MLB Player News

Williamson (0-1) was the losing pitcher Tuesday when he allowed six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings in an 8-3 loss to Pittsburgh.

Williamson was roughed up by the Pirates in his first big-league start in 560 days. The left-hander avoided damage in the first inning, when he gave up a single and a walk to the first two batters, but the Pirates eventually got to him in the second. A three-run home run from Ryan O'Hearn and a solo blast by Bryan Reynolds highlighted Pittsburgh's five-run frame. "Obviously I threw a few too many heaters over the plate," Williamson told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "Hindsight 20/20, I throw something else or locate it a little bit. Really the three-run shot was the dagger." Williamson later gave up a third home run in the fourth inning. He's scheduled to make his next start April 6 against the Marlins, but Williamson did little to suggest he'll keep his spot in the rotation once Nick Lodolo (finger) is cleared to make his season debut.

Littell (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings of relief as the Nationals were downed 3-2 by the Phillies. He struck out one.

After PJ Poulin worked a scoreless first inning as the opener, Littell took the mound and lasted 75 pitches (53 strikes) while serving up solo shots to Kyle Schwarber in the third inning and Adolis Garcia in the fourth. Littell didn't sign with the Nats until early March, so Tuesday's usage likely has more to do with the fact that the right-hander wasn't quite stretched out yet, rather than being a sign that he'll be used as a primary pitcher behind an opener on a regular basis. Littell is expected to make his next appearance at home early next week against the Cardinals.

Kelly (back) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Reno on Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

The plan for Kelly, fresh off a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, is to get as close to or into the 70s with his pitch count Friday. This could be the only rehab start he makes before rejoining the Diamondbacks. Kelly was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 24, which means he could be activated as early as next Wednesday, April 8.

Bibee (0-1) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Bibee had to be pulled from his first start last Thursday against Seattle due to a shoulder issue, but the injury didn't prove to be serious, and the right-hander was able to take his normal turn in the rotation Tuesday. He didn't pitch poorly, but he also wasn't efficient, needing 74 pitches to get through four frames. Bibee kept Los Angeles out of the scoring column until there were two outs in his final inning, but an Andy Pages single produced a run and was ultimately responsible for the hurler ending up with the loss. Bibee said after the game that he didn't have any issues with his shoulder, per Mason Horodyski of News 5 Cleveland, so he should be fine to make his next start, which lines up to come at home against Kansas City.

Marquez (0-1) took the loss against San Francisco on Tuesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out one batter over three innings.

Marquez finished spring with a pair of promising outings, but he couldn't carry over any momentum into his first start of the regular season. The veteran right-hander gave up three runs in the first inning and another in the third, and he needed 65 pitches to get through three frames. Marquez gave up a whopping eight hits (including two homers and a double) during his short time on the mound, and his final line could have been even worse had he not escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the second. Marquez is filling a spot at the end of San Diego's rotation for the time being, but he'll likely need to pitch much better to keep a starting role once Joe Musgrove (elbow) and Griffin Canning (Achilles) are ready to return to action.

Webb (1-1) earned the win over San Diego on Tuesday, tossing six innings during which he allowed three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five batters.

After Webb gave up seven runs (six earned) over five innings in an Opening Day loss to the Yankees, Tuesday's quality start was much more in line with what Giants fans (and fantasy managers) have come to expect from the team's ace. Still, it was far from a flawless outing, as the right-hander issued four free passes -- as many as he yielded in any game last season. Webb handed out just one walk in his ugly first start, so his mild wildness against the Padres probably isn't cause for concern, especially given the overall outcome. He's tentatively slated to next take the mound at home against the Mets.

Gilbert (0-1) took the loss against the Yankees on Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six batters over 5.1 innings.

Gilbert retired the first two batters he faced Tuesday, but three straight Yankees hits resulted in a pair of first-inning runs. The right-hander proceeded through the next four frames without falling further behind, but he imploded in the sixth, allowing four of the five batters he faced in that inning to reach base (on two doubles, a single and a walk) before being pulled. Overall, Gilbert threw just 54 of 95 pitches for strikes, and his three walks tied the most he recorded in any game last season. Gilbert did rack up 14 whiffs and now has 13 punchouts across 10.2 innings on the campaign, but he's also carrying a 6.75 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through two starts.

Fried (2-0) earned the win over Seattle on Tuesday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out six batters over seven scoreless innings.

Fried was sharp in his second start of the campaign, throwing 60 of 90 pitches for strikes and allowing a mere three hits (all singles). The star hurler has begun the regular season with 13.1 scoreless frames and a pair of quality starts, both of which resulted in victories. Fried will look to keep rolling in his next appearance, which tentatively lines up to take place at home against Miami this weekend.

DeGrom allowed three earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out seven batters across 4.2 innings during Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Orioles. He did not factor into the decision.

DeGrom allowed just three batters to reach base through the first four innings, though one of them was Pete Alonso, who put the O's on the scoreboard with a leadoff homer in the fourth. A defensive miscue from Wyatt Langford in the fifth allowed Baltimore to tally two more runs against deGrom, causing the veteran righty to leave Tuesday's contest after 79 pitches with the score knotted at three apiece. He's lined up to make his next start at home against the Mariners and may be allowed to pitch a bit deeper into that contest, at which point he'll be further removed from the neck issues that delayed his debut.

Mize did not factor into the decision Tuesday, striking out nine and allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings during a 7-5 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Mize induced 15 swinging strikes on 93 pitches as he limited Arizona to a solo homer across six frames, but he lost out on the victory due to an eighth-inning collapse by the Detroit bullpen. The right-hander has never been a big punchout guy with a career 19.5 percent strikeout rate, but his splitter was in top form Tuesday, generating nine whiffs and six strikeouts. Mize lines up for a favorable road matchup against the Twins early next week.