MLB Player News

Ashcraft was not involved in the decision Friday, when he allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6.2 innings in a 7-5 extra-innings win over San Diego.

Ashcraft kept the team in the game until Cincinnati's bats got going over the final innings. It was a promising outing for the right-hander, who was knocked around in his last start and had an ugly 12.82 ERA in his previous eight outings. Ashcraft looked like the confident hurler seen earlier in the season, when he posted 2.00 ERA and averaged six innings over his first six starts.

Steele (9-2) earned the win Friday, allowing three hits and one walk over 6.1 scoreless innings against Cleveland. He struck out six.

Steele plunked the first batter he faced and followed that up by committing a throwing error while trying to start a routine double play, bringing Jose Ramirez to the plate with runners on first and second and no outs. However, the left-hander proceeded to retire the next three batters, including strikeouts of Ramirez and Josh Bell, to escape the first and then went on cruise control. The left-hander's scoreless outing lowered his ERA to 2.43, which is the best mark in the National League, and he sports a solid 76:19 K:BB across 85.1 innings. Steele has emerged as a workhorse at the top of Chicago's rotation this year, and his next start is lined up for a divisional matchup in Milwaukee.

Soroka (1-1) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings Friday, striking out seven and earning a win over Miami.

Soroka gave up all three runs on two homers in the third inning but otherwise looked sharp. It was his first MLB win since September 2019. The 25-year-old is still looking to return to his old form but progress is being made; over his last three outings with Triple-A Gwinnett, he registered a 1.42 ERA with 19 punchouts over 18 frames. However, he still owns a 6.89 ERA at the MLB level. Soroka may have bought himself another turn in the rotation, which is projected to be in Cleveland next week.

Henry improved to 5-1 in Friday's win over the Angels after striking out eight while allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings.

Henry set a new season high for strikeouts and now has only four earned runs allowed over his last three starts. The southpaw has rebounded nicely after allowing 10 runs across nine innings pitched to begin the month of June.

Carrasco allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over five innings in Friday's loss to the Giants. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision.

Carrasco yielded one run through four frames before serving up a solo shot to Wilmer Flores in the fifth. Carrasco has allowed two runs in three of his last four starts but still owns an ugly 5.94 ERA through 53 innings. He hasn't finished more than five innings in an outing since May 31. The 36-year-old righty is projected to start in Arizona next week.

Cobb allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over five innings in Friday's win over the Mets. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.

Cobb returned from a stint on the injured list with an oblique injury and made his first start since June 13. He tossed 56 of 79 pitches for strikes, including 10 whiffs. The veteran righty owns a strong 3.12 ERA and 79:21 K:BB across 83.2 frames this season. Cobb is currently lined up to face the Mariners at home next week.

Miller (4-1) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Royals on Friday.

Miller came up one out short of a quality start, but this was still a vast improvement over his last two outings, in which he gave up a combined 13 runs over 9.2 innings. The rookie right-hander now has a 4.23 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB over 38.1 innings through his first seven big-league starts. He's still walking a few too many batters to be dominant, but his rotation spot is likely safe at least until Noah Syndergaard (finger) returns. Miller is projected for a home start versus the Pirates next week.

Gomber (6-7) earned the win Friday over the Tigers, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings.

Gomber picked up his second straight win, and this was his second quality start in six June outings. He threw 60 of 84 pitches for strikes in a fairly efficient home start. It's perhaps a sign the southpaw is getting back on track, as he's only has one bad start in his last four. For the season, Gomber's still at a rough 6.64 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 60:30 K:BB through 84 innings over 17 starts. He's lined up for a road start in San Francisco next week.

Liberatore's scheduled start against the Yankees has been postponed due to inclement weather, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The young lefty was scheduled to square off against Luis Severino, but the game will instead be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday. It's likely Liberatore will start one of the two games of that twin bill.

San Francisco activated Cobb (oblique) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Friday against the Mets, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Cobb was excellent in his lone minor-league rehab outing last Saturday with Single-A San Jose, racking up nine strikeouts across 3.2 innings of one-run ball. Following a 15-day absence to heal a mild oblique strain, he returns Friday to a sharp 3.09 ERA and 76:21 K:BB through 78.2 major-league innings.