MLB Player News

Roupp (5-7) allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Cubs on Friday.

Roupp got through the order once without much trouble, but the Cubs started to get to him in the fourth inning. He left two runners on base when he exited in the fifth, and reliever Erik Miller let both of them score when Michael Busch went deep. Roupp has allowed at least four runs in five of his eight starts since the beginning of May, and he's gone 0-6 in that span after starting the year pretty well. The right-hander has a 4.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 82:32 K:BB through 74.1 innings over 14 starts this season. The strikeout potential remains tempting, but his inconsistency makes Roupp tough to trust. He's projected to make his next start on the road in Atlanta, which is a very challenging matchup.

Busch went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Friday's 5-1 win over the Giants.

Busch went deep off Erik Miller after Giants starter Landen Roupp left two runners in scoring position. This was Busch's second homer over his last four games. He has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 contests, going 22-for-67 (.328) in that span. On the season, the first baseman is batting .252 with a .787 OPS, eight homers, 41 RBI, 30 runs scored, 12 doubles, two triples and a stolen base through 69 games. Busch hasn't been close to matching his power from last year's 34-homer performance in the regular season, but he's starting to come around.

Assad (4-1) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Giants on Friday.

Assad received a favorable matchup for his return to the Cubs' rotation, and he made good on it. He's tossed 12.1 scoreless innings against the Giants over his last two appearances since rejoining the big club June 6. The right-hander looks poised to get a stretch of starts while Jameson Taillon (hamstring) and Matthew Boyd (knee/shoulder) remain out. Over 10 appearances (four starts) this season, Assad has a 3.99 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB through 38.1 innings. Assad is penciled in for a home start versus the Rockies next week.

Walls went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.

Walls has turned up the speed lately, logging four steals over his last five games. He's gone 3-for-11 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch in that span, so he's making the most of his chances on the basepaths. For the season, the shortstop has logged 10 steals on 12 attempts. He's batting. 215 with a .600 OPS, zero home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored, six doubles and two triples over 178 plate appearances.

McClanahan (6-4) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven over four innings to take the loss versus the Angels on Friday.

McClanahan failed to reach the five-inning mark for the first time since April 19 versus the Pirates. The southpaw has had some spotty performances lately, allowing four runs in three of his last five outings. In that span, he's given up a total of 13 runs across 24.1 innings. On a positive note, he matched his season high with seven strikeouts Friday. He's now at a 3.23 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 66:22 K:BB across 64 innings over 13 starts. McClanahan is projected to make his next start on the road versus the Dodgers, which may be a matchup for fantasy managers to avoid given his recent inconsistency.

Madrigal went 2-for-3 with a walk, one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays.

Madrigal logged his third multi-hit effort in 12 games since joining the big-league roster. The infielder is batting .364 in the majors this season, though only one of his 12 hits, a double, has gone for extra bases. His steal Friday was his first of the year on his second attempt. Madrigal is filling a versatile role between second base and third base, putting some pressure on the likes of Oswald Peraza, Donovan Walton and Denzer Guzman in what remains an unsettled infield for the Angels.

Zeferjahn walked one and struck out one without allowing a hit or a run in one-third of an inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays.

Mitch Farris worked in long relief despite this being a close game, but he ran into trouble in the ninth inning. He left runners on the corners after Jonathan Aranda's RBI single, and Zeferjahn was brought in. Zeferjahn walked Junior Caminero but struck out Cedric Mullins to end the threat. Over his last 12 outings, Zeferjahn has allowed nine runs (eight earned) across 10.1 innings with a 12:14 K:BB in that span. Kirby Yates has struggled this season and blew his most recent save chance, and though he remains the most likely Angels reliever to receive save chances, the bullpen is far from set in stone. On the year, Zeferjahn has 5.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 41:25 K:BB with two saves, five holds and two blown saves over 32 innings.

Aldegheri (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the Rays on Friday.

Aldegheri is getting the first chance to fill the rotation spot that became open when Jack Kochanowicz (elbow) was shut down ahead of his upcoming Tommy John surgery. This was a good performance for Aldegheri, though he threw just 45 of 74 pitches for strikes. He's pitched to a 2.12 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB over 17 innings across five appearances (two starts) in the majors this season. The southpaw will need to get the walks in check, but the Angels should have plenty of patience to let him work through things in the majors. He is tentatively expected to make his next start at Arizona.

D'Arnaud (foot) is no longer wearing a walking boot, and he played catch on the field Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's a notable step for d'Arnaud, who landed on the 10-day injured list May 8 due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The veteran backstop has since been transferred to the 60-day IL, so he isn't eligible to return until early July. With Sebastian Rivero currently sidelined due t a left hamate fracture, Logan Porter is working as the backup catcher behind Logan O'Hoppe.

Kikuchi (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a throwing program in mid-June, per MLB.com.

Kikuchi is dealing with left shoulder inflammation and hasn't thrown since making an early exit from his last start April 29. Given the length of his absence, the southpaw will likely need several weeks to ramp up once he begins a throwing program. The expectation is that Kikuchi will be sidelined through the All-Star break, though he could return shortly thereafter.