• Being optioned
    The Astros are optioning France to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of their trip to Mexico City on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: France is being optioned to clear a spot for Framber Valdez, who will start Sunday. In France's last outing Tuesday, he took the loss, allowed five runs on five hits and four walks over five innings against the Cubs. The 29-year-old has now given up multiple home runs in consecutive starts. The move prompts questions about how the Astros rotation lines up going forward. Rotowire.com 6 minutes ago
  • Dakota Hudson struggles again in start vs. Padres
    Dakota Hudson gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings on six hits while picking up no decision against the Padres on Thursday.

    Advice: Hudson walked four with four strikeouts to match. This is not going very well. The right-hander has now given up at least four runs in his last three outings, and seen his ERA balloon to 6.57 in the process. Simply put, Hudson is to set lineups against as long as he’s a member of the Colorado rotation. He gets the Marlins next. Rotoworld 20 minutes ago
    Dakota HudsonCOL - SP,RP
    W, 10-9 vs SD
     
  • Vasquez pulled in third after allowing four
    Randy Vasquez was charged for four runs in 2 2/3 innings of work in a no-decision against the Rockies on Thursday.

    Advice: Vasquez threw 72 pitches — 47 of them for strikes — while allowing two walks with two strikeouts. The right-hander was handed a 4-1 lead in the second, but he gave up a three-spot in that inning before being pulled. It’s another shaky start for the 25-year-old, and his ERA now sits at an unhealthy 5.87 for his trouble. Assuming he stays in the rotation, Vasquez’s next start will come against the Reds on Tuesday. Rotoworld 20 minutes ago
     
  • Zack Wheeler stymies Reds in win
    Zack Wheeler threw six shutout innings in a 5-0 win over the Reds, allowing just one hit while striking out eight.

    Advice: Wheeler did walk four batters on the day but he also posted an impressive 36 percent whiff rate and 33 percent CSW. He beat the Reds with heat today, getting the most whiffs on both his four-seamer and sinker, and got only a 17 percent chase rate. Basically, he came at the Reds in the zone and they weren’t able to handle it on Thursday. The effort lowered his season ERA to 1.93 and he’ll look to keep it going in a much easier matchup against the Angels next time out. Rotoworld Today, 2:17 pm
    Zack WheelerPHI - SP
    W, 5-0 @CIN
     
  • Gavin Williams shut down with elbow discomfort
    Gavin Williams (elbow) has been shut down from throwing for at least one week after experiencing renewed discomfort.

    Advice: Not good. Williams has been on the shelf since spring training due to right elbow inflammation and appeared to be getting close to making his season debut prior to this latest setback. The 24-year-old top pitching prospect should be ready to resume throwing next week after receiving a PRP injection. However, there is no official timetable for his return at this juncture. Rotoworld Today, 2:13 pm
     
  • Martinez hit hard in loss to Phillies
    Nick Martinez allowed five runs on 11 hits in six innings in a loss to the Phillies on Thursday.

    Advice: Martinez allowed four extra-base hits on the day, but 12 hard-hit baseballs as the Phillies squared the ball up regularly. Martinez did strike out three and post a 24 percent whiff rate on the day while walking nobody but that was about the only good news. He now has a 5.48 ERA on the year and will take on the Padres next time out. He’s not a recommended play. Rotoworld Today, 2:10 pm
    Nick MartinezCIN - SP,RP
    L, 0-5 vs PHI
     
  • Javier Assad holds Astros to one run over 5 2/3
    Javier Assad struck out five over 5 2/3 innings while allowing just a run in a no-decision against the Astros on Thursday.

    Advice: Assad scattered four hits and issued one free pass. The right-hander got off to a rough start while allowing a run in the first, but he was excellent for the next five-plus frames. Unfortunately for him, the Cubs and fantasy managers who started Assad, he didn’t get the run support necessary to qualify for a victory. He’ll be back on the bump in New York next week against the Mets. Rotoworld Today, 2:09 pm
    Javier AssadCHC - SP,RP
    W, 3-1 vs HOU
     
  • Justin Verlander fires 4 1/3 scoreless vs. Cubs
    Justin Verlander didn’t give up a run over 4 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision against the Cubs on Thursday.

    Advice: Verlander allowed just three hits, but the seven punchouts along with four walks worked the pitch count up enough for him to not qualify for a decision. The right-hander gave up just one extra-base hit — a double by Nico Hoerner — and while he did have some control issues, the stuff looked solid in his second start of 2024. Verlander is back on the bump next week against the Guardians. Rotoworld Today, 2:09 pm
     
  • Heaney gives up pair of two-run homers in loss
    Andrew Heaney gave up four runs in six innings while picking up a loss to the Mariners on Thursday.

    Advice: Heaney didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. The left-hander was undone by a pair of two-run homers, with one coming off the bat of Ty France in the first, and another by Luis Urias that gave Seattle a 4-2 lead in the fifth. That makes four homers allowed over his last two starts by Heaney, but the swing-and-miss stuff showing up is encouraging. A friendly matchup on paper comes next for the 32-year-old, as he’s scheduled to face off against the Nationals. Rotoworld Today, 1:59 pm
    Andrew HeaneyTEX - SP,RP
    L, 3-4 vs SEA