MLB Player News

Toussaint (1-1) took the loss against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out three and walking four over 2.2 innings.

Toussaint tossed 34 of 62 pitches for strikes across 2.2 frames allowing seven baserunners and four earned runs. After allowing four runs in his previous 13.1 innings, this was a step in the wrong direction for the 26-year-old righty, who is attempting to lock down his spot in the rotation. The rough outing ballooned his ERA from 2.70 to 4.50.

Hill (5-5) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and zero walks over five innings against Pittsburgh. He struck out four.

Hill surrendered a two-run homer to outfielder Bryan Reynolds with nobody out in the first inning, but he otherwise kept Pittsburgh off the board. The 42-year-old has been vastly better on the road with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 52.1 innings compared to a 6.82 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP in 30.1 innings at home. The lefty has not been built for longevity this season as he has pitched five innings or more just eight times in 18 starts.

Kirby (5-3) earned the win against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking one over 5.2 innings.

Kirby's outing Wednesday was a mixed bag, though he ended up with a solid result. He gave up three earned runs and six hits while throwing 63 of 94 pitches for strikes and allowed only one walk and struck out six batters while falling one out short of a quality start. Kirby has lasted six or more innings in just two of his last seven starts, a sign that Seattle may be limiting his innings. The righty will take a 3.47 ERA into his next outing.

Kopech (4-9) was tagged with the loss against Houston on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Kopech wasn't dominant in the outing -- he induced just seven swinging strikes and fanned only two batters -- but he kept Chicago in the game with his third quality start over his past four outings. However, opposing starter Framber Valdez recorded his 20th straight quality start and allowed one fewer run to send Kopech to defeat. Despite the loss, the right-hander continued a recent run of solid pitching -- he has given up three or fewer earned runs in eight of his past 10 starts. He has a poor 43:28 K:BB across 48 innings during that stretch, however, and his strikeout rate has dipped from an impressive 36.1 percent last season to a mediocre 22.4 percent during the current campaign.

Valdez (12-4) earned the win over the White Sox on Wednesday, completing seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six batters.

Valdez was tagged for a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but he was otherwise able to keep Chicago off the scoreboard. The left-hander didn't have his best stuff -- he walked three batters and allowed at least one baserunner in six of his seven frames -- yet he succeeded by keeping the ball on the ground, inducing three double plays. Valdez ended up with his 20th straight quality start, tying the franchise record set by Mike Scott in 1986, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Valdez isn't the flashiest starting pitcher in fantasy, but he's undoubtedly among the most consistent.

Eovaldi was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday at Pittsburgh due to soreness in his neck and shoulder area, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Eovaldi said he still believes he could pitch Thursday, but the Red Sox will exercise caution with the veteran right-hander. At this point, it seems likely Eovaldi will simply be skipped for one turn through the rotation, and he should be considered day-to-day for the time being. Josh Winckowski will make a spot start Thursday for Boston.

Ragans (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk over five innings in a 7-2 loss against the Athletics. He struck out three.

The rookie was tagged for two home runs off the bat of Sean Murphy, which accounted for all three runs allowed on the night. He was able to get through five innings on just 83 pitches as he allowed just one walk, a welcome sign after he walked a combined seven over his first two starts in the big leagues. He will carry a 5.02 ERA into his next start.

Interim manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Kikuchi will transition to a relief role, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The 31-year-old has surrendered 14 runs (11 earned) over 17.1 innings since the All-Star break and has a 5.25 ERA for the season, and the Blue Jays have seen enough with him in the rotation. Mitch White will step into the rotation Saturday against the Yankees with Kikuchi now in the bullpen.

Mahle is scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI after he exited Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Tigers in the third inning with what the Twins described as right shoulder fatigue, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He struck out one batter and allowed zero hits and one walk over 2.1 scoreless innings and didn't factor into the decision.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said the MRI will reveal if anything is structurally wrong with Mahle's shoulder, but initial examinations of the right-hander revealed nothing overly concerning. Baldelli noted that Mahle is experiencing some acute pain, so even if the MRI comes back clean, the 27-year-old will still need to prove he can throw without discomfort and with his normal velocity to avoid a trip to the IL. He tentatively lines up to make his next start Tuesday in Houston.

Skubal, who has already been ruled out for the rest of the 2022 season, underwent successful flexor tendon surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The 25-year-old was ruled out for the season last week and was set to visit a specialist in Los Angeles, who apparently determined that surgery was necessary. A typical recovery takes nine months, so Skubal is likely to miss significant time to begin the 2023 campaign. The lefty made 21 starts for Detroit this season and finished with a 3.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 117:32 K:BB across 117.2 innings.