MLB Player News

Williams (2-1) earned the win over St. Louis on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five-plus innings.

Williams was tagged for a run in the first inning but didn't allow another until serving up a leadoff homer to Jordan Walker in the sixth. Though he wasn't overly efficient, needing 93 pitches to complete five-plus frames, Williams pitched more than well enough to notch the win on a day when Cleveland gave him nine runs of support. The righty hurler began the campaign by giving up three runs over five innings in a loss, but since then Williams has surrendered just three earned runs across 17.2 frames spanning three starts. On the season, he has a 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 29:16 K:BB over 22.2 innings.

Nelson took a no-decision Monday against the Orioles, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.

Though Nelson held Baltimore to just three knocks Monday, two of which went for extra bases. The right-hander fanned a season-high seven, and Nelson has now kept the ball in the yard in back-to-back starts after serving up a pair of long balls in each of his prior two outings. Nelson, who owns a strong 3.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB over 20.1 innings, has given up three hits or fewer three times this year but is set for a tough test this weekend against Toronto.

Kremer took a no-decision Monday against the Diamondbacks, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out nine.

Making his season debut, Kremer worked rather efficiently while tossing 55 of his 80 pitches for strikes Monday. The right-hander was sharp overall, registering 15 swings and misses while fanning at least nine for the fourth time in his career. Kremer is competing with Cade Povich, who was optioned to the minor leagues earlier Monday, for Zach Eflin's (elbow) rotation spot, and Kremer might have earned another start with Baltimore ahead of his next scheduled turn this weekend versus Cleveland.

Cavalli (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Pirates, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two over 1.1 innings.

Cavalli managed to work around early trouble in the first inning when he stranded two runners on base, but things unraveled quickly in the second. The right-hander allowed six straight baserunners, including three walks, as Pittsburgh pushed across four runs and forced his exit, making Monday the shortest start of his young career. The outing highlighted an issue that has followed Cavalli early this season -- traffic on the bases -- as he's managed to retire the side in order just three times through 16 innings. The 27-year-old now owns a 4.60 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and a 13:12 K:BB heading into his next scheduled start against San Francisco, a lineup that has had trouble generating consistent offense so far.

Naylor went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Monday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

It was the sixth career multi-homer effort by Naylor, who went deep for the first time this season with his first-inning three-run jack. Naylor also racked up at least five RBI for the seventh time in his career. The first baseman still has plenty of room for improvement, batting .127 with the aforementioned two homers, seven RBI and six walks across his first 63 at-bats.

Skenes (3-1) earned the win Monday against the Nationals, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out six over six innings.

After beginning the outing with back-to-back punchouts, the 23-year-old surrendered a solo homer to CJ Abrams in the first inning, but was nearly untouchable from that point forward. Skenes retired 16 of the next 17 batters and leaned heavily on his changeup, throwing a career-high 32 of them among his 88 pitches Monday. After a disastrous Opening Day outing in which he failed to escape the first, Skenes has responded emphatically, stringing together three consecutive starts with just one run allowed in each while winning all three. The right-hander looks to have rebounded back to the Cy Young-caliber form fantasy managers have come to expect, lowering his ERA to 4.00 while posting a 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 18 innings.

Solometo (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list Friday, Anthony Murphy of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

The nature of Solometo's injury is unclear at this time, though he'll miss at least the seven-day minimum while on the mend. He appeared in two games at Double-A Altoona before being placed on the injured list.

Rutledge was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

Rutledge was torn apart by the Pittsburgh offense during Monday's 16-5 loss, as he gave up seven runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two over 1.1 innings of relief work. Washington will presumably call up a fresh arm ahead of Tuesday's clash, though a move has yet to be announced by the club.

Martin will serve as the Cubs' opening pitcher for Tuesday's game against Atlanta, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Martin will presumably work the first inning or two before handing the ball over to Colin Rea, who was previously listed as the Cubs' starter for Tuesday but will instead operate as a bulk reliever. The start will be the first of Martin's career after he made his previous three appearances with the Cubs out of the bullpen.

Ballesteros went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 13-7 loss to the Phillies.

Ballesteros didn't start the contest with Philadelphia trotting out lefty Cristopher Sanchez, but the former made his mark once he did get into the game. This was the third straight two-hit effort for Ballesteros, who is now batting .333 for the season to go along with a .903 OPS. The 22-year-old may continue to sit regularly against southpaws, though he appears to be Chicago's top DH option against righties, particularly due to his recent hot streak.