MLB Player News

Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in a win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings while striking out nine.

Kikuchi held the Angels' lineup in check after surrendering a leadoff home run to Taylor Ward, allowing just one batter to reach second base from the second inning on. The veteran southpaw induced 14 whiffs on the night while posting at least six strikeouts for the fourth consecutive outing. However, he was unable to come away with his fourth straight win despite his valiant effort. Kikuchi has gone at least six innings in each of his last four outings, logging quality starts in three of them.

Schmidt (5-4) was saddled with the loss Thursday, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out seven.

Schmidt allowed three runs in the first inning but ran into some tough luck along the way with only one of those runs being earned. Despite taking the loss, Schmidt hasn't skipped a beat since returning from the IL due to a strained right lat on Sep 7, increasing his stretch of allowing three runs or less to 14-for-14 on the season. Schmidt's next start is slated to take place at home against the Orioles as he looks to continue to make a case to be a key part of the Yankees' postseason pitching plans.

Bello (14-8) took the loss against Tampa Bay on Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over 5.2 innings.

Bello didn't allow any extra-base hits, and the only run he surrendered came on a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly in the third inning. However, Boston's offense managed just one hit and zero runs, pinning the right-hander with a hard-luck loss. Bello nonetheless continued a strong stretch during which he's allowed a modest four runs over his past 16.1 frames across three starts.

Gilbert (8-11) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Yankees. He struck out nine.

Gilbert was afforded an early three-run lead then held the Yankees in check, with the only damage coming by way of a two-run homer in the third off the bat of Jazz Chisholm. Gilbert's whiff of Giancarlo Stanton to end the first gave him 200 on the season, marking the first time in Gilbert's four-year career he's reached the 200-strikeout milestone. He ended the day with nine strikeouts, one shy of matching a season high. Gilbert lines up for a start early next week against the Astros, which could be his final outing of the season.

Littell (8-9) earned the win over Boston on Thursday, allowing one hit and recording seven strikeouts without issuing a walk over seven scoreless innings.

LIttell allowed just one baserunner in the outing (on a third-inning single). The right-hander retired the final 13 batters he faced and was ultra efficient, needing only 75 pitches to complete seven frames. LIttell has held his opponent scoreless in three straight starts, compiling a total of 18 scoreless innings while posting a 16:1 K:BB during that span. The outstanding stretch has lowered his season ERA to 3.56.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and a walk across 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

Woods Richardson pitched respectably Thursday, holding Cleveland to a lone run on Kyle Manzardo's solo homer in the first inning. However, the right-hander ultimately failed to make it through five innings for a fifth consecutive start. Overall, Woods Richardson is 5-5 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 115:47 K:BB across 132.2 innings this year. He'll likely make one more regular-season start, tentatively scheduled for next week at home versus the Marlins.

Cantillo didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Minnesota, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

Cantillo pitched well for the most part Thursday, though he struggled with command at times and ultimately was forced out of the game midway through the fifth inning after throwing 86 pitches. The 24-year-old Cantillo has allowed just two earned runs across 18 innings in his last four outings, lowering his ERA to 4.63 with a 1.20 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB through his first 35 major-league innings. The left-hander is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Reds next week in what could be his final regular-season start.

Gausman said after Thursday's game versus Texas that he isn't too concerned about his lower-back issue and expects to make his next scheduled start, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Gausman added that he first felt his back tighten up on him while throwing warm-up pitches, and his lack of concern suggests that his removal after five hitless innings was likely a precautionary decision. He'll carry a 3.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP into his start against the Red Sox next week, which will most likely be his final appearance of 2024.

Eflin allowed two runs on six hits and a walk across six innings in a no-decision Thursday against San Francisco. He struck out five.

A Michael Conforto two-run homer in the fourth inning accounted for the only runs against Eflin as the right-hander earned a seventh quality start in eight outings with the Orioles -- he's posted a 2.31 ERA in that span. Overall, the 30-year-old Eflin is 10-9 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 133:19 K:BB across 160.2 innings this year between Baltimore and Tampa Bay. He's currently in line for a pivotal road matchup with the Yankees early next week in what's likely to be Eflin's final regular-season start.

Gausman was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers due to lower-back tightness.

Gausman was able to get through five shutout innings on just 58 pitches while striking out six batters and walking one before his back forced him to make an early departure. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but the Jays will certainly keep a close eye on him leading up to his next start -- tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Red Sox.