MLB Player News

Kopech (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled for another Monday before potentially being cleared to face live batters, Benjamin Royer of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The right-hander's throwing program stalled in late March due to a shoulder impingement after he came into camp with some forearm inflammation, but he's now nearing the latter stages of his rehab program. Kopech will likely require a few rehab appearances in the minors before rejoining the Dodgers, so he's likely still at least a couple weeks away from being reinstated.

The Reds recalled Richardson from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

With Ian Gibaut (shoulder) bound for the injured list, Richardson will come up from Triple-A to help bolster Cincinnati's bullpen depth. The 25-year-old righty owns a 4.15 ERA and 1.08 WHIP through 13 innings at Louisville this season, but he'll likely be limited to low-leverage situations, given his career 9.35 ERA in the majors.

Woodruff (shoulder) tossed five scoreless innings Thursday in his latest rehab start at Triple-A Nashville, striking out five batters while allowing two hits and no walks.

After making his first rehab start at Triple-A on April 12, Woodruff moved to High-A Wisconsin for his second outing April 18 before linking back up with Nashville this week. Though the 32-year-old threw 61 pitches Thursday -- seven fewer than his previous start with Wisconsin -- he was highly efficient, facing just two batters over the minimum. After missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from September 2023 capsule surgery on his right shoulder, Woodruff's fastball velocity has been hovering a tick or two below pre-surgery levels during his rehab assignment, but Thursday represented a major step forward in terms of regaining command. The right-hander is likely to make at least one more start in the minors before potentially returning from the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 debut with the Brewers in early May.

Verlander (0-2) took the loss Friday as the Giants were downed 2-0 by the Rangers, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

The 42-year-old right-hander delivered his second straight quality start on 89 pitches (65 strikes), but San Francisco's bats couldn't get going against Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas bullpen. Verlander appears to be turning things around, but on the season he still carries a 4.99 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB through 30.2 innings. He'll be in an excellent spot to collect his first win as a Giant in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Rockies.

Yamamoto (3-2) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks over five innings as the Dodgers fell 3-0 to the Pirates. He struck out five.

In a battle of early NL Cy Young candidates, the 26-year-old righty couldn't match Paul Skenes as a Max Muncy error and Yamamoto's own shaky control ended his quality start streak at three. He tossed just 58 of 94 pitches for strikes, and the four walks were a season worst for Yamamoto. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Atlanta.

Skenes (3-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing five hits over 6.1 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Dodgers. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

In a battle of early NL Cy Young candidates, Skenes came out on top against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Pittsburgh ace racked up 37 called or swinging strikes among his 108 pitches (69 total strikes), and his nine Ks were his highest total so far in 2025. Skenes will take a 2.39 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 39:4 K:BB through 37.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Cubs.

Abbott did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-7 win over the Rockies. He allowed four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out four over four innings.

Abbott entered Friday's game having given up just two earned runs over his first 11 big-league innings this season. He started out nicely by retiring the side in the first, but he gave up a run on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning before yielding three more runs in the third, including a Jordan Beck solo homer. Abbott didn't make it into the fifth inning despite tossing 83 pitches (45 strikes) while generating eight whiffs. He's slated to make his next start at home against the Cardinals next week.

Freeland did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-7 loss to the Reds, allowing six runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

It was another rough outing for Freeland, who allowed at least three baserunners in three of his five innings. He's given up at least five earned runs in three of his last four outings and has given up 20 earned on the season, which is second most among qualified starters in the National League behind German Marquez (21). Freeland will look to turn things around in his next start, which is lined up for next week on the road against the Giants.

Gallen (1-4) took the loss Friday against Atlanta after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out six.

Gallen kept the hard contact in check to a degree -- it was just his second start this year in which didn't give up a home run -- but he yielded two RBI doubles during Atlanta's three-run second inning. The right-hander was able to tie a season high with 103 pitches, but it was his fourth consecutive outing with multiple walks allowed. Gallen has a disappointing 5.57 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB over 32.1 frames in 2025, and things won't get much easier in his next scheduled appearance on the road versus the Mets.

Sale (1-2) earned the win Friday against the Diamondbacks after allowing one run on five hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four.

Sale gave up just one extra-base hit, a third-inning Corbin Carroll triple that he left stranded, and he also notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. Although he fanned a season-low four, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner got 11 whiffs, threw a season-high 104 pitches and yielded fewer than two runs for the first time in six starts this year. Sale now has a 5.40 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 36:9 K:BB across 28.1 innings, and he's set to face the Rockies in a tough spot at hitter-friendly Coors Field in his next projected outing.