Player Notes

Nick Masset (shoulder) is throwing from a distance of 120 feet.
Advice: Masset had shoulder surgery last September and was shut down in April after experiencing a setback with his throwing program. While he's making progress, he has yet to throw from a mound. There's no clear timetable for his return.
More: Cincinnati Enquirer

Andrew Miller is proving his 2012 breakout was no fluke, posting a 3.86 ERA and 24/8 K/BB rate over 20 appearances.
Advice: The sixth overall pick in 2006 has successfully saved his career in Boston's bullpen. Miller went 21-29 with a 5.79 ERA between 2006-2011, mostly as a starter for the Tigers, Marlins and Red Sox. He hasn't started a game in the last two seasons and has rewarded Boston with a 3.48 ERA over 73 appearances. Miller's current strikeout rate is by far the best of his career.

Glen Perkins blew his first save of the season in Tuesday's 5-4, extra-innings loss to the Braves.
Advice: Minnesota is having about as much success in Atlanta as they did during the 1991 World Series. Perkins was summoned in the ninth inning and recorded two quick outs before Evan Gattis blasted a 412-foot bomb over the left-field fence. The 30-year-old lefty remains a lighthouse in the dark night that is Minnesota's pitching corps. Perkins saved 16 games last year while registering a 2.56 ERA and now has eight saves, a 3.45 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 25/5 K/BB rate over 16 appearances in 2013.

J.P. Howell's first season in Los Angeles is off to a strong start, as the left-hander has a 2.89 ERA through 19 appearances for the Dodgers.
Advice: Coming off a stellar 2012 campaign, having posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio in 55 appearances for the Rays, Howell inked a one-year, $2.85 million contract with the Dodgers. Howell is allowing a few more base runners this season (1.34 WHIP compared to 1.21 in 2012), but his strikeout rate is slightly up and, more importantly, he hasn't surrendered a home run yet.

Padres reliever Anthony Bass was charged with four runs in his second inning of work Tuesday against the Cardinals.
Advice: Bass was ripped off tonight. The first hitter to reach against him did so on a strikeout/wild pitch. The second had a clean single, but Yadier Molina followed with a double-play ball, only Everth Cabrera vacated second base way too early on the relay and wasn't given credit for the out. With runners on second and third with one out, Bud Black had Bass intentionally walk Jon Jay, and Daniel Descalso followed with a grand slam. That was certainly a mistake for Bass, but he could have been out of the inning before then and he didn't deserve for his ERA to jump from 2.60 to 3.64 tonight.

Wade Davis allowed three runs over five innings but escaped with a no-decision as the Royals beat the Astros on Tuesday.
Advice: Davis was fortunate to hold the Astros to just three runs, as he gave up eight hits and four walks on the night. After a strong start to the season, Davis now owns a 5.91 ERA and has won just one start since April 17. Fortunately for Davis, the Royals don't have any better options to replace him in the rotation at this point. His next start will come Sunday against the Angels.