MLB Player News

Smith-Shawver allowed three hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.1 shutout innings Thursday versus the Cubs, taking a no-decision.

Smith-Shawver pitched fairly well, aside from needing 87 pitches (55 strikes) to get 13 outs. It's a much better showing than his 6.10 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB over 31 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett to begin 2024. The right-hander's call-up could have been merely for a spot start after Atlanta's doubleheader earlier in the week, so it's unclear if the team will make room for him beyond Thursday. Darius Vines, who is expected to take the mound Friday in Pittsburgh, is the other candidate for the vacant No. 5 starter job.

Montas allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Thursday.

Montas has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) across 15.2 innings over his last three starts, though he's avoided taking a loss in any of those games. The Padres got to him early Thursday before he bounced back and finished strong. The right-hander is at a 4.61 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 28:16 K:BB over 41 innings across nine starts this season. Montas is projected to make his next start at home versus the Cardinals.

Waldron allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings in a no-decision versus the Reds on Thursday.

Waldron allowed a run in each of the first two innings before settling in. He's allowed a total of five runs over his last 16 innings while adding a 23:6 K:BB in that span. Waldron's overall numbers are still mediocre -- he has a 4.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 52:19 K:BB through 50 innings across 10 starts -- but he's shown improvement and resilience after a tough outing versus Arizona to begin May. He's projected to make his next start at home in a favorable matchup versus the Marlins.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Wells (elbow) plans to resume throwing this week in Sarasota, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

It will be the first time Wells has played catch since May 1, as he's been shut down the past few weeks after undergoing additional testing. The right-hander still has to go through a full throwing program and isn't likely to be back with the Orioles in the near future.

Heaney (0-6) took the loss Thursday against the Phillies, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out one.

Heaney held the Phillies scoreless until J.T. Realmuto's leadoff homer in the third inning before they'd tack on three more runs in the fourth. It was ultimately another tough outing for the left-hander, who's failed to make it out of the fourth inning in consecutive starts. Heaney's ERA sits at 4.69 with a 1.38 WHIP and 45:13 K:BB across 10 starts (48 innings) this season. He'll be looking for his first win in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week against Arizona.

Wheeler (6-3) earned the win Thursday over the Rangers, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out five.

After Adolis Garcia led off the second inning with a home run, Wheeler held the Rangers off the board until Ezequiel Duran's two-out RBI single in the seventh. It's the sixth win in Wheeler's last seven starts, and he's pitched at least seven innings in back-to-back outings and three of his last four. His ERA sits at 2.53 on the season with a 0.98 WHIP and 76:21 K:BB in 67.2 innings. Wheeler is currently lined up for a road matchup with the Giants in his next start.

Castillo (4-6) took the loss Thursday against the Yankees, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.

Castillo dealt with traffic for most of his outing, but he ultimately held New York to a pair of solo home runs. The loss snapped a stretch of seven straight quality starts for Castillo -- he'd posted a 2.01 ERA in that span. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.31 this season with a 1.21 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB over 65.1 innings. Castillo's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Astros in his next start.

Gil (6-1) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out eight in 6.1 scoreless innings.

Gil continues to look like a star in the Yankees' rotation -- the 25-year-old right-hander now has five straight wins and quality starts, allowing just two runs over 30.2 innings in that span. He's lowered his ERA to 2.11 on the year with a 1.01 WHIP and 70:29 K:BB through 10 starts (55.1 innings). Gil will look to keep rolling in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week on the road against the Angels.

Skenes didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Giants, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out three.

While Thursday's outing wasn't as dominant as Skenes' 11-strikeout performance in his previous start, the rookie right-hander was still effective, coaxing a pair of key double-play balls to limit the Giants to just one run and post his second straight quality start. However, the Pirates bullpen would implode late, leaving Skenes with a no-decision in an eventual 7-6 loss. Skenes now sports a 2.25 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and an impressive 21:4 K:BB through his first three starts (16 innings). He's currently in line for a road matchup with the Tigers in his next outing.

Alexander is in line to serve as a bulk reliever in Friday's game versus the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The left-hander carried a perfect game into the eighth inning of his last outing in Toronto as a traditional starter, but he's slated to follow opener Shawn Armstrong on Friday. Alexander holds a 5.06 ERA in six traditional starts and a 5.40 ERA in bulk relief this season.