MLB Player News

Ashcraft (2-0) earned the win Saturday, allowing zero runs on four hits and four walks over six innings against Philadelphia. He struck out four.

Ashcraft is on a roll to start the season. The 25-year-old righty has given up just three runs in 19 innings pitched, good for a 1.42 ERA. Additionally, the Alabama native has a 1.16 WHIP and has given up just one home run thus far.

Feltner (0-2) took the loss against Seattle on Saturday, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 3.2 innings.

Feltner made it through three frames without allowing any damage on the scoreboard, but the fourth proved disastrous for him. The right-hander served up a solo homer to Eugenio Suarez to begin the inning and allowed five more baserunners in the frame, four of whom came around to score. The crushing blow was a two-out triple by Julio Rodriguez that plated three runs. Feltner has struggled so far this season, allowing 13 runs while posting a 15:11 K:BB over 13.1 frames. He's walked at least three batters in all three starts so far.

Kirby (1-1) secured the win over Colorado on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out three batters over 6.1 innings.

Kirby recorded a season-low three punchouts and notched a modest nine swinging strikes Saturday, but he held the Rockies to a pair of runs to enjoy his first win of the campaign. The right-hander started the season with a rough 4.1-inning, four-run effort, but he's since posted consecutive quality starts during which he's allowed a combined three earned runs over 12.1 frames. Kirby's 6.5 K/9 so far in 2023 is disappointing after he recorded a 9.2 K/9 over 130 frames as a rookie last season, but he has plenty of time to catch up. His next start is tentatively scheduled to come at home against St. Louis next week.

Taillon pitched five scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. He did not factor in the decision.

Taillon recorded easily his best start of the campaign, as he allowed a combined seven earned runs over nine innings across his previous two outings. The right-hander held the Dodgers to just four baserunners on two singles and two walks, and he exited after five frames with a 1-0 lead. However, the Cubs offense couldn't produce any more runs, and Taillon had to settle for a no-decision when Los Angeles notched a walkoff win in the ninth. Nonetheless, this was a promising start for the veteran hurler, who now holds a 4.50 ERA across 14 innings on the campaign.

Grove did not factor in the decision against the Cubs on Saturday. He completed 5.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six batters.

Grove was hit hard in his previous trip to the mound, allowing nine runs on 12 hits over 3.1 innings against Arizona. He was much more effective Saturday, holding Chicago scoreless until Patrick Wisdom tagged him for a solo homer in the fifth frame. The Dodgers' offense wasn't able to support Grove enough for him to pick up a win, but this was nonetheless a critical rebound for the right-hander, who recorded his best outing of the campaign. With Tony Gonsolin (ankle) and Ryan Pepiot (oblique) expected to be out until at least early May, Grove is likely to have a few more opportunities to prove himself in Los Angeles' rotation.

Bubic (0-2) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, pitching five innings during which he allowed five runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

Bubic was outstanding in his first two starts this season, allowing just two runs and posting a 13:1 K:BB over 11 innings. The southpaw took a step back Saturday, yielding a season-high 10 hits -- including three extra-base hits off the bat of Sean Murphy -- and five runs. Bubic didn't fool many batters in inducing just eight swinging strikes and recording a season-low three punchouts. He'll look to get back on track in his next outing, which is tentatively slated to come on the road against the Angels.

Elder (2-0) earned a victory over Kansas City on Saturday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.1 innings.

Elder wasn't nearly as successful as in his first two outings of the campaign, when he hurled 12.1 scoreless innings. The right-hander nonetheless managed his way to a win, holding the Royals to just one run over his first four frames and departing in the sixth with a three-run lead. One of the runs charged to him came after he departed, and Elder again showed a solid arsenal in racking up 13 swinging strikes. He has forced his way into Atlanta's rotation by winning two of his first three starts while posting a 1.53 ERA over his first 17.2 frames.

Davis will start Sunday's series finale against the Mariners, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Davis will get the ball on Sunday to replace German Marquez (forearm) after Marquez was placed on the injured list. Davis has made three starts for Triple-A Albuquerque thus far with a 4.26 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 12.2 innings. He gave up two runs in one inning in his only MLB appearance of 2022.

Kopech didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Orioles, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks over five-plus innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander seemed to be cruising toward a quality start, allowing just one run through the first five innings, but a solo shot by Anthony Santander followed by a walk to Austin Hays to lead off the sixth chased Kopech from the game. It's the second time in three starts the wheels have come off for him in a hurry in a later inning. Kopech will carry a 6.32 ERA and 14:10 K:BB through 15.2 innings into his next outing, likely to come next weekend in Tampa Bay.

Lorenzen didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Giants, surrendering six runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.

The strikeouts were somewhat encouraging, but Lorenzen's first start of the season was mostly poor as he served up two-run home runs to Blake Sabol in the second inning and J.D. Davis in the third, eventually exiting after 79 pitches (52 strikes). Fortunately for the right-hander, he got bailed out by Detroit's batters after he hit the showers. Lorenzen, whose season debut was delayed due to a spring groin strain, should remain in the rotation for at least another couple turns. He'll hope he's shaken off all the rust ahead of his next outing, likely to come next weekend in Baltimore.