MLB Player News

The 28-year-old right-hander returned stateside in 2024 after spending a pair of seasons in Japan and a year in the Colombian Winter League, posting a 4.68 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 44/23 K/BB ratio over 32 2/3 innings across three minor league affiliates for the Cubs. He has looked sharp in the Dominican Winter League and will add organizational bullpen depth for the Rangers.

Beck has been used as a starting pitcher in Triple-A, but he will likely serve as a bulk reliever with the Yankees. The 27-year-old has a low 90s fastball and has posted a 5.11 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 37/8 K/BB ratio in 37 innings. If he gets into a game, it will be his MLB debut.

Boone specifically mentioned two or three more starts. Cole threw 69 pitches in his last rehab start but allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings at High-A on Tuesday. The Yankees are obviously taking a longer view with their 35-year-old starting pitcher, which makes sense. He might return by the end of May, but early June is likely the better bet.

At this point, you do have to wonder if the Yankees will consider putting Rice on the injured list. For now, they will continue playing short a hitter. Paul Goldschmidt is starting at first base and leading off on Thursday.

For a start in Coors Field… we’ll take this. Rather than ‘Fastball Freddy’, Peralta has been more of ‘Five Inning Freddy’ so far this season, only completing six frames in two of eight starts so far. He kept the Rockies at bay here despite not having anything close to his best swing-and-miss stuff before classic Colorado bullpen chaos ensued for both teams in the later innings. For all the jeers regarding his inability to pitch deeply into games, he has an excellent 3.12 ERA through eight starts and has a two-start week coming up against the Tigers and Yankees.

It felt like there was no chance Williams or anyone would be called upon for a save chance for most of this game. The Mets opened up an 8-0 lead after the top of the sixth, but immediately gave four runs right back. Then, they stretched their lead back out to 10-6 entering the bottom of the ninth when Sean Manaea allowed one run and loaded the bases while only recording one out. At that point, it was technically a save opportunity and the Mets called on Williams to escape the jam. He did so in dominant fashion and has now stacked up five straight scoreless outings after a series of implosions two weeks ago. Baby steps here and at least the Mets still fully trust him as their closer. It’s not like they have another option, anyway.

Semien desperately needed a game like this. He entered this game with a .208 batting average and .531 OPS after a dreadful start to the season and having gone just 2-for-19 over his last five games. Well, after his second home run of the season, a double, and his first game with at least three hits in more than a month, he now has a .231 batting average and .601 OPS. Those are still not good by any means, but much better. He also made a slick, back-handed play up the middle on defense to start a double play. Hey, maybe he’s getting some of his mojo back. Or, we should just enjoy the Coors Field bump.

This was a classic Coors game with 11 total runs being scored after the fifth inning. Rumfield got himself in on the action with a solo shot in the sixth inning that started a mini-comeback for the Rockies. While they never cut their deficit to fewer than four runs, Rumfield’s fourth multi-hit game in his last eight tries has helped him steady the ship after a recent cold spell.

Things did not get off to a good start for Lorenzen here when Juan Soto sent his third pitch of the game 435 feet deep into the Denver night. From there, it didn’t get much better. He gave up 11 hits, 10 hard-hit balls, and was chased before recording an out in the sixth inning after three consecutive hits by the Mets six, seven, and eight hitters. He should not be considered a viable option in any fantasy leagues.

Skenes struck out seven and walked none in an efficient 97-pitch outing. The two hits came back-to-back in the fifth, but they were both two-out singles and Gabriel Moreno lined out afterwards. Skenes is 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He’s allowed four earned runs with a 45/5 K/BB in 40 1/3 innings since the Oneil Cruz-fueled debacle on Opening Day, and he’ll probably again lower his 2.36 ERA in a home start against the Rockies next week.

Soto has three wins and two saves in a rather spectacular start to his season. He’s not the Pirates’ sole closer right now, but with a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings, he’s made a case for getting the nod over Dennis Santana. Alas, he has a long history of disappointing when faced with elevated expectations.