MLB Player News

Greinke did not factor into the decision Friday as the Royals downed the Astros 4-2, giving up three hits and a walk over two scoreless innings. He struck out one.

The 39-year-old got the start but was limited to 48 pitches (28 strikes) before being lifted in favor of Angel Zerpa, who wound up getting the win. It was Greinke's shortest appearance of the season by innings, although he did toss 44 pitches in a much more efficient five-inning outing May 3 against the Orioles -- his last, and only, win of the season. He hasn't completed five frames in any of his last six games, posting a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 22 innings over that stretch.

Javier (9-4) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings as the Astros fell 4-2 to the Royals. He struck out six.

Single runs by Kansas City in the third, fourth and fifth innings -- the latter two on solo shots by Nelson Velazquez and Bobby Witt -- proved to be too much for the Houston offense to overcome, and Javier got the hook after 81 pitches (52 strikes). The right-hander has served up at least one homer in nine straight outings, a stretch in which he has a rough 5.68 ERA and 1.47 WHIP despite a 44:22 K:BB through 44.1 innings. Javier will try to get back on track in his next start, likely to come at home next week against the Orioles.

Heaney allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over two relief innings in Friday's 12-3 loss to Cleveland.

Heaney looked likely to rejoin the starting rotation this weekend with Max Scherzer (shoulder) on the shelf, but he ended up being summoned in long relief Friday after starter Jon Gray lasted just 3.2 innings. The veteran lefty made his second long-relief appearance in as many outings, both after short outings by Gray. Since he tossed 55 pitches Friday, Heaney is removed from consideration to start Sunday in what would have been Max Scherzer's turn in the rotation. The Rangers will need a fifth member of the rotation at least two more times beyond Sunday during the regular season, so Heaney could be used as a traditional starter over the coming two weeks.

Ober (7-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings in a 10-2 victory over the White Sox. He struck out six without walking a batter.

Ober tossed 60 of 93 pitches for strikes as he made his first start in the big leagues since Aug. 27 and recorded his first MLB win since July 18, blanking Chicago for four frames until Elvis Andrus tagged him for a two-run homer in the fifth. Ober may have only been making a spot start, but with Dallas Keuchel stumbling to an 8.03 ERA through his first three outings in September, the Twins may elect to keep the right-hander in the rotation for the last couple weeks of the regular season instead.

Canning (7-7) yielded four runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out seven and taking a loss against Detroit.

Canning allowed a run in each of the first two innings and later coughed up solo shots to Javier Baez and Jake Rogers. Over his last three starts, Canning has posted a solid 17:3 K:BB but has gone 0-3 while allowing nine runs. He hasn't picked up a win since snagging one in relief Aug. 19, and his last win in a start was June 24. Canning is currently projected to start in Minnesota next week.

Skubal (6-3) allowed one run on three hits over seven innings Friday, striking out nine and picking up a win over the Angels.

Skubal was nearly untouchable Friday. He allowed just two singles through six shutout frames before David Fletcher tagged him with a solo shot in the seventh inning. Skubal has given up just three runs while compiling a 25:3 K:BB over his last three starts. He's also forced 53 swinging strikes during that span. Skubal will carry a 3.25 ERA into his next outing, which is currently lined up to be in Oakland.

Kirby (10-10) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings, taking the loss Friday versus the Dodgers.

Kirby has allowed 19 runs (18 earned) across 27 innings over his last five starts. This was also the second start in a row in which he's issued multiple walks, something he's done only four times all year. The rough patch has him up to a 3.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 158:18 K:BB through 171.2 innings over 28 starts overall. Kirby is projected for a favorable road start in Oakland next week.

Giolito (8-13) earned the win Friday, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against Texas. He struck out 12.

Following two rough starts where he allowed a total of 13 runs and six home runs in his first outing for Cleveland, Giolito was brilliant Friday in allowing only three baserunners and no runs while inducing 16 swinging strikes on his way to a season-high 12 strikeouts, as the Rangers were flailing all night. This marked his first start since April 2021 as a member of the White Sox in which he has gone at least seven innings without allowing a run. He'll look to follow up on this dominant performance in his next start, tentatively scheduled to take place in a mid-week matchup with the Royals.

Gray (8-8) took the loss Friday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over 3.2 innings against the Guardians. He struck out three.

While it was not his best effort, Gray's loss also owes something to Andrew Heaney, who got charged with six runs over two innings after relieving the right-hander, and the Rangers offense, which was stymied until the ninth. Gray has allowed at least three earned runs in his last five starts and seven of his last nine for an ERA of 5.72 over that stretch. With the Rangers in a dog fight to win the AL West or at least secure a wild-card spot, Gray will look to right the ship in his next start, tentatively scheduled to take place mid-week at home against Boston.

Berrios (11-10) earned the win Friday, allowing five hits and zero walks over seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over Boston. He struck out eight.

This is the fourth time in 30 starts that Berrios has gone at least seven innings without allowing a run. After a rough August that saw him go 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA, Berrios has delivered three consecutive quality starts in September with a 1.80 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 22 strikeouts over 20 innings. He'll look to continue this momentum and remain a key cog in the Blue Jays' playoff push in his next start, tentatively scheduled to take place in New York during a mid-week showdown against the Yankees.