MLB Player News

Gray had three 10-strikeout games last year, but this is his first of 2023. He’s pitched 148 innings in 28 starts this season, a near perfect match for his 148 2/3 innings in 28 starts last year. This year, he’s struck out 132, walked 75 and given up 21 homers. Last year, he struck out 154, walked 66 and gave up 38 homers. The huge reduction in homers has brought his ERA down by almost a run (5.02 to 4.07). However, with his velocity down about one mph and his strikeout rate having declined from 24% to 20%, we’re not particularly encouraged about his future.

Strzelecki went unclaimed on waivers and opted to test free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A. The well-traveled 31-year-old reliever didn’t end up making an appearance for Milwaukee after being called up last weekend.

Crochet told reporters afterwards that he wasn’t thrilled with his mechanics and will throw another bullpen later this week before progressing to facing hitters. The encouraging news here is that his shoulder feels fine from a physical standpoint. The 26-year-old fantasy ace will need a minor league rehab assignment before he returns to Boston’s rotation at some point in June.

Roberts added that Edman could head out of a minor league rehab assignment afterwards. The 31-year-old outfielder has been on the shelf since spring training working his way back from offseason ankle surgery. It sounds like he’ll be ready to make his season debut at some point in June.

Leiter threw 83 pitches in the outing, striking out five and walking two. The former top prospect has increased his K-BB% this year, but the walk rate is still hovering around double digits. Leiter has a new cutter, and the batted-ball results have been good on it, but we’re still waiting on the full breakout. He’ll carry a 4.61 ERA into his next start against the Astros.

Latz allowed just one hit in the outing, dropping his ERA to 1.90 for the year. Texas has been rotating through closers this season, but Latz has each of the team’s past five saves dating back to late April.

Freeland struck out four and walked two in the no-decision. He allowed back-to-back homers to Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger. The performance actually lowered his ERA to 7.04 for the season. The 2.85 mark he put up over 200 innings back in 2018 feels like an eternity ago. The southpaw will remain an avoid for fantasy managers as his next start lines up at Dodger Stadium.

Burger’s homer brought him up to 33 RBI this season, which is tied for third-most in the American League. He’s been hot lately, having entered Wednesday with a .458 average over his past seven games. He’ll look to stay hot following Texas’ off day on Thursday. The team next visits the Angels for a three-game weekend set.

Duran finishes the three-game series against the Rockies with seven hits (including three extra-base hits), eight RBI, and three runs scored. He’s played shortstop in every game since Corey Seager went down with a back injury.

Jung’s RBI was a go-ahead base hit in the top of the ninth. The 28-year-old third baseman is barreling the ball a little less frequently than in prior seasons, but he’s significantly cut his strikeout rate while recording a career-best blast rate. The adjustments are working, as he’ll leave the team’s trip to Coors with a .365 OBP. Notably, Jung has hit third or fourth in every Rangers game this month.

McCarthy hit leadoff, his first time doing so since March 31. Edouard Julien had led off in the past seven contests versus a righty, but he was dropped to seventh against Jack Leiter on Wednesday. McCarthy is now up to nine thefts on the year, and he leads the league in Statcast’s stolen-base attempt rate. He carries streaming appeal whenever he’s in the lineup and the Rockies are at home.