MLB Player News

Gilbert (7-5) got the win against the Astros on Sunday, allowing an earned run on three hits over seven innings. He struck out six and hit a batter.

Coming off his complete-game gem against the Giants on Tuesday, Gilbert managed an impressive encore performance versus a dangerous lineup. The right-hander got 63 of his 94 pitches in for strikes during his efficient performance -- with Jeremy Rakes of MLB.com noting his fastball consistently sat between 95 and 97 mph -- giving Gilbert wins in consecutive decisions for the first time since late May. The 26-year-old appears to be hitting his stride after a couple of hiccups, as he heads into the All-Star break having surrendered two earned runs or less in four of his last five starts and now sits second among all qualified pitchers with an 0.98 WHIP.

Waldichuk (2-6) took the loss against the Red Sox on Sunday, allowing an earned run on two hits over 1.1 innings. He struck out one.

Waldichuk was tasked with preserving a 3-3 tie when he entered in the seventh inning, and he impressively generated a 1-2-3 frame by retiring the dangerous trio of Justin Turner, Rafael Devers and Adam Duvall. However, Masataka Yoshida's solo home run to lead off the eighth ultimately proved the difference in the game and saddled Waldichuk with his fourth loss in the last five decisions. The southpaw has been scuffling of late, as Sunday's stumble sends Waldichuk into the All-Star break with a 7.59 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over the 10.2 innings covering his last four appearances.

Bielak (4-5) took the loss Sunday against the Mariners, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings.

Bielak blanked the Mariners through the first three frames but could not escape trouble in the fourth. The inning started with a fielding error and a hit batsman before two doubles plated three runs. Bielak kept the Mariners' bats in check otherwise, and although he was a little wild hitting two batters, he only issued one walk after walking four in his last start. The 27-year-old now holds a 3.79 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 46:23 K:BB over 59.1 innings and should be good for at least a few more starts until Jose Urquidy (shoulder) is ready to return from the injured list.

Blackburn (illness) was charged with a blown save in Sunday's loss to the Red Sox, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk over one inning of relief. He struck out one.

After being scratched from Saturday's start due to illness, Blackburn was afforded some relief work before the All-Star break and didn't fare well. The right-hander needed 39 pitches to get through his one frame, which started off on the wrong foot with a solo home run by Adam Duvall and eventually also included a game-tying Christian Arroyo RBI double. Blackburn will now have several days of rest before returning to action in his usual rotation role, and he'll be aiming to improve on the 5.73 ERA and 1.68 WHIP he's generated over the 22 innings covering his last five appearances (four starts).

Kluber (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Fenway Park on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Boston manager Alex Cora was encouraged by the session, noting Kluber looked much better than he did in the days and weeks leading up to his placement on the injured list June 21. "Healthwise, he feels a lot stronger, which is good. You can see the sharpness of the pitches and the ability to locate in that bullpen," Cora said. The right-hander's next step will be a two-inning bullpen Thursday.

Bieber (5-6) took the loss Sunday against the Royals after allowing four runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out six over 6.1 innings.

Bieber held the Royals scoreless through four innings, but Kyle Isbel led off the fifth with a solo home run to center to knot things up at 1-1. Bieber then unraveled in the sixth, allowing the Royals to score three more runs while giving up two more extra-base hits. It's now the fourth time in five starts he's allowed at least four runs and he's given up at least one long ball in each of those starts. The 28-year-old has not lived up to the high draft price fantasy managers took on him before the season. He's striking out a career-low 19 percent of batters and has the third highest hard-hit rate among qualified pitchers. He'll head into the All-Star break with a 3.77 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 95:33 K:BB over 117 innings and will be in search of his first win since June 11.

Bassitt allowed three runs on nine hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four across four innings against the Tigers on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Sunday's outing could have gotten a lot worse for Bassitt. He allowed a three base hits in the second inning and a solo home run in the third, leading to two runs for the Tigers. He then gave up another run on three straight singles to open up the fifth before being replaced by Trevor Richards, who was able to strand two runners after coming in with nobody out. It was a disappointing way for the 34-year-old to head into the All-Star break after posting consecutive quality starts. He's struggled to keep the ball in the park and has now given up 18 home runs in 109.2 innings this season after allowing 19 in 181.2 innings last year. Bassitt had not held an ERA above four in any season during which he's made at double digit starts but currently owns a 4.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 102:36 K:BB.

German did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks over six innings in a 7-4 loss to the Cubs. He struck out nine.

German turned in a quality start Sunday, allowing just one hit while pitching into the sixth inning for the second time in his last five appearances. German enters the All-Star break on a high note, owning a 1.40 ERA and a 23:3 K:BB across his last three outings (19.1 innings). However, fantasy managers should proceed with caution with the 30-year-old, as he carried a 5.10 ERA and a 69:25 K:BB on the year prior to his three recent starts.

Sears did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run (zero earned) on one hit and three walks over five innings against Boston. He struck out four.

After hurling 7.1 scoreless innings against the Tigers last time out, Sears posted another five innings without an earned run Sunday. Sears enters the All-Star break on a high note, having gone seven or more innings in three of his last five appearances, a stretch in which he has surrendered 19 hits and owns a 3.26 ERA over 30.1 innings. Though the lefty has been one of Oakland's top arms this season, he's struggled with keeping the ball inside the park, giving up 1.7 HR/9 on the year.

Dunning (8-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Nationals. He struck out four.

Though Dunning has had an impressive first half of 2023, he struggled against one of baseball's bottomfeeders, tying his season high in runs allowed and failing to finish six innings for the first time since June 17. However, all of the damage against Dunning came late, as a Dominic Smith solo homer in the fifth put the Nationals on the board. Through 20 appearances (12 starts), Dunning boasts an impressive 2.84 ERA but hasn't missed many bats, logging 59 Ks through 92 innings.