MLB Player News

Criswell took a no-decision in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Angels, permitting two runs on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.

Taylor Ward's two-run blast in the third inning represented the lone damage off Criswell. He needed 83 pitches to cover his four frames, which kept him from going long enough to qualify for a victory. Criswell is slated to receive at least one more start while Nick Pivetta (elbow) recuperates, and it's currently lined up to be against the Guardians.

Canning (0-2) was dealt a loss Saturday in Boston, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and no walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Canning didn't issue a walk in addition to notching six strikeouts, but for the third straight start he didn't pitch deep into the game. He's going in the wrong direction in that regard, too, as the five innings he went in his first outing of the season remains his longest start. The home run ball has been an issue for Canning, who has served up five of them in 13.2 frames. He's tentatively lined up to face the Rays on the road his next time out.

Steele (hamstring) will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Steele will get back on the bump for the first time since he suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on Opening Day. The Cubs anticipate Steele missing the rest of April, but he seems to be tracking toward a return from the 15-day injured list in early May.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Taillon (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to make his next start in the majors, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Taillon covered 3.2 scoreless innings and threw 68 pitches in his final rehab start Friday with Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs haven't yet determined which day Taillon will pitch, but he could be activated from the IL as soon as Wednesday in Arizona.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Buehler (elbow/hand) is fine and will make his next rehab start Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Buehler had to be removed from his last rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday after getting hit in the right hand by a comebacker. It will not keep him from taking his next turn, though, which will likely come with Triple-A Oklahoma City. It had been looking like Buehler's next rehab start would be his last before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation, but he might now be asked to make an additional appearance since his last one was abbreviated.

Boyle (1-2) suffered a tough-luck loss Saturday versus the Nationals. He yielded one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five in five innings of work.

Just one free pass from the big right-hander was an encouraging development after he surrendered seven of them across his first two outings. He nonetheless was dealt his second loss, as the Athletics offense was unable to do much against MacKenzie Gore and the Nationals bullpen. Boyle has 15 strikeouts over 12.2 frames this season, but unless he can string together multiple outings like this one where his control is adequate, the downside will likely continue to outweigh the upside.

Gore (2-0) collected a win Saturday in Oakland, tossing five shutout innings on four hits and one walk while striking out 11.

The feeble Athletics lineup had no chance against Gore in this one. All four hits they tallied were singles, and they never advanced past second base while the left-hander was in the game. Gore's 11 strikeouts tied a career high, and he picked up an impressive 20 swinging strikes on 90 pitches. With a 2.81 ERA and 23:5 K:BB over 16 innings, we could be looking at the beginning of a post-hype breakout season from the 25-year-old southpaw.

Alexander will serve as a bulk reliever for the Rays on Sunday against the Giants, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Shawn Armstrong will handle opener duties before handing things over to Alexander. The left-handed Alexander has had a rough go of it so far in his first season in Tampa Bay, permitting nine earned runs on 14 hits through 9.1 innings.

Manaea (1-1) took the loss to the Royals on Saturday. He was charged with eight runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks, striking out four over 3.2 innings.

His Mets career got off to a great start (one earned run allowed in 11 innings), but Manaea came crashing back to reality Saturday. He walked in a run in the second inning and served up a homer to Salvador Perez in the fourth before getting the hook. While the left-hander carries a fair amount of risk from start to start, Manaea can still provide value as a fantasy streamer. Up next is a tough road assignment against the Dodgers.

Marsh (2-0) earned the win over the Mets on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out two batters.

The Mets got to Marsh for four runs in the first three innings, but he ended his day with a couple scoreless frames, and the Kansas City offense provided more than enough support to power him to the win. Marsh has allowed just one home run through three starts this season -- Pete Alonso's long ball Saturday -- and the right-hander has a serviceable 4.32 ERA and 1.08 WHIP despite having only 10 strikeouts through 16.2 innings. He's firmly in the streaming mix but will make for a tough call next week in a projected home start against the Orioles.