MLB Player News

Cease (5-11) allowed five runs (three earned) on two hits and six walks while striking out two over 3.1 innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Dodgers.

Cease threw just 44 of 85 pitches for strikes. It wasn't all his fault, as a Jackson Merrill error in the second inning was responsible for two runs, but Cease's struggles to find the strike zone continue to be a concern at times. This is the second time in four starts he's walked five or more batters. On the year, he's at a 4.61 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 171:56 K:BB over 132.2 innings across 25 starts. Among qualified starting pitchers, Cease's 3.8 BB/9 is fourth worst in the majors, though his 11.6 K/9 is second-best. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Giants, which is a favorable matchup for him to get back on track.

Verlander allowed two hits and struck out eight without walking a batter over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Rays on Saturday.

Verlander threw 63 of 88 pitches for strikes in his best start of the season. However, he didn't get the necessary run support, and the Giants' bullpen blew a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning. Still, Verlander has been trending in the right direction lately, allowing just seven runs (six earned) over his last five starts, posting a 28:8 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's now at a 4.23 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 95:36 K:BB through 106.1 innings across 21 starts. Verlander will have a tougher matchup in his next outing, which is tentatively projected to be on the road in San Diego.

Quantrill (4-10) took the loss against the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

Quantrill was tagged for 12 hard-hit balls and managed just 11 outs, with the big blow coming on a three-run homer by Trevor Story in the third inning. The 30-year-old has now given up seven earned runs in two of three August starts, failing to get through five innings each time. He'll carry a 5.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 82:30 K:BB across 109.2 frames into a home matchup with the Blue Jays next weekend.

McLean earned the win in his MLB debut in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Mariners, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.1 scoreless innings.

McLean's first big-league start went about as well as the Mets could have hoped, as he fired 55 of 91 pitches for strikes while generating 11 whiffs and limiting the Mariners to four hard-hit balls. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, McLean joined Matt Harvey as the only Mets pitchers to record eight strikeouts and a win in a scoreless debut. According to Ben Krimmel of SNY.tv, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza all but confirmed that the 24-year-old righty will get another turn through the rotation, which will likely fall next weekend in Atlanta. McLean's standing in the rotation beyond that may hinge on how he performs, as Tylor Megill (elbow) is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could displace McLean as the club's fifth starter once he's activated from the injured list.

Cavalli (1-0) picked up the win in Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Phillies, allowing seven hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

It's been a long road back to the big leagues for Cavalli after he made his debut for the Nationals in 2022 and then dealt with serious arm issues, but Saturday he looked like the potential future ace the club thought it was getting when he was selected 22nd overall in the 2020 Draft. Cavalli racked up 32 called or swinging strikes among his 90 pitches (63 total strikes), and he topped out at 99.7 mph on a first-inning sinker to Bryce Harper while still sitting comfortably in 97-98 mph range against the final batter he faced, Edmundo Sosa. Through three starts since his promotion in early August, the 27-year-old righty has a 2.20 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB over 16.1 innings as he stakes a claim to a 2026 rotation spot. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound on the road next weekend in a rematch with the Phillies.

Walker (4-6) took the loss Saturday as the Phillies fell 2-0 to the Nationals, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran righty fired 60 of 94 pitches for strikes en route to his third straight quality start, but Philadelphia's hitters couldn't solve Washington starter Cade Cavalli, giving Walker no margin for error. He appeared set to lose his rotation spot with Aaron Nola (ribs) poised to come off the IL on Sunday, but with Zack Wheeler now dealing with a blood clot in his shoulder, the Phillies will need Walker to remain in his current role. Over six outings since the All-Star break, Walker sports a 2.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB in 33.1 innings. He'll look for more run support in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend in a rematch with the Nats.

Imanaga didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw's only real mistake resulted in a Tommy Pham solo shot in the fourth inning, but that was enough to deny Imanaga his ninth win of the season as the Cubs didn't take the lead until the bottom of the eighth inning. He delivered his third straight quality start on 85 pitches (57 strikes), and since returning from a hamstring strain in late June, Imanaga has posted a 3.24 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and dazzling 51:5 K:BB over 58.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Brewers in a crucial NL Central battle.

Burrows came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.

The rookie right-hander left the mound after just 68 pitches (45 strikes), and the Pirates may be monitoring his workload given that he threw only 54.2 innings across all levels in 2024 and is already up to 102.2 innings between Triple-A and the majors this season. Burrows was showing signs of fatigue in his prior two outings, surrendering four homers and 10 runs in 9.2 frames, but he didn't give up an extra-base hit to the Cubs on Saturday. He'll look for his first win since June 4 in his next start, which currently lines up to come at home next weekend against the Rockies.

The Phillies placed Wheeler on the 15-day injured list Saturday after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder.

The issue may partially explain why Wheeler has uncharacteristically struggled of late; over his past six starts, he's posted a 4.54 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com, a timetable for the right-hander hurler's return is unclear, and how soon Wheeler is able to throw again likely depends on how the blood clots respond to treatment. The IL stint no doubt damages Wheeler's run at the NL Cy Young Award, as he had been a top contender after registering a 2.71 ERA and 0.94 WHIP along with an MLB-leading 195 strikeouts over 24 starts spanning 149.2 innings.

Senzatela (finger) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks in Colorado, Christian Saez of TheDNVR.com reports.

Senzatela landed on the injured list Aug. 2 due to a blister on his pitching hand, but he appears to be past that issue and will be activated after a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The right-hander has struggled this season, posting a 7.34 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 55:38 K:BB over 103 innings spanning 22 appearances (21 starts). He won't be a recommended streaming option in his return or likely at any point moving forward.