MLB Player News

Backhus was sent to Triple-A just a week ago, but will be back with Zach Pop (calf) landing on the injured list. The 28-year-old left-hander has allowed three runs on four hits in three innings for the Phillies with a 4/1 K/BB ratio.

He pulled a Tarik Skubal fastball down into the left-field corner, taking the left-hander out of line for the win. Perkins hasn’t played much of late as the Brewers have been on a run of right-handed starters, and fantasy managers won’t be clamoring for the .135/.256/.216 batting line. He’s mainly a platoon thorn for Milwaukee’s better outfielders for fantasy purposes.

Feltner had allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out three batters through his first two innings. Zach Agnos then replaced him when the Rockies took the field in the third inning. He’ll head for further evaluation to determine the extent of the injury, though it sounds like a trip to the injured list could be in the cards.

Greene golfed a curveball out to left-center in his first at bat against Brandon Sproat. It was a welcome sight for fantasy managers desperate for some power from Greene, who is now up to two homers and a stolen base in his first 26 games. The .840 OPS tells the story of a good hitter who just hasn’t found the right launch angles and pitches yet, and we mostly believe that story.

Torkelson got it out to left field past the bullpen in Comerica, salvaging what to that point had been an 0-for-3 day. The first baseman was hitting seventh and has upped his line to a putrid .192/.330/.308 with his second homer of the season. This isn’t the first slow start for Torkelson -- he’s a career .212/.313/.360 hitter in April/March games. He’s only a fringe fantasy option at the moment, especially hitting as low as he is in the lineup. Perhaps this big hit will spark him.

With the entire top of the bullpen available after off-days on Wednesday, Trevor Megill threw a scoreless seventh, Angel Zerpa allowed a game-tying homer to Jahmai Jones in the eighth, and Uribe allowed a walkoff after striking out his first batter in a tie game in the ninth. Uribe has quietly allowed runs in four of his nine April appearances -- we say quietly because Zerpa’s ERA is 6.00 and Megill’s is now 8.00 -- but he still seems to be the clear closer to this point.

Skubal was cruising early in this one, allowing just one run in the first four innings on a bloop double down the right field line. But he came out for the top of the sixth, gave up two singles and a 2-RBI double to Blake Perkins, and left. The Tigers bullpen let his inherited runner score as well. A 2.72 ERA is very, very good. It’s also fair to say that Skubal’s been a bit disappointing compared to first-round expectations. He’ll look to bounce back against the Braves next week.

Sproat allowed a two-run gopher ball to Riley Greene on a low curveball, but bounced back afterwards. He did have a fortuitous double play when a Kevin McGonigle pop up to center field led to a double play on a drifting Javier Baez. Sproat was pulled with a runner on in the sixth and Aaron Ashby allowed the inherited runner to come around, putting the count for the evening at three. Sproat generated a respectable 27 percent Whiff rate and has cut his ERA from 10.45 after his first three appearances to 6.45 in his last three starts. He’s an interesting streamer if not exactly a must-start against the Diamondbacks next week.

Lewis started each of the first two games of the week following a return from the injured list, so he’ll get a breather on Thursday as the Twins attempt to ease him back into action. Tristan Gray will start in his place at the hot corner and will bat ninth for the Twins against Mets’ rookie right-hander Christian Scott.

Bellinger will take a seat with left-hander Payton Tolle toeing the slab for the Red Sox. Trent Grisham will start in center field and bat leadoff for the Bombers while Randal Grichuk draws a start in left and will bat fifth.

He hit it off of the right-centerfield second deck, a majestic 426-foot shot off of JR Ritchie in the fourth inning. Abrams is hitting a robust .292/.413/.562 in his first 25 games and is on pace to shatter his career high of 20 homers. He’s been a steal considering he wasn’t one of the first five shortstops off the board in most leagues and he’s played as well as any non-Elly De La Cruz keystone player so far.