MLB Player News

Schwarber went 2-for-4 with a home run and two total runs in Sunday's win over Atlanta.

Schwarber occupied his typical leadoff spot Sunday and opened the Phillies offense's afternoon with a 382-foot home run on Chris Sale's second pitch. The homer was an encouraging development for Schwarber after he batted only .188 against left-handed pitching last year. He and the Phillies lineup have a much easier week coming up with series against the Reds and Nationals.

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.

Alvarado picked up the save Sunday against Atlanta. He pitched a clean inning with one strikeout.

Alvarado took the mound in the ninth for the Phillies against Atlanta for the first save opportunity of Philadelphia's season. He quickly retired all three batters faced. The save is reassuring after he yielded five runs in two-thirds of an inning Opening Day. Alvarado appears to be the leading saves candidate in a Phillies bullpen loaded with options between him, Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto.

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.

Albies went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's loss to the Phillies.

Albies opened the game's scoring with a two-run home run off Ranger Suarez in the first inning. He later added a third RBI to his performance when he singled home Jarred Kelenic in the eighth. Albies should continue providing plenty of power at the keystone after smashing 33 home runs last year and now going deep in two straight.

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.

Flores exited Sunday's matchup with the Padres in the top of the second inning with a right shoulder contusion, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Flores was forced to leave Sunday's series finale with San Diego without even getting an at-bat after he went head over heels into the dugout trying to catch a foul ball in the bottom of the first inning. Luis Matos replaced him in the lineup. Flores will likely undergo additional testing, and more information on his status may be provided following Sunday's contest.

Thomas (undisclosed) was removed from Sunday's contest against the Rockies in the fourth inning, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

Thomas was replaced in the outfield by Jake McCarthy following the bottom of the third inning, and McCarthy will bat seventh for Arizona for the remainder of the contest. It's unclear what is ailing Thomas, and more information on his status will likely be provided following the conclusion of Sunday's matchup.

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.