MLB Player News

Kikuchi did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on nine hits over four innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out seven.

Kikuchi's now gone five straight starts without pitching more than five innings. He appeared to be on a short leash Sunday, throwing just 73 pitches, after departing his previous start against the Yankees with cramps. Kikuchi will carry a 10-6 record with a 3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 177 strikeouts into his final start of the regular season, tentatively scheduled as a rematch next weekend with the Rays.

McKenzie (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Sunday against the Orioles.

The right-hander is expected to be limited to about five innings and 80 pitches in his first major-league start since June 10. McKenzie missed the first two months of the season with a shoulder strain and made just two starts before he suffered a UCL sprain. It's been a lost season for the 26-year-old, but he'll at least have the chance to make a couple starts down the stretch.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Civale's next start will be pushed back since Civale is feeling ill, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Civale was originally slated to pitch Tuesday against Boston, but he will instead make his next start during the final series of the season versus Toronto. Zach Eflin and Tyler Glasnow will shift up in the rotation and start Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Gray (8-8) took the loss Saturday, allowing one run on four hits over six innings against the Angels. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

Gray was lights-out for most of the day, outside of a home run he surrendered to Jo Adell to lead off the fourth inning. Unfortunately for the right-hander, he still got stuck with the loss due to the Twins failing to provide any run support. Gray has now allowed one run or fewer in three consecutive starts and in six of his last eight, though he's just 3-3 over that stretch. He also has not walked a batter in each of his last two outings and carries a 1.96 ERA in September following Saturday's performance.

Littell came away with a no-decision Saturday, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in the Rays' 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out six.

The right-hander came one out shy of his third quality start in five September outings, and Littell left the mound in line for his fourth win of the season and first since Aug. 27, only for the Tampa Bay bullpen to cough up the lead in the eighth inning. Littell sports a sharp 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:2 K:BB through 30 innings on the month, and with Saturday's win having locked up a playoff spot for the Rays, he may not be asked to handle a full workload in his final start of the regular season, which lines up for a rematch with the Jays in Toronto next weekend.

Ryu came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Rays, coughing up five runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Two of the long balls came in the first inning, as Ryu served up a solo shot to Yandy Diaz and a three-run blast to Josh Lowe. The veteran southpaw avoided his fourth loss of the season when the Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the eighth inning, only for closer Jordan Romano to blow the save in the ninth. Ryu's failed to complete five innings in two straight starts, and he has a 4.32 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB through 25 innings in September. With the Jays in a dogfight for a wild-card spot, he may need to step things up in his final outing of the regular season -- a rematch with the Rays back in Toronto next weekend.

Gilbert (13-7) took the loss against Texas on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.

Gilbert wasn't exactly impressive in the outing, notching twice as many walks (four) as punchouts (two), though one of the free passes was intentional. Still, the right-hander fell one out shy of a quality start and kept Seattle in the contest despite a listless performance by the team's offense. Gilbert was tagged with his second straight loss after going 8-0 over 13 games between July 4 and Sept. 11. He lines up for one more regular-season start, tentatively slated as a rematch with Texas late next week, this time in Seattle.

Montgomery (10-11) earned the win over Seattle on Saturday, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over seven scoreless innings.

Montgomery silenced Seattle's bats throughout the contest, as the Mariners didn't manage to collect multiple hits against him in any inning. The southpaw continued a dominant three-start stretch during which he has allowed just one run while posting a 17:3 K:BB over 21 frames, turning things around impressively after yielding 11 earned runs over 9.1 innings during his first two outings in September. Montgomery will likely make one more regular-season start, which tentatively lines up to take place in Seattle on Thursday.

Quantrill (3-7) took the loss against Baltimore on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out four batters over four innings.

That Quantrill was able to escape the outing with just one run charged to his ledger is pretty impressive given that he allowed nine baserunners over four frames. Baltimore left eight runners on base while Quantrill was in the contest, including five over his final two innings. The right-hander was lifted after 93 pitches, snapping a streak of four straight outings during which he went at least 5.2 frames. Quantrill figures to have one more regular-season start left, which tentatively lines up to come next weekend in Detroit.

Wentz (3-12) took the loss Saturday in Oakland, allowing two runs on three hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five without issuing any walks.

The 25-year-old was deployed in a bulk-relief role, entering in the second frame after Miguel Diaz fired 1.1 scoreless innings operating as the team's opener. In Wentz's longest outing since June 17, he allowed just three hits, but one happened to be a two-run homer that gave Oakland the lead and saddled the southpaw with his 12th loss of the campaign. Control has been an issue all season, as he had a 4.1 BB/9 across 97.2 innings prior to Saturday, when Wentz avoided handing out any free passes for just the second time all season. It remains to be seen what role he fulfills in the final week of the campaign.