MLB Player News

Heaney pitched 4.1 innings against Minnesota on Tuesday, allowing an unearned run on three hits and no walks while striking out five. He did not factor in the decision.

Heaney didn't stay in the game long enough to qualify for a victory, but he certainly impressed his new team with 4.1 innings of three-hit ball. The left-hander racked up 15 swinging strikes on just 67 pitches, and per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Twins batters whiffed on eight of the 19 swings they took against Heaney's modified, sharper breaking ball. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic notes that the veteran hurler threw more breaking balls than fastballs in a game for the first time in his career Tuesday, giving further reason for his fantasy managers to hope that the standout performance was more than just an aberration in a cold and rainy environment in Minnesota. Heaney is expected to make his next start at home against Cincinnati on Sunday.

Lauer gave up four runs -- three earned -- over 4.1 innings and did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's victory over the Orioles. He allowed three hits and posted a 5:2 K:BB in the contest.

Lauer was not sharp Tuesday, but he limited the damage and the Brewers' offense and bullpen wound up taking him off the hook. He posted a 2.23 ERA in 80.2 innings over his final 15 appearances of the 2021 campaign, so he presumably has some level of security despite being at the back end of the Brewers' rotation.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Priester (oblique) won't return to game action for approximately two weeks, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Priester landed on the 7-day minor-league injured list last week, but he hurt his oblique about a week before. The right-hander will likely be forced to miss a month of action in total, but he should make his 2022 debut at Double-A Altoona once he's cleared to return.

The Reds officially selected Lodolo's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Cincinnati already confirmed a day ago that Lodolo would pick up the start in Wednesday's series finale with the Guardians, but the team didn't formally activate him until the day of the game. Riley O'Brien was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster for Lodolo, who should be guaranteed a rotation spot until at least one of Luis Castillo (shoulder) or Mike Minor (shoulder) return from the injured list. After a brilliant 2021 campaign between Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville in which Lodolo compiled a 2.31 ERA and 0.97 WHIP while striking out 38.8 percent of the batters he faced across 50.2 innings, it's not out of the question for the young lefty to perform well enough to permanently stay with the big club even after both Castillo and Minor return.

Wainwright and the Cardinals won't face the Royals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The two teams will make up the interleague game May 2. As a result of Wednesday's postponement, the Cardinals will most likely push each of their five starters back a day in the schedule. Wainwright is thus expected to make his next start Thursday against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Elder (1-0) recorded the win in Tuesday's 16-4 rout of the Nationals, giving up three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

Making his major-league debut, Elder was sharp overall and threw 50 of 85 pitches for strikes, but he faded in the sixth inning, serving up back-to-back homers to Juan Soto and Josh Bell before a Yadiel Hernandez ground-rule double sent the right-hander to the showers. If Atlanta elects to stick with a six-man rotation for another turn, Elder has likely done enough to earn a second start, but he'd face a tough matchup Monday on the road against the Dodgers.

Corbin (0-2) took the loss in Tuesday's 16-4 rout at the hands of Atlanta, coughing up six runs on nine hits and three walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out three.

The Nationals were hoping Corbin might be able to turn things around in 2022, but through two starts things have not gone well for the veteran southpaw. He's been tagged for eight runs through 6.2 innings with a 7:5 K:BB, and the only really positive takeaway for Corbin is that he has yet to allow a home run after serving up 37 of them last season. He'll try to regain his footing in his next scheduled start Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Luzardo didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and a walk over five innings while striking out a career-high 12.

The southpaw picked up right where he left off after an impressive spring training, popping 99.2 mph with his second pitch of the game and effectively mixing in his curve, sinker and changeup. Luzardo has struggled to turn his potential into production over the last couple seasons, but the early returns in 2022 suggest the 24-year-old is ready to break out. Luzardo is next scheduled to take the mound Tuesday, at home against the Cardinals.

Wheeler (0-1) took the loss Tuesday as the Phillies fell 2-0 to the Mets, giving up one run on two hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander made only one real mistake before exiting his first start of the season after 65 pitches (44 strikes), but unfortunately for Wheeler, Brandon Nimmo launched it into the seats in right field. Wheeler should get stretched out a little more in his next outing, scheduled for Sunday in Miami.

Megill (2-0) picked up the win in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over the Phillies, scattering three hits over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander didn't allow a runner past second base in another strong performance. Megill threw 49 of 76 pitches for strikes and has has yet to allow a run through his first 10.1 innings this season while posting an 11:0 K:BB. The 26-year-old has been particularly valuable for a Mets rotation already struggling with injuries, and Megill will look to keep rolling in a potential two-start week beginning Monday at home against the Giants.