MLB Player News

Strider (6-2) allowed two runs on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in six innings, earning the win in Saturday's 5-2 victory over Arizona.

The four walks were a season high, but he was able to work around the free passes despite less-than-dominant stuff. Strider still managed to throw 63 of 99 pitches for strikes, including 15 whiffs. Walk rate is about the only thing he could improve on this year -- he's posted a 3.4 BB/9 so far. Strider owns a 2.97 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 113 strikeouts through 69.2 innings, and He's lined up for a favorable home start against the Nationals next week.

Perez (3-1) earned the win Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk over five scoreless innings in a 12-1 win over the Athletics. He struck out five.

Perez made his second consecutive start without allowing a run, moving to 10 straight scoreless innings. Though the 20-year-old has had some struggles with command in the bigs (4.1 BB/9), he has struck out 24 batters in 24 innings of work thus far to go along with a 2.25 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Perez is tentatively expected to face the White Sox and Mariners in his next two starts and should remain firmly in the fantasy conversation.

Darvish improved to 4-4 in Saturday's 6-0 win over the Cubs, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out nine over seven shutout innings.

Darvish had his worst start of the year versus the Yankees on Sunday, but he responded in a big way. This was the second time he's completed seven innings in 2023, and the three baserunners he allowed were a season low. The 36-year-old's performance has tailed off a bit -- he'd allowed at least four runs in three of his previous six starts before Saturday's dominant showing. Darvish is at a 4.10 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 68:18 K:BB through 63.2 innings through 11 outings this season. He'll look to build off this one, though he's projected for a challenging road start in Colorado his next time out.

Smyly (5-3) took the loss Saturday versus the Padres, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Smyly was no match for opposing pitcher Yu Darvish, who allowed just three baserunners over seven innings. It was a rather pedestrian effort from Smyly, who came up an out short of a quality start. He's given up 10 runs over his last 15.1 innings with an 11:7 K:BB in that span. The veteran southpaw has a 3.56 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 57 strikeouts over 65.2 innings through 12 starts this season. He'll look to get back on track with a road start versus the Angels next week.

Cobb (5-2) allowed five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over 7.2 shutout innings to earn the win in Saturday's 4-0 triumph over the Orioles.

Cobb was lit up for seven runs over four innings against the Brewers his last time out, but he responded with his fourth scoreless outing of the season. He's gone at least seven innings in each of those stellar starts. This was also the first time in his last six appearances that he didn't walk a batter. Cobb is at a 2.71 ERA despite a 1.32 WHIP and 64:18 K:BB over 69.2 innings. The right-hander is set to face a tough test in his next start, which is projected to be in Colorado next week.

Grove (0-2) took the loss against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over five innings.

The Yankees reached only four times against Grove, but Jake Bauers ensured that no runners were left on base by swatting a pair of two-run homers. Despite the loss, there were some positive takeaways for the right-hander -- he didn't walk any batters for the first time in five outings this season, racked up a career-high seven punchouts and induced 13 swinging strikes, also a career-high mark. Grove was called up to start after a stint on the injured list due to a groin injury, and he took over the rotation spot that had previously been filled by Gavin Stone, who has struggled in the big leagues when given the opportunity this season. Los Angeles' rotation is in a bit of flux right now -- Julio Urias (hamstring) is unlikely to return from the IL until at least next weekend, and Noah Syndergaard has pitched so poorly that the team may need to make a decision about his rotation spot soon -- so there's an opening for Grove to be more than just a temporary replacement if he's able to build upon Saturday's positives in his next start.

Megill did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and five walks over 5.1 innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five.

Megill struggled with control once again Saturday, setting a season high with five walks while hitting the strike zone on just 58 of his 103 pitches. However, the 27-year-old managed to limit the damage with just a single tally against him. Though Megill owns a 5-3 record, he has stumbled to a 4.40 ERA and 48:32 K:BB through 59.1 innings, and a 5.19 FIP doesn't indicate a major turnaround is on the horizon.

Gomber did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over 2.2 innings against the Royals. He struck out four.

Saturday's start marked Gomber's shortest since April 19, and he need 74 pitches to record just eight outs. The left-hander yielded a solo home run to Nick Pratto in the opening frame, marking his 13th long ball allowed on the season. Although Gomber owns an ugly 8.64 ERA in seven home starts (33.1 innings), he has shown mild promise on the road with a 4.63 ERA over five outing (23.1 innings).

Cubs manager David Ross said Saturday that Wesneski will likely replace Justin Steele (forearm) in the rotation while Steele is on the 15-day injured list, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ross believes Steele will miss only two turns through the rotation. Wesneski opened the season as a starter for the Cubs, but the right-hander struggled to a 5.03 ERA before being demoted to Triple-A Iowa in mid-May. Wesneski has shown the ability to miss bats, but he'll be a risky fantasy streamer while he's a member of the rotation, and he doesn't look as though he'll be in line for a long-term appointment.

Steele was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 2, with a left forearm strain by the Cubs on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Steele was removed from Wednesday's start with a "mild" left forearm strain, and it's not a surprise that the southpaw will miss a couple of weeks while he recovers. Miguel Amaya has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Steele's place on the roster. The Cubs will likely make another roster move when Steele's turn in the rotation comes up.