MLB Player News

Anderson (2-2) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers.

Anderson threw 64 of his 90 pitches for strikes. He benefited from the Pirates' three-run fourth inning to give them a lead. Anderson has been solid in 2021 with a 3.92 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB across 20.2 innings. He is expected to make his next start during next week's two-game series versus the Royals.

Rogers (2-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Orioles after allowing four hits and one walk while recording eight strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.

The 23-year-old generated 17 swinging strikes as he limited Baltimore to one double and three singles Wednesday afternoon. Rogers has a 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB across 22 innings through four starts this season, and he lines up to pitch Monday at Milwaukee.

Manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday that Fried (hamstring) is still considered day-to-day, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Fried has been dealing with a right hamstring strain that he sustained while running the bases, and it's not yet clear when he'll be cleared to return to game action. If the southpaw is forced to miss another turn through the rotation, Bryse Wilson would likely start once again Sunday with Drew Smyly (forearm) slated to return from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Smyly (forearm) is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Smyly has been on the 10-day injured list with left forearm inflammation since April 16, but the issue isn't particularly serious. As a result, he'll be able to return after missing just one turn through the rotation. Smyly made two starts to begin the season and posted a 5.73 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 11 innings.

Cecconi sustained a minor wrist injury on his non-throwing hand and his minor-league debut will be delayed, William Boor of MLB.com reports.

With the injury being to Cecconi's non-throwing hand, there is little cause for concern regarding his long-term prospects. Cecconi is Arizona's top pitching prospect, someone with the potential to develop into a No. 2 starter in the big leagues thanks to a prototypical 6-foot-4 frame and an impressive four-pitch mix, headlined by a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Strasburg (shoulder) felt OK after he threw on flat ground from 75 feet Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Strasburg has been dealing with inflammation in his right shoulder and doesn't have a clear timetable to return to game action. If the right-hander continues to feel good, Martinez said that the team will ramp Strasburg up to throwing off a mound before progressing to live batting practice or simulated games. It's encouraging to see Strasburg resume throwing, but the Nationals figure to proceed with caution given his recent injury history.

General manager Kim Ng said Wednesday that Sanchez (shoulder) is "still a ways out" from returning to game action, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanchez has been dealing with mild inflammation in his right shoulder since the start of the regular season, and the team has been bringing him along slowly given his injury history. The right-hander has been throwing at the team's alternate training site, but he still doesn't have a firm timetable to return to game action.

Wheeler allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings but was not involved in the decision during Tuesday's loss to the Giants.

All four runs that Wheeler allowed came via the long ball. Buster Posey had two solo home runs while Tommy La Stella pitched in with a two-run blast of his own. Wheeler has gotten roughed up a bunch since pitching a gem in his first outing of the year. The 30-year-old has allowed 10 runs on 22 hits while sporting a 16:8 K:BB over his last 16.2 innings and will look to right the ship Monday against the Cardinals.

Webb allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings. He did not factor into the decision during Tuesday's 10-7 win over the Phillies.

Webb got himself out of early trouble in the first after getting Brad Miller to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play with the bases loaded. He wasn't so fortunate in the following innings, as he allowed an RBI double to Nick Maton in the second and a three-run homer to Miller later in the third. The 24-year-old left-hander has had trouble in all three of his starts thus far, combining to give up 10 runs, 22 hits, seven walks and three home runs over 14.1 innings. The Giants will likely need one more start from him -- scheduled for Sunday against the Marlins -- while Johnny Cueto (lat) remains on the 10-day injured list

Gray (2-1) earned the win against Houston on Tuesday, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing one run on three hits and four walks while striking out six.

Gray's control wasn't at its peak in the contest -- he walked four batters for the third time in his past four games -- but he navigated around the baserunners to notch his second quality start of the campaign. The veteran picked up his second win and lowered his season ERA to 2.42 in the process. After posting an ugly 6.69 ERA across 39 innings last year, Gray has bounced back with a solid start to the 2021 season. He'll look to keep it going Sunday when he faces the Phillies at Coors Field.