MLB Player News

Rea (1-0) earned the win Sunday against the Mets after he allowed one run on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander wasn't particularly dominant as he generated just eight swinging strikes on 84 pitches, but he limited the damage by holding New York to just one extra-base hit. Rea was effective as a swingman last season with a 4.55 ERA, 1.19 and 110:38 K:BB across 124.2 innings, and he's opened 2024 with a more secure spot in the rotation. A matchup with the Mariners awaits next weekend.

Suarez did not factor into the decision Sunday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out seven.

Suarez faced a daunting task in opening his season against an Atlanta lineup that was best in the league last year against left-handed pitching (131 wRC+). He held his own and punched out seven Atlanta batters despite allowing a two-run homer to Ozzie Albies in the first inning. Suarez faces a much more manageable lineup in his next start, scheduled to be against the Nationals on the road.

Sale did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.

Sale looked like his typical self Sunday, throwing 83 pitches over 5.1 innings in his Atlanta debut. The 35-year-old appears to be fully healthy, as he averaged 94.9-mph on his fastball, up one full tick from his average velocity in 2023. He also had some extra juice on his infamous sidewinding slider, generating a 79.4-mph average velocity, up from 77.8-mph in 2023. The only blemish on the Atlanta lefty's afternoon came via a leadoff homer in the first inning surrendered to Kyle Schwarber. Sale's next start is slated to be against Arizona at home.

Wells (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks over six innings against the Angels. He struck out seven.

Wells had a shaky start Sunday after allowing a two-run homer to Taylor Ward in the first inning and yielding two more runs (one unearned) in the second. However, the Orioles pitcher was able to settle in and finished his outing with four straight scoreless innings and earned a quality start. Wells looks to be a dependable starter after producing a 3.64 ERA over 118.2 innings in 2023 and leaving spring training this year with a 1.26 ERA over 14.1 innings. His next start is scheduled to be against the Pirates on the road.

Detmers (1-0) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run, two hits and three walks over five innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.

After the Orioles bludgeoned the Angels pitching staff for 24 runs over the first two games, Detmers stopped the bleeding with his first win of the season in a brilliant outing. He relied heavily on his fastball, throwing it 60.2 percent of the time and generating 12 whiffs against the vaunted Orioles lineup. Detmers managed to generate 24 strikeouts over 18.1 innings in spring training, so it's possible the former 10th overall pick is finding a new level. He is scheduled to face another AL East foe, the Red Sox, at home for his next start.

Flexen is scheduled to start Monday against Atlanta at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Between stops in Seattle and Colorado last season, Flexen turned in a 6.86 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 7.7 K-BB% across 102.1 innings. Despite those poor numbers, Flexen looks like he'll have plenty of leash in the White Sox rotation to begin the season, given the lack of attractive alternatives on the 40-man roster and on the farm. He'll tentatively line up for a two-start week with a more favorable outing on tap this weekend in pitcher-friendly Kansas City, but the upcoming start against a powerful Atlanta offense should be reason enough for fantasy managers to steer clear of Flexen in avoidance of ratio damage.

Hudson is listed as the Rockies' probable starting pitcher for Monday's series opener in Chicago versus the Cubs.

Signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in January after being non-tendered by the Cardinals earlier in the offseason, Hudson was able to secure a spot in Colorado's Opening Day rotation, though he didn't face much in the way of quality competition for a spot. He was solid if unspectacular over his five Cactus League starts, posting a 4.20 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB in 15 innings in mostly hitter-friendly venues in Arizona. Hudson's career-long 55.1 percent groundball rate could set him up for more success in the high altitude of Colorado than a typical power pitcher, but he was never a major ERA or WHIP asset during parts of six big-league seasons in St. Louis. The 29-year-old should be viewed mostly as an NL-only option, and a low-upside one at that given the weak ratios he's posted throughout his career.

Gonzales is listed as the Pirates' probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Nationals.

With 155 career MLB starts to his name, Gonzales has experience working in his favor as he begins his first campaign in Pittsburgh, but he could be at risk of losing his spot later in the season if top prospect Paul Skenes and promising 23-year-old righty Quinn Priester are summoned to the big leagues. For now, he'll be entrusted to eat innings for the Pirates, but the soft-tossing Gonzales isn't especially appealing for fantasy purposes. Never a high-volume strikeout pitcher, Gonzales is difficult to depend on as an ERA and WHIP stabilizer coming off a season in Seattle in which he ranked in the bottom seven percent of the league with a .288 expected batting average, per Statcast.

Megill (0-1), who took the loss Sunday against the Brewers, was removed after four innings due to "tenderness" in his right shoulder and will undergo an MRI, Steve Gelbs of SNY reports. The right-hander struck out four and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks.

The 28-year-old was in and out of trouble all afternoon as he threw just 44 of his 78 pitches for strikes, but he was able to limit the damage before the shoulder injury prompted his exit. The Mets are already shorthanded for starting pitching with Kodai Senga (shoulder) on the injured list, and Megill's availability for his next turn through the rotation is now up in the air.

Kremer is listed as the Orioles' probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Royals in Baltimore.

Kremer headed into spring training with an inside track to a spot in the Orioles' Opening Day rotation, and he was able to secure a starting role without much stress after both Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (forearm) were placed on the injured list. The 28-year-old right-hander's early-season form will likely determine whether he sticks as a member of the rotation once both Bradish and Means are ready to make their respective debuts. Kremer finished Grapefruit League play with a 3.94 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB over 16 innings.