MLB Player News

Valdez (5-4) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over nine innings in a 2-1 victory over the Rays. He struck out nine.

The southpaw delivered his second complete game of the season, and the ninth of his career, on just 83 pitches (59 total strikes) while racking up an impressive 30 called or swinging strikes. The lone blemish on Valdez's line was a leadoff homer by Jose Caballero. Valdez has reeled off five straight quality starts, posting a 1.70 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 36:9 K:BB in 37 innings over that stretch, and he'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Pittsburgh.

Pepiot came away with a no-decision Friday, scattering two hits and a walk over 6.2 scoreless innings in a 2-1 loss to the Astros. He struck out four.

The right-hander faced the minimum number of batters through four innings and didn't let a runner get into scoring position while he was on the mound, exiting with a 1-0 lead after 93 pitches (61 strikes). The Tampa Bay bullpen cost Pepiot his fourth win of the season, however, and he had to settle for his fifth straight quality start and eighth of the season. He'll take a 3.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:20 K:BB through 70 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Rangers.

Fried (7-1) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out three without walking a batter over five-plus innings Friday, taking the loss versus the Dodgers.

Fried entered the sixth inning up 5-2, but he yielded a second solo home run to Shohei Ohtani and wasn't able to recover. Jonathan Loaisiga and Tim Hill failed to stop the bleeding, and the Yankees didn't muster a response later in the game, leaving Fried with an ugly first loss of the campaign. This is the second time he's given up six runs this year, but the first was in his season debut, and only two of them were earned in that outing. Despite Friday's performance, Fried still has a 1.92 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 70:16 K:BB through 75 innings over 12 starts this season. The southpaw will look to get back on track at home versus the Guardians next week.

Woo allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Twins on Friday.

The 12-6 extra-inning loss was a product of a bullpen meltdown. Woo wasn't at his best Friday, allowing multiple home runs for the first time in his 11 starts this season, but he left with a lead in the seventh inning. The 25-year-old right-hander is now at a 2.82 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 63:9 K:BB across 70.1 innings. Woo's spot in the rotation is secure, so he won't be threatened by the return of Bryce Miller (elbow), who will start Saturday. Woo's next start is projected to be at home versus the Orioles.

Matthews allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.

Matthews gave up back-to-back home runs to Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena in the first inning, putting the Twins in an early 4-0 hole. They were able to dig out of it, sparing the 25-year-old right-hander from taking his second loss. He hadn't allowed a homer over his first two starts and Matthews now has a 6.43 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB over 14 innings this season. Matthews' next start is tentatively projected to be on the road versus the Athletics.

Leiter (4-2) picked up the win Friday against the Cardinals after allowing three hits and two walks in 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out six.

Although he fell one out shy of what would have been his second quality start of the campaign, Leiter still matched a career high in punchouts and submitted his second scoreless outing of the year. The hard-throwing right-hander has issued multiple walks in seven straight appearances and fanned more than five just once during that span, but he's conceded three hits or fewer six times among his nine starts for the season. Leiter holds a steady 3.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 36:23 K:BB and .195 opponent batting average over 46.2 innings, and he's set to take the bump next week against the Rays.

Springs (5-4) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing six runs on six hits and six walks while striking out two over two innings.

Springs was able to keep the Blue Jays off the board in the first inning, but he proceeded to yield three runs in both the second and third. He tossed 72 pitches (41 strikes) and could not escape the third inning for the second time this season (12 starts). Springs has a 4.72 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 61 innings this season. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, tentatively slated for next week at home against Minnesota.

Soriano (4-5) picked up the win Friday after throwing six shutout innings, allowing four hits and four walks. He recorded two strikeouts during the 4-1 victory over the Guardians.

Soriano rebounded nicely from his shortest start in six outings with a shutdown performance against the Guardians. He didn't have his best stuff, tying his season high for walks with four and striking out just two batters, but he was effective nonetheless. That 26-year-old made it six outings in a row allowing three runs or fewer.

Giolito didn't factor into the decision Friday against Atlanta after allowing one run on five hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

It was a respectable performance from Giolito, who kept the ball in the yard and didn't surrender any extra-base hits. The veteran right-hander has given up six runs on a pair of occasions this season, which has considerably damaged his ratios, and he's reached the fifth inning in just three of his first six appearances while posting quality starts in the other three. Giolito has a 4.78 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB over 32 innings, and he shapes up as a volatile fantasy option versus the Angels in his next scheduled outing.

Ortiz (2-6) was hit with the loss Friday despite allowing just one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings in a 4-1 loss against the Angels.

Ortiz probably deserved better after working through six innings and allowing just one run. The Guardians trailed 1-0 when he departed the game, and as a result, he gets tagged with the loss. It continues an unfortunate pattern for the 26-year-old, who has allowed three runs or fewer in four straight starts (2.86 ERA), but is 0-3 over that same timeframe.