MLB Player News

Wacha (5-6) earned the win Wednesday over the Rays, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings.

Wacha gave up a first-inning home run to Isaac Paredes and settled in from there with another excellent start. He's now allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight straight starts and matched his season high with eight strikeouts. Wacha owns a 3.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 75:26 K:BB in 84.1 innings and lines up for a road start against the Cardinals next week.

Pepiot (4-5) took the loss Wednesday against the Royals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in four innings. He did not strike out a batter.

Pepiot made it through the first two innings unscathed, but the Royals got to him for two runs in the third on a couple of hits. He made quick work in the fourth but was replaced after throwing 87 pitches. The Rays offense mustered up just two runs, leaving Pepiot in line for the loss. His last win came back on June 4 against Miami. Pepiot also never had fewer than two strikeouts in any MLB game, as a starter or reliever, before recording none Wednesday. It was another short start for the 26-year-old, who has failed to complete six frames in each of his last four starts. Pepiot will take a 4.40 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 83:28 K:BB (75.2 IP) into a start against the Yankees next week.

Stripling (elbow) pitched a live batting practice session before Wednesday's game against the Angels, the Associated Press reports.

Stripling's session seemed to have gone off without any issues, and he's now thrown a pair of bullpen sessions and Wednesday's batting practice in the last eight days. Manager Mark Kotsay previously indicated Stripling would likely begin a rehab assignment if he didn't experience any setbacks while facing live hitters, so the veteran right-hander could be heading to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin that phase of his recovery in the coming days.

Blackburn (foot) threw live batting practice before Wednesday's game against the Angels, the Associated Press reports.

The right-hander has now completed two bullpen sessions and Wednesday's live batting practice in the last eight days, meaning his rehab program has started to pick up the pace. Manager Mark Kotsay previously stated Blackburn would head out on a rehab assignment if there were no residual effects from Wednesday's activity, and the coming days should confirm whether that's still the plan of action.

Festa (1-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing seven runs on nine hits and no walks. He struck out six over five innings.

Festa allowed three home runs on the day, including a grand slam to Carson Kelly in the third inning, which opened up the scoring frenzy for the Tigers. Wenceel Perez took him long in the same inning and then Riley Greene also went deep in the fifth for a two-run blast. The one encouraging stat line for Festa in this one was he had six strikeouts and no walks while piling up 13 whiffs. Still, the 24-year-old has now allowed 12 runs over his first 10 major-league innings. If he sticks around for another turn in the rotation, he'll line up to face the White Sox early next week.

Gilbert (5-5) took the loss against the Orioles on Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings while striking out six.

Three of the four runs charged to Gilbert came across in the third inning when he walked two of the first four batters he faced, and he then surrendered three consecutive two-out hits. The right-hander gave up a solo shot to Ryan O'Hearn in the fifth, marking the first time he's given up four or more runs in his last six outings. Gilbert had gone at least six innings in nine consecutive starts coming into Wednesday's loss, while the three walks were the most he's issued since May 14 against the Royals, which covers a span of nine starts.

Kremer (4-4) picked up the win over the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing two hits and two walks over five shutout innings while striking out eight.

Kremer was fantastic in his return from a triceps strain, striking out six of the first 12 batters he faced while inducing 16 swings-and-misses in total. He came through in his first start back from the injured list and lowered his season ERA from 4.32 to 3.93 with the shutout performance. Kremer has now fanned at least six batters in three of his last four starts, dating back to May 5 against the Reds.

Bello (8-5) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on seven hits and a walk over 6.2 innings in a 7-2 victory over the Marlins. He struck out seven.

The 25-year-old right-hander was given a breather by the Red Sox -- his last start came back on June 25, when he lasted only 2.1 innings and surrendered seven runs to the Blue Jays -- and it paid off, as Bello produced his fourth quality start of the season on 91 pitches (61 strikes). The seven Ks were his highest total since May 28, while Wednesday's outing was the first time he hadn't issued multiple free passes since May 17. Bello should resume his regular turn in the rotation after this performance, which lines him up to take the mound at home early next week against the A's.

Daniel (1-1) took the loss against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Daniel allowed baserunners in five of the six frames in which he appeared and was finally chased from the game after giving up solo homers in both the fifth and sixth innings. The right-hander was unable to recreate the magic from his first start when he shut out the Tigers over eight frames June 27, though he'll look to rebound next week when the Angels travel back home to take on the Rangers.

Williams (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up five runs on seven hits and two walks over four innings Wednesday as the Guardians fell 8-2 to the White Sox. He struck out two.

Making his 2024 debut after recovering from an elbow injury he suffered during spring training, Williams faded quickly and served up back-to-back doubles to Lenyn Sosa and Nicky Lopez in the fourth inning to kick off a four-run frame for Chicago. The right-hander got lifted after 74 pitches (46 strikes), but some rust isn't surprising and Cleveland should give him time to find a rhythm on the mound. Williams is scheduled to make his next start on the road early next week in Detroit.