Houser (2-2) picked up the win Friday, scattering two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings in an 11-1 victory over the Cubs. He struck out six.

The 29-year-old right-hander let only one Chicago runner even reach second base, while his offense supported him with six homers. Houser has delivered back-to-back quality starts and sports a 2.53 ERA through 21.1 innings, but his 18.4 percent strikeout rate and 11.5 percent walk rate suggest he's been more lucky than good so far.

Hendricks (1-2) took the loss Friday, surrendering six runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over 4.1 innings as the Cubs got routed 11-1 by the Brewers. He struck out two.

Six of the seven hits off the veteran right-hander went for extra bases, but he was far from the only offender on the Cubs and the Brewers slugged six homers in all on the night. Hendricks had served up only one long ball in his first four starts of the season, but Friday he looked more like the hurler who got taken deep 31 times in 181 innings in 2021. Hendricks will carry a 5.47 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and uncharacteristic 10.0 percent walk rate into his next outing.

Clevinger (knee) is expected to pitch May 3 or 4 in Cleveland if his upcoming bullpen session goes well, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Though he remains on the injured list, Clevinger flew to Pittsburgh to join the Padres following his third minor-league rehab start Thursday and is slated to throw a bullpen in the next few days. If he makes it through that session without incident, the right-hander will likely start one of San Diego's two games in Cleveland -- where he pitched during the first four-plus seasons of his big-league career -- next week. He'll almost certainly be on a pitch count in his initial outings, as Clevinger topped out at 67 pitches during his rehab assignment and hasn't thrown in a major-league game since 2020.

Anderson (2-1) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings in a 6-3 victory over the Rangers. He struck out five.

Atlanta jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and Anderson never let Texas back into the game despite firing only 51 of 90 pitches for strikes before exiting. It was the first quality start of the season for the right-hander, but his control remains an issue in the early going -- Anderson's 13.3 percent walk rate is a huge jump from his 9.9 percent rate in 2021, while his 20.5 percent strikeout rate has dropped a similar amount.

Anderson (2-0) picked up the win during Friday's 5-1 victory over Detroit, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings.

Making his second start in place of Andrew Heaney (shoulder), Anderson worked quickly through his five innings aside from a mini rally in the third that put one run on the board. This was the 32-year-old's first win as a starter this season. Heaney has yet to resume throwing, so Anderson appears on track to make at least one more turn through the rotation, likely next weekend against the Cubs.

Nola (1-3) allowed three runs on seven hits over six frames Friday, striking out nine and taking a loss against the Mets.

Nola found himself locked in a pitcher's duel with Tylor Megill to begin the game. He yielded just two singles through four shutout innings before the Mets finally broke through in the fifth. He gave up a two-run single to Jeff McNeil before Pete Alonso tacked on an insurance run with his sixth-inning solo blast. The Phillies were no-hit, handing Nola his third loss in the last four outings. He'll carry a 3.90 ERA into his next outing, a home rematch with the Mets next week.