MLB Player News
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Clayton Kershaw SP | LAD
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Looks ready for 2025 debut
Kershaw (toe/knee) allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters over four innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Making what was likely his fifth and final rehab start, Kershaw was generally efficient (35 strikes on 57 pitches) and topped out at 88.8 miles per hour with his fastball. Though Kershaw has never been the most overpowering pitcher, he averaged 90 mph with his fastball over his seven starts with the Dodgers in 2024, so the diminished velocity he's shown during his rehab assignment means that any success that he might have at the big-league level this season could hinge even more heavily on inducing weak contact rather than making bats miss. From a workload standpoint, Kershaw isn't expected to face any major restrictions when he returns from the 60-day injured list, as he has gotten stretched out to six innings and 66 pitches over the course of his minor-league assignment. He's expected to be activated when first eligible next Sunday to make his 2025 Dodgers debut in a home start against the Angels.
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JR Ritchie SP | ATL
Braves' JR Ritchie: Set to join Double-A
Ritchie is being promoted to Double-A Columbus, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.
Ritchie has posted a 1.30 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 38 strikeouts over 41.2 innings in seven starts with High-A Rome this season, including a nine-strikeout, one-hit shutout of Greenville on Saturday. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, the 21-year-old right-hander could rise up prospect lists quickly if he continues dominating at Double-A.
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Carmen Mlodzinski RP | PIT
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Fires 5.2 scoreless frames
Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 win over Atlanta, allowing four hits and one walk over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out two.
The 26-year-old right-hander produced his first scoreless start of the season with this 83-pitch performance, falling an out shy of securing his first quality start. The Atlanta lineup was unable to square up Mlodzinski, as he scattered three singles and a double. With this effort, Mlodzinski lowered his ERA from 6.16 to 5.20 across 36.1 total innings. He currently lines up to make his next start at the Phillies next weekend.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Fans eight in no-decision
Sale took a no-decision in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Pirates, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.
The Atlanta southpaw generated a solid 18 whiffs in this 99-pitch outing, falling one out shy of notching his third consecutive quality start. Despite yielding eight base knocks, only one of the hits went for extra bases -- an Alexander Canario double in the fourth. Through 47.2 frames, Sale owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 64:13 K:BB. He is currently scheduled to make his next start against one of his former teams, the Red Sox, in Boston next weekend.
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MacKenzie Gore SP | TEX
Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Suffers fourth loss
Gore (2-4) took the loss Sunday against St. Louis, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts.
The Washington southpaw showed no ill effects of the ankle injury he suffered during his last start May 4 in this 101-pitch performance. Gore generated 13 whiffs and was in line for a quality start before allowing two runs (one scoring on a single conceded by reliever Andrew Chafin) in the seventh as he tired. Through 52.2 innings, Gore has pitched to a 3.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 75:16 K:BB. He is currently slated to make his next start against the Orioles in Baltimore next weekend.
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Miles Mikolas RP | WAS
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Cruises to second win
Mikolas (2-2) earned the win Sunday at Washington, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
Mikolas looked solid again, as the only blemish on his line was a Nathaniel Lowe solo homer in the fourth. The St. Louis right-hander fired only 69 pitches in this outing, and the Cardinals have found success deploying Mikolas in shorter stints. Across his last five starts, the 36-year-old has pitched to a 2.05 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB over 26.1 innings. Mikolas currently lines up to take his next turn in the rotation at Kansas City next weekend.
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Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Punches out season-high eight
Boyd did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Mets, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out eight.
The veteran southpaw generated a solid 16 whiffs in this 92-pitch performance to notch his fifth quality start. Boyd limited the Mets to just two extra-base hits, both of which produced runs -- a Luis Torrens triple in the second and a Mark Vientos solo homer in the sixth. The 34-year-old Boyd has been a dependable arm in his first season with the Cubs, pitching to a 2.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 45:13 K:BB across 45.1 innings. His next start is scheduled to be against the White Sox at home next weekend.
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Griffin Canning SP | SD
Mets' Griffin Canning: Collects second quality start
Canning took a no-decision in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Cubs, pitching six innings during which he yielded one run while allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out five.
The New York right-hander continued his superlative run in this 92-pitch outing and picked up his first quality start since April 17 against St. Louis. The only blemish on Canning's performance came in the sixth frame when Pete Crow-Armstrong popped a solo homer. Through 42 total innings, Canning sports a 2.36 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 42:16 K:BB. He currently lines up to make his next start on the road against the Yankees next weekend.
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Jarlin Susana SP | WAS
Nationals' Jarlin Susana: Shut down with elbow sprain
Double-A Harrisburg placed Susana on its 7-day injured list Saturday due to a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
One of Washington's top pitching prospects, Susana was diagnosed with the injury following his most recent start with Harrisburg on May 4. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that a Grade 1 sprain represents a "best-case scenario" for the 21-year-old righty, but he'll still be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks. The hard-throwing Susana has racked up 38 strikeouts over 26 innings with Harrisburg this season, but he's issued 20 walks and has turned in a 1.69 WHIP.
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Cade Cavalli SP | WAS
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Activated and optioned
The Nationals reinstated Cavalli (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.
After making his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2022, Cavalli had been limited to just 8.1 minor-league innings over the past two seasons while recovering from March 2023 Tommy John surgery. He reported healthy to spring training but was brought along slowly before being cleared to begin a rehab assignment April 19. Cavalli will stick around with Rochester and should continue to make regular turns through the rotation. He's expected to get another look in the big leagues later this season.