MLB Player News

Alcala threw two scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts in Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee. He's thrown 2.2 scoreless innings in two games this season.

Alcala hurt his hand late in spring training (struck in the right hand by a line drive) but it has not been an issue during the regular season. After two injury-plagued seasons, Alcala could move into a higher-leverage role later this season. He features a plus fastball, but control as been a recent problem (5.2 BB/9 last season), so keep an eye on his walk rate.

Bello did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings against Oakland. He struck out six.

All four of the runs charged to Bello came on a pair of two-run homers, one in the second inning off the bat of Shea Langeliers followed by a JJ Bleday blast in the third. The 24-year-old Bello's now allowed six earned runs through his first 10 innings this season after going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 132:45 K:BB last year. He's currently lined up to face Baltimore in the Red Sox home opener next Tuesday.

Cortes (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

Cortes allowed three runs in the first inning for a second straight start Tuesday. Like his previous outing versus Houston, Cortes would rebound to blank the Diamondbacks over his final four frames, though he'd ultimately take the loss as the Yankees couldn't crack Zac Gallen in a shutout defeat. Cortes will look to limit the early damage in his next start, currently lined up for next week versus Miami.

Kopech allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out one across 1.2 innings to earn the save Tuesday against Atlanta.

Kopech relieved John Brebbia in the eighth inning with a 3-0 lead while inheriting runners on first and second base. He walked the first batter he faced before inducing a double play to get out of the jam. Kopech then returned to the mound in the ninth frame and served up a home run to Marcell Ozuna before allowing two additional runners to reach base. This usage suggests Kopech will get the initial chance in the closer role for the White Sox, though his first career save hardly came convincingly.

Altuve went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Altuve was responsible for the Astros' lone run in a pitchers' duel Tuesday, leading off the fourth inning with a solo shot off Jose Berrios to give Houston a 1-0 lead. Altuve has hits in six straight games to start the season, going 9-for-25 with two homers, five extra-base hits and five runs scored. The veteran second baseman slashed .311/.393/.522 last year with 17 homers, 51 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Schneider went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Astros.

Schneider was the hero in Toronto's dramatic victory over Houston, launching a two-run, 423-foot homer off Josh Hader to put the Blue Jays ahead 2-1 with two outs in the ninth inning. Schneider now has two hits, both home runs, in his first two starts this season. While he's primarily come off the bench early this year, Schneider's defensive versatility can earn him more of a regular role if he keeps swinging a hot bat. He slashed .276/.404/.603 with eight homers in 116 at-bats as a rookie last season.

Berrios did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over six innings against Houston. He struck out two.

Berrios held the Astros at bay Tuesday, allowing a lone run on a Jose Altuve homer to lead off the fourth inning. The 29-year-old Berrios now has back-to-back quality starts to open the year after going 11-12 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 184:52 K:BB in 32 outings last season. He's currently in line for a home matchup with the Mariners in his next start early next week.

Valdez did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing six hits and no walks over 7.2 scoreless innings in a 2-1 loss to Toronto. He struck out five.

After issuing six walks over 4.2. innings against the Yankees on Opening Day, Valdez returned to form Tuesday against Toronto, throwing 61 of his 85 pitches for strikes while limiting hard contact. However, despite shutting the Jays out for 7.2 innings, Valdez ultimately wound up with a no-decision after Josh Hader allowed a two-run homer to Davis Schneider in the ninth. The 30-year-old Valdez will be looking for his first win of the campaign in his next start, currently scheduled for Monday against the Rangers.

Hader (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on two hits in one inning.

Heading into the ninth with a 1-0 lead, Hader had Toronto down to its final out with the bases empty. However, Justin Turner drew a two-out walk before Davis Schneider launched a two-run homer, saddling Hader with a blown save en route to his second loss this season. The 29-year-old left-hander has allowed three runs on four hits and two walks through his first four innings this season, but while it's been a rough start to his tenure in Houston, Hader figures to have a firm grasp on the Astros' closing job after racking up 33 saves with a 1.28 ERA over 56.1 innings with the Padres last year.

Mize and the Tigers will not face the Mets on Tuesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Tuesday's game will be made up Thursday afternoon, which was originally a scheduled off day for both teams. Mize's first start of the season will likely be pushed back to Wednesday, moving Tarik Skubal's next outing to Thursday.