MLB Player News

Assad (2-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over seven innings in a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out two.

The right-hander delivered his second big-league quality start in the longest outing of his career, tossing 58 of 90 pitches for strikes as he pitched to contact after the Cubs staked him to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Assad could return to the bullpen if Marcus Stroman (hip) is able to come off the IL and rejoin the rotation when first eligible Aug. 16, but the 26-year-old has been effective in any role. Through 60.2 innings this season, Assad has a 3.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 45:26 K:BB.

Abbott (1-1) recorded the win in Friday's 8-2 victory over the A's, allowing a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless relief innings. He struck out one.

Joan Adon (leg) left the game after three innings due to cramps, and after Abbott worked the top of the fourth, the Nats took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame. The 27-year-old right-hander has done little to earn a high-leverage role this season, and over 14.1 innings since the beginning of July he's been saddled with a 5.65 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 13:9 K:BB. With Washington more focused on the workloads of its young rotation arms than on winning, however, there could be plenty of long-relief innings available for Abbott down the stretch.

Zerpa (1-1) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings.

It's not that Zerpa was effective, but he entered the game in the second inning already up 8-0 giving him a clear path to earn his first win. The left-hander worked as a starter in the minors prior to his call up Aug. 1, but this was his second appearance as a bulk reliever for the big club and fourth overall. Zerpa has now allowed eight runs in 9.1 innings with only three strikeouts. Those stats do not portend to him holding much value moving forward, especially on a Royals' team that has amassed just 38 wins on the season.

Uribe pitched a perfect 10th inning to pick up the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the White Sox.

Closer Devin Williams had pitched in the ninth inning to help maintain the tie. With the Brewers taking the lead in the 10th, Uribe was called upon to close the door and delivered with a perfect frame. Uribe has been great for the club since making his debut July 8, allowing only two runs while striking out 14 in 13.1 innings. Continued performances like this could lead to the Brewers relying on him in higher-leverage situations as Milwaukee makes its playoff push.

Williams (7-3) earned the win Friday against the White Sox, striking out three in a perfect ninth inning.

He entered the bottom of the ninth in a tie game and struck out the side. The Brewers then tallied one in the top of the 10th to help secure the victory for Williams. The closer has seven wins and 27 saves on the season to go along with a 1.39 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 45.1 innings.

Sandlin (5-5) allowed one run on one hit without recording an out to take the loss in Friday's 9-8 defeat at the hands of the Rays.

Sandlin served up a walk-off solo home run to Wander Franco just three pitches into his ninth-inning appearance after the Guardians had rallied to tie the game. With three runs allowed over three innings plus two losses to begin August, it's been a rough stretch for Sandlin. He has a 3.65 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 44.1 innings this season.

Smith allowed a run on one hit in one inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Smith has given up four runs over his last six innings, but he's been able to protect leads all the same with five saves in that span. The southpaw gave up a double and an RBI groundout in Friday's somewhat shaky outing. Smith is up to 22 saves in 24 chances with a 3.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB through 43 innings this season as the Rangers' closer.

Fairbanks was removed from a save opportunity Friday versus the Guardians after retiring just two of six batters he faced.

Fairbanks couldn't have asked for an easier save chance in coming in to face a weak Guardians lineup nursing a three-run lead. He was all over the place, though, loading the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch before recording an out. Fairbanks recorded a pair of strikeouts around a run-scoring wild pitch, but another wild pitch to allow a run followed by a walk finally ended his night. A final run was charged to his ledger when Robert Stephenson let the tying run score on a wild pitch of his own. The blown save officially goes to Stephenson, but most of this was Fairbanks' doing. His ERA has climbed from 1.73 to 2.93 over his last two appearances.

Curry was charged with five runs on six hits and two walks over five-plus innings Friday, taking a no-decision in a 9-8 loss to the Rays. He struck out one.

Curry retired the side in order each of the first two innings but then labored in the third as the Rays sent eight men to the plate and scored three runs. He bounced back with a scoreless fourth and fifth, but a double ahead of an Isaac Paredes two-run homer in the sixth ended his night. In addition to just one strikeout, Curry managed only two whiffs among 70 pitches. He could get another start as the Guardians continue to patch together their rotation around numerous injuries, but fantasy managers can probably do better.

Murphy issued two walks over three no-hit, shutout frames Friday, striking out four and earning a save over Detroit.

It was an impressive rebound after Murphy was tagged with six runs against Toronto in his last appearance. The southpaw lowered his ERA to 2.94 with a 34:15 K:BB through 33.2 frames.