MLB Player News

Hicks (1-2) took the loss Thursday against the Phillies, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks over seven innings. He struck out five.

It looked like it would be a short outing for Hicks, who allowed the first five Phillies to reach base in the opening frame, ultimately allowing five runs. However, the 28-year-old managed to blank Philadelphia over his subsequent six innings, allowing just one additional hit while he covered seven frames for just the second time in his big-league career. While the Giants couldn't overcome the early deficit in an eventual 6-4 defeat, it was an impressive rebound effort from Hicks. The right-hander will carry a 6.04 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB into his next start, tentatively lined up for next week against the Brewers.

Sanchez (2-0) earned the win Thursday over the Giants, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out 12.

Sanchez was dominant Thursday, logging a career-high 12 strikeouts en route to a second straight win. All three of San Francisco's runs against Sanchez came off the bat of Matt Chapman, who drove in a run with a single in the first inning before smacking a two-run homer in the sixth. Sanchez's ERA now sits at 2.96 through four starts (24.1 innings) with a 1.15 WHIP and an impressive 31:6 K:BB. The left-hander is currently scheduled for next week on the road against the Mets.

Williams (1-2) was charged with the loss Thursday in Pittsburgh after he allowed one run on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander served up a leadoff homer to Oneil Cruz in the bottom of the first inning, which was all it would take to be saddled with the loss. The performance was still a major step forward for Williams, who surrendered 12 runs across his first three starts of the season. A home matchup with the Orioles likely awaits next week.

Triple-A Rochester placed Ogasawara on its 7-day injured list Thursday with an oblique injury, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Ogasawara retains a spot on the Nationals' 40-man roster after signing a two-year, $3.5 million deal in January, but he was unable to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation and is still waiting to make his MLB debut. He supplied a 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB over 15 innings through his first three starts with Rochester before going down with the oblique injury.

Heaney (1-1) earned the win Thursday against the Nationals after giving up five hits and two walks over 7.1 scoreless innings. He struck out four.

The left-hander generated just nine swinging strikes on 95 pitches but scattered four singles and a double to pick up his first win of the campaign. Heaney surrendered four runs during his previous start in Cincinnati, but he's otherwise been dominant so far this season with a 2.13 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB across 25.1 innings.

Singer did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Mariners, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

Singer delivered three scoreless innings before Luke Raley tied the game with a two-run homer in the fourth. He'd give up two more unearned runs in the fifth before departing the game with just one out. Singer would ultimately settle for a no-decision, ending his season-opening win streak at three. The right-hander will carry a 3.38 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB into his next outing, currently slated for next week in Miami.

Cabrera (0-1) was charged with the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks. He surrendered five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six across four innings.

The right-hander has now issued exactly three walks in each of his first two starts of the campaign, and he also had a wild pitch and plunked a batter while allowing five stolen bases Thursday. Walks have been a problem throughout Cabrera's career with a 5.1 BB/9 over parts of five big-league seasons, so he's difficult to trust as a consistent fantasy option. Encouragingly, he worked up to 88 pitches Thursday, so he at least doesn't appear to have any workload limitations after opening the campaign on the IL due to a blister.

Rodriguez (1-2) struck out nine and earned the win Thursday in a 6-4 victory over Miami after giving up three runs (one earned) on 10 hits and no walks over 5.1 innings.

A pair of errors led to two unearned runs for the Marlins, which was fortunate for Rodriguez's line given how many baserunners he allowed. The left-hander didn't issue a walk for the first time this season, but he still exhibited some shaky control with a pair of wild pitches. Rodriguez surrendered seven runs in his first two starts of the season but has settled in during his past two outings with just three earned runs, though the 16 hits he's allowed remain a concern.

Skenes is listed as the Pirates' starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Guardians at PNC Park.

Not only will Skenes be taking the hill for his bobblehead night, but he'll also be pitching on four days' rest for the first time in the big leagues and for the first time at any level since 2023. Though Skenes doesn't have any history of arm problems, the Pirates have deliberately built in extra rest between starts for the 22-year-old in an effort to preserve his health. The Pirates are still likely to add a sixth starter to the mix during particularly busy portions of the schedule to give Skenes and the other members of the rotation more recovery time between outings, but a four-day rest period should eventually become the norm for the star right-hander as he matures.

The Dodgers optioned Miller to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Miller's season debut Wednesday probably didn't play out the way he had hoped, as he surrendered six earned runs on eight hits and a walk across three innings, though he did collect seven strikeouts. The 26-year-old's poor showing will earn him a ticket back to Oklahoma City, freeing up a roster spot for Evan Phillips (shoulder) to make his return from the injured list over the weekend.