MLB Player News

Rodriguez is close to being able to begin a throwing program after an MRI on Wednesday showed healing in his left shoulder, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Rodriguez has been sidelined all season and had to be shut down from throwing in mid-April after he felt renewed tightness in his shoulder. However, it appears the recent period of rest did him some good, and he's almost ready to ramp things back up again. The left-hander is still likely at least a month or so away from being able to join the Diamondbacks' rotation.

Ashcraft (3-2) took the loss Wednesday, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings as the Reds fell 4-3 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

After back-to-back quality starts, Ashcraft took a step backwards Wednesday, walking more batters than he struck out for the first time this season and managing only 14 called or swinging strikes among his 86 pitches. The 26-year-old right-hander has still had a solid first month-plus of the campaign, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB through 39.2 innings. He lines up for a rematch with the D'backs in Arizona early next week.

Hicks (3-1) earned the win over the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames.

Hicks pitched well for most of the contest and allowed just one run up until the fifth inning. However, that's where the right-hander would run into trouble after allowing four consecutive batters to reach with one out, ultimately leading to two more runs coming across for Colorado. The seven hits and three runs allowed both marked season highs for Hicks, who has now failed to go beyond five innings in back-to-back starts. He now holds a 5.00 ERA over two May starts to go along with an 8:6 K:BB.

Montgomery (2-2) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings in a 4-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out two.

While he again wasn't dominant, Montgomery worked seven frames for the second time in four starts since joining the Arizona rotation and delivered his third quality start. The veteran southpaw will take a 4.70 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB through 23 innings into his next outing, which lines up for a home rematch with Cincinnati early next week.

Sears (3-2) picked up the win in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rangers, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

The southpaw wasn't particularly sharp, getting tagged for at least one run in three of the first four innings, but Sears stuck around long enough for the A's to take the lead for good while he was on the mound. He's lasted at least five innings in seven straight starts, but the results have been erratic. Sears will take a 4.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB through 45 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come early next week in Houston.

Perez allowed four earned runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out five across five innings Wednesday against the Angels. He did not factor into the decision.

Perez worked five effective innings, allowing only two earned runs. However, he allowed the first two hitters he faced in the sixth inning to reach base, who then came around to score after Luis Ortiz entered the game. Perez has faded in the sixth inning in consecutive starts, allowing five earned runs combined in the frame. Overall, he still has a positive 3.60 ERA, though that comes with a less impressive 1.40 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB.

Leiter escaped with a no-decision in a 12-11 win over the A's in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, coughing up six runs (four earned) on seven hits over four innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander once again didn't look ready for the majors, serving up homers to Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom before getting the hook after 60 pitches (44 strikes). Leiter has taken a big step forward this season at Triple-A, but he's been tagged for 13 runs (11 earned) in his first 7.2 big-league innings, and the Rangers may look elsewhere for short-term rotation help rather than damage the 24-year-old's confidence any further.

Lorenzen (2-2) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the A's, surrendering six runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

Seven of the nine hits off Lorenzen went for extra bases, including homers by Shea Langeliers and Brett Harris. The right-hander has had a bumpy beginning to his Rangers tenure, but he's least providing some length and has worked exactly six innings in four straight outings. Lorenzen will take a 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB through 29 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Guardians.

Kirby (3-3) was hit with the loss against the Twins on Wednesday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Kirby didn't have his best stuff Wednesday, surrendering back-to-back home runs to Carlos Correa and Trevor Larnach in the first inning, along with a third long ball off the bat of Willi Castro in the following frame. The right-hander had not allowed more than one home run in a start coming in and had held opponents to one or fewer runs in each of his previous three outings. On a positive note, Kirby has now gone at least five innings in five consecutive starts, posting a 32:3 K:BB over that stretch.

Paddack (4-1) earned the win over the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing one run on eight hits and one walk while striking out 10 over 5.1 innings.

Paddack did a great job of mixing in off-speed pitches with his four-seamer early, which led to him striking out eight of the first 14 batters he faced. He would eventually surrender a solo home run to Mitch Garver in the fourth and actually allowed the leadoff man to reach in the fifth and sixth innings, but the right-hander was able to work his way through it and earn his fourth consecutive win. Paddack also matched his season high with 10 strikeouts in the contest and currently holds a 0.70 ERA in May to go along with a 16:2 K:BB. On the downside, he's also allowed eight or more hits in three of his last five outings.