MLB Player News

Bello (shoulder) struck out seven and allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Wednesday in his rehab start with Double-A Portland on Wednesday. He also hit a batter and was charged with a pitch-clock violation.

Bello got off to a rocky start in his fourth minor-league rehab appearance in allowing a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, but he settled down a bit over the following three-plus innings and concluded his night with three straight strikeouts. He spotted 51 of his 71 pitches for strikes and flashed a fastball that hovered in the 94 to 96 mile-per-hour range, roughly in line with his average velocity from the 2024 season (95.7 mph). According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said earlier in the week that Wednesday's outing would likely be Bello's last on the farm, so the right-hander appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list early next week. With the Red Sox having confirmed their starters through Monday, Bello tentatively lines up to make his 2025 debut Tuesday at home versus the Mariners.

Munoz earned the save Wednesday against the Reds after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.

Munoz was called in for the ninth frame to protect a two-run lead, and he needed 19 pitches (of which 13 were strikes) to close things out. It was Munoz's seventh save of the season, which leads the American League and is second-most in the majors behind Robert Suarez (eight). Munoz has converted on all of his save opportunities this season and has not yielded a run with a 12:4 K:BB across nine innings.

Raleigh went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.

Raleigh saw his streak of home runs end at three games Tuesday, but he didn't lose a beat in Wednesday's win. He took the first pitch he saw from Nick Martinez deep to center field for a 412-foot homer in the fifth inning, and Raleigh logged the Mariners' fifth and final run in the seventh frame with another solo shot off Taylor Rogers. Raleigh is up to seven home runs on the year, which is tied with Aaron Judge for second-most in the majors behind Tyler Soderstrom (eight).

Holliday went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Guardians.

Holliday provided all the offense Baltimore would need with a second-inning grand slam off Gavin Williams. It's the second grand slam of the 21-year-old Holliday's career and his second home run this season. Holliday, who had been stuck in a 0-for-17 slump in the five games prior to Wednesday, is now batting .216 with a .623 OPS, eight RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base through his first 52 plate appearances this season.

Bubic didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Yankees after allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

The left-hander escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but an Anthony Volpe double in the third inning brought in a pair of runs to get the Yankees on the board. Although he gave up another run in the fourth, Bubic limited the damage by getting Jazz Chisholm to fly out with the bases juiced once again. Bubic is on the rise to begin 2025, boasting a 1.88 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB through four starts (24 innings), and he'll have a prime opportunity to enhance his numbers in his next scheduled start next week at home against Colorado.

Schmidt didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Royals after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out two.

Given that the right-hander missed the first couple of weeks of the regular season with shoulder fatigue, it was encouraging to see him be able to throw 73 pitches in his first start for the Yankees this year. Salvador Perez drove in a run on a single in the first inning, and the Royals plated two more in the fifth. Just one of Schmidt's hits allowed went for extra bases, however, and he'll search for more length when he takes the hill in his next scheduled start in Cleveland early next week.

Williams (1-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

Williams pitched better than his final line would indicate, though he was hurt by the home-run ball -- he'd give up a grand slam to Jackson Holiday in the second inning before Ramon Laureano added a solo shot in the seventh. It's the first loss of the season for the 25-year-old Williams, who'll carry a 4.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB into his next start, tentatively scheduled as a tough home matchup with the Yankees.

Newcomb didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rays after allowing four hits and two walks in 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Despite falling one out shy of nabbing the potential win, Newcomb scattered four singles and didn't allow a single runner to reach third base during his time on the bump. Through 17.1 innings (four starts) this season, the journeyman southpaw holds a solid 3.63 ERA and 19:9 K:BB but a concerning 1.90 WHIP. Newcomb will be looking to work into the fifth inning for the first time this year in his next time out, currently slated for next week at home against the Mariners.

Kremer (2-2) picked up the win Wednesday over the Guardians, allowing one run on four hits and a walk across 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

Kremer was effective Wednesday, with the lone run against him coming on a Gabriel Arias home run in the third inning. It's a strong bounce-back effort from the 29-year-old Kremer, who allowed six runs on three homers in his previous outing versus Arizona. Kremer will carry a 6.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB into his next start, currently scheduled for next week in Washington.

Littell (0-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox after allowing one run on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five.

Wednesday marked the second time already this year that the right-hander was charged with the loss despite firing six innings of one-run ball. David Hamilton's third-inning solo home run wouldn't have been a homer in any other MLB ballpark, according to Statcast, and Littell also notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. Despite carrying a respectable 1.26 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 23 innings (four starts) in 2025, Littell's 5.48 ERA makes him tough to trust from a fantasy perspective in Arizona for his next turn through the rotation.