MLB Player News

Pecko is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Miguel Ullola in Thursday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros will go back to an arrangement that yielded strong results in last Friday's 3-1 loss to the Rays. In that contest, Ullola started and tossed a scoreless inning, while Pecko entered the game in the midway through the third. The 24-year-old Pecko proceeded to deliver his best MLB performance to date, limiting the Rays to one run on one hit and two walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings.

Kikuchi (1-6) allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Mariners.

The five walks were a season high for Kikuchi, who has issued 12 free passes over his last 14.1 innings. He has at least kept the ball in the yard in that span, but the Mariners were able to pick him apart with singles and walks in Wednesday's game. For the season, Kikuchi is at a 5.02 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 58:28 K:BB through 57.1 innings over 12 starts. The southpaw is projected to make his next start on the road versus the Athletics.

Kirby allowed two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Wednesday.

Kirby's five walks were a season high, and it underscores his step back in the command department this season. The right-hander has issued 44 walks this year, already 15 more than in any other campaign of his career, though his 2.3 BB/9 is still pretty good in the general context of the majors. The walk rate has been creeping up lately -- he's issued 19 free passes over 49.2 frames since the start of August. Through 169.2 innings this season, Kirby has a 4.24 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 143 strikeouts. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Astros.

Javier (2-6) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the Royals on Wednesday.

Javier dealt with a lot of traffic on the basepaths, but all the damage against him came via a John Rave two-run homer in the fourth inning. This start continued a strong September for Javier, who has a 2.20 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings through three starts this month. A matchup with the Mariners in Seattle is likely up next for the right-hander.

Manager Skip Schumaker said after Wednesday's game against the Red Sox that Gore is dealing with spasms in his back/shoulder, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gore gave up three earned runs over four innings on just 69 pitches during his start Wednesday, and his spasms help to explain why his outing was cut short. It's unclear whether the left-hander will be able to make his next start -- tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Mets -- but the Rangers will likely have a better idea of his availability after monitoring him for a few days.

Bennett took a no-decision Wednesday against Texas, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk in 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

Bennett kept the ball in the park after serving up five homers in his prior two starts, but he was instead tagged for a trio of doubles Wednesday. The rookie southpaw is showing signs of fatigue late in the season, surrendering at least three runs in all but one of his last 10 outings. He'll take a 3.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:20 K:BB over 109.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against Cleveland, which will be a key matchup in the American League playoff race.

Gore took a no-decision Wednesday against Boston, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in four innings. He failed to record a strikeout.

The Red Sox were hardly fooled by Gore on Wednesday, as the hurler induced a mere two whiffs on the evening. The southpaw appears to be losing his effectiveness quite a bit down the stretch, fanning four or fewer in five consecutive starts while yielding at least three runs in three straight abbreviated outings. He'll look to right the ship when he carries a 4.67 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 172:69 K:BB over 165.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Mets.

Bassitt (8-5) earned the win against the Mets on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and a walk in 6.2 innings. He struck out six.

Bassitt gave the Orioles great length in Wednesday's start, which the team needed after using eight pitchers in Tuesday's extra-inning contest. The veteran right-hander tossed 95 pitches (61 strikes) to efficiently get through 6.2 frames and improve his record to 4-1 in his last five starts. During that span, Bassitt has a 3.64 ERA with a 26:11 K:BB over 29.2 innings. The 37-year-old is scheduled to face his old team, the Blue Jays, next week in what could be his final start of the campaign.

Martinez (15-4) earned the win against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three across five innings. He did not issue a walk.

Martinez kept the Athletics' bats in check for most of Wednesday's contest, outside of two solo home runs by Tommy White and Henry Bolte in the third inning. Martinez needed only 72 pitches (50 strikes) to get through five innings, and it was the 13th time this season that he did not issue a walk. The veteran right-hander has a 2.94 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 171.1 innings and is up to 15 wins on the year, which is tied for third most in the majors behind Sonny Gray and Cristopher Sanchez (17 each). Martinez is tentatively slated to face the Yankees on the road next week, though it's not clear whether he'll have another turn in the rotation beyond that before the end of the regular season. The Rays have already clinched a spot in the postseason and have a good chance of being the top seed in the American League playoffs.

Montero (9-9) allowed two runs on six hits across four innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Blue Jays. He walked two and struck out four.

Montero did a decent job of limiting damage despite all of the baserunners, but he didn't get much run support in the 5-1 defeat. The righty hasn't earned a win since Aug. 13, and in five appearances since then, he's now 0-2 with a 5.64 ERA. Overall, Montero has been better with a 3.58 ERA across 151 innings this season, though he's struck out only 102 batters, which has capped his fantasy appeal. The 26-year-old is lined up to take the hill again Monday against the Nationals and then is tentatively scheduled to pitch the last game of the regular season versus the Pirates on Sept. 27.