MLB Player News

Gray (3-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out two.

After missing about two weeks with a right hamstring strain, Gray worked with a pitch count Wednesday but showed no signs of rust in his return to the mound. The veteran right-hander tossed 70 pitches in his second scoreless start of 2026, but he still hasn't been able to exceed five strikeouts in any of his six outings. Gray has a 3.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB over 28 innings, and he'll look to increase his workload in his next scheduled start versus Philadelphia.

Blackburn will start Thursday's game against the Rangers, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Ryan Weathers was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday due to an illness he suffered earlier in the week, so Blackburn will step in for a spot start. The 32-year-old righty has gotten off to a nice start to begin the 2026 campaign while working exclusively out of the bullpen, logging a 3.21 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 14 frames. He'll benefit from a favorable matchup Thursday against a Rangers offense that ranks 28th in MLB with 137 runs scored on the season.

Crow-Armstrong went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run during the Cubs' 7-6, extra-inning win over the Reds on Wednesday.

The Reds' four-run ninth inning gave them a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the frame, but Crow-Armstrong extended the game with a two-run homer off Graham Ashcraft. It was the fourth home run of the season for Crow-Armstrong and extended his on-base streak to 10 games. Over that 10-game span, he has gone 10-for-36 (.278) with two steals, three home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored.

Ashcraft blew his save opportunity during the Reds' 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Cubs on Wednesday. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

The Reds' four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning gave the team a two-run lead. With Tony Santillan being used Tuesday, manager Terry Francona turned to Ashcraft to close things out in the bottom of the frame. Ashcraft opened the inning strongly by striking out Michael Busch, but after yielding a single to Carson Kelly, Ashcraft's 89-mph slider was smacked to left-center field by Pete Crow-Armstrong for a two-run homer to tie the game at 6-6. With Emilio Pagan expected to miss the next 4-to-8 weeks due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Ashcraft and Santillan figure to be the top closer options for the Reds. However, more outings like Wednesday's could result in Ashcraft being used as the setup arm for Santillan for as long as Pagan is sidelined.

Flaherty (0-3) took the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out 10.

Although he remained winless on the campaign, it was still one of Flaherty's better performances so far. The right-hander fanned a season-high 10, issued fewer than two walks for the first time this year and also pitched at least five frames while yielding two runs or fewer for just the third time in eight starts. Flaherty still has a disappointing 5.56 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 42:26 K:BB over 34 innings, but he's next set for a soft matchup against the Mets.

Cerantola allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning during the Royals' 3-1 loss to the Guardians on Wednesday.

Cerantola was recalled by the Royals from Triple-A Omaha before Wednesday's game, and the 26-year-old right-hander from Montreal made his major-league debut on the same day. He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach, but after Austin Hedges was caught stealing, Cerantola settled in to strike out the last two batters of ninth. He has a 1.42 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB across 12.2 innings in Triple-A this season and should fill a low-leverage role while up in the majors.

Smith collected his ninth save of the season in the Guardians' 3-1 win over the Royals on Wednesday after allowing one hit and striking out three batters in the ninth inning.

Smith made his first appearance out of the bullpen since Friday and was tasked with protecting Cleveland's two-run lead. He was perfect outside of a single by Vinnie Pasquantino, with Smith striking out each of the other three batters he faced. Smith has recorded a save in four consecutive outings (and in six of his last seven appearances), and his nine saves are tied for fifth most in the majors. He sits at a 3.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB across 16.1 innings this season.

Cantillo (2-1) earned the win against the Royals on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out one batter across five innings.

Cantillo found himself in trouble both in the second and third innings, but he managed to limit the damage to one run on a Salvador Perez sacrifice fly in the third. It was by no means a blistering performance out of Cantillo with a season-low one strikeout, but it was fourth time this season that he gave up just one earned run (in eight starts). He'll bring a 3.43 ERA and 1.37 WHIP (across 39.1 innings) into his next start, which is slated for next week at home against the Angels.

DeLauter went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run single during the Guardians' 3-1 win over the Royals on Wednesday.

DeLauter gave the Guardians the lead for good in the fifth inning when his single off Luinder Avila brought both Austin Hedges and Petey Halpin home. DeLauter has recorded a hit in 10 consecutive games, and over that span he has gone 18-for-35 (.514) with one home run, seven RBI and a 4:4 BB:K.

Weathers was scratched from his scheduled start for Thursday's game against the Rangers due to an illness he suffered earlier in the week, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Weathers is feeling better now, but being sick took him off his routine, so the Yankees will postpone his next start to give him time to get back in rhythm. The 26-year-old southpaw is now expected to make his next start in Baltimore on Monday, and the Pinstripes will send Paul Blackburn to the mound in Thursday's series finale.