MLB Player News

Kikuchi (7-9) earned the win over Kansas City on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out 12 batters over seven innings.

Kikuchi racked up 20 swinging strikes on his way to a season-high 12 punchouts, falling just one K shy of his career-high mark. The southpaw kept the Royals off the board for six frames before allowing a run on a pair of singles and a fielder's choice in the seventh, but he was able to get through that frame with no additional damage to complete seven innings for the first time since July 9. The Astros' trade for Kikuchi at the deadline didn't generate much buzz, but the hurler has been excellent since joining Houston, posting a 2.57 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 47:10 K:BB over six starts covering 35 frames.

Matthews (1-2) took the loss against Toronto on Saturday, allowing nine runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out five batters over two innings.

Matthews came into the contest with an impressive 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through three big-league starts, but those numbers rose astronomically as a result of Saturday's disastrous outing. The rookie right-hander gave up seven runs in the first inning and two more in the second, and three of the 10 hits against him left the yard. Matthews was mercifully relieved when the third inning came around, and he departed having thrown a whopping 69 pitches in two frames -- more than Toronto starter Jose Berrios tossed across six scoreless innings. If there's any bright side, it's that Matthews managed 12 whiffs and five punchouts in the short start, but that's not much consolation for fantasy managers who roster Matthews and had their ratios for the week blown up as a result of his poor start.

Berrios (14-9) earned the win over Minnesota on Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six scoreless innings.

The Blue Jays gave Berrios a seven-run lead after half an inning, and the right-hander capitalized by cruising through his outing. He needed only 63 pitches to complete six frames and would have probably gone longer under normal circumstances, but the right-hander mentioned after the game that he was dealing with a fever and said that taking the mound "was a challenge," per the Associated Press. Given his ability to pitch through the illness Saturday, there doesn't seem to be any concern about the issue affecting Berrios' next start. He'll look to extend a five-game quality-start streak in what lines up to be a matchup in Atlanta next weekend.

Martin (0-3) took the loss against the Mets on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six batters over five innings.

Martin had a rough first inning, giving up two homers resulting in three runs. He settled down after that and yielded just one more run over the remainder of his outing, but Chicago's offense never put him in position to be taken off the hook. Martin racked up an impressive 19 swinging strikes and set a season high with six punchouts. He's yet to win a game this season but has been a serviceable starting option for the White Sox, posting a 3.62 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 32:14 K:BB over 32.1 innings.

Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Rockies that Eflin (shoulder) will start for the Orioles on Sunday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Eflin landed on the injured list Aug. 20 due to right shoulder inflammation, but a minimum stint on the IL was expected. He threw a bullpen session Thursday, and the 30-year-old right-hander will return for the series finale against Colorado. Eflin is 4-0 in his four starts since being acquired by the Orioles from the Rays in late July with a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25:2 K:BB across 25.1 innings.

Kremer was diagnosed with right forearm contusion after he was removed from his start in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Rockies, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. He took a no-decision after striking out three over 3.1 innings while allowing four earned runs on six hits and one walk.

Kremer was hit by a line drive off the bat of Jordan Beck in the fourth inning. He experienced significant swelling in his right forearm after leaving the game, but the subsequent X-rays did not show a fracture. He'll undergo further testing Sunday, and how his arm responds over the next couple of days will determine whether he will be able to make his next start. Kremer tentatively lines up to make his next turn through the rotation Friday versus the Rays.

Kremer left Saturday's game against the Rockies in the fourth inning due to a right forearm injury, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Kremer took a line drive to his right wrist off the bat of Jordan Beck, and the 28-year-old pitcher was replaced by Keegan Akin. Kremer exited the contest having allowed four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.1 innings. His next start is tentatively slated for the Orioles' weekend series against the Rays starting Sept. 6.

Baz (2-2) earned the win against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Baz allowed a two-run homer in the first inning and then rebounded with four scoreless frames before being lifted at 78 pitches. The 25-year-old looked healthy after being scratched with the flu last Sunday, and he has now yielded three earned runs or fewer in six of seven outings since the All-Star break. On the season, he owns a 3.49 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB across 49 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Twins next week.

Detmers is expected to be added to the Angels' roster and will start Tuesday against the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

MLB rosters expand to 28 players Sunday, and the Angels will add Detmers to seemingly create a six-man rotation for the tail end of the regular season, per Fletcher. Detmers was sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake on June 1 after giving up four earned runs or more in seven of his eight prior major-league starts. He has a 5.54 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 78 innings with Salt Lake this season, but he's been better over his last three starts with a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 21 frames.

Scherzer (shoulder) said Saturday that he feels fine physically and has made a change in his mechanics that allows him to throw without pain, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The 40-year-old also said that he believes he is ready for a rehab assignment and wants to pitch in the majors again this season. However, manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Scherzer will need a bit of time to build back up after he starts throwing, so the right-hander doesn't appear particularly close to heading out on a rehab assignment. The right-hander has been on the shelf since Aug. 2 due to fatigue in his right shoulder.