Cease (8-11) allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Saturday.

Cease had to work for the quality start, throwing 109 pitches (70 strikes) in this outing. He's gotten himself back on track with a pair of wins over the Rockies in his last two starts, allowing just two runs over 11 innings in those games. For the season, he's at a 4.59 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 201:66 K:BB across 157 innings over 30 starts. He's topped the 200-strikeout mark in five consecutive seasons, though he is likely to fall short of the 224 he had last year.

Nelson did not factor into the decision in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Twins. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out four across six scoreless innings.

Nelson got off to a slow start by allowing four hits to the first six batters he faced, but he got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and kept the Twins off the board. He generated 11 whiffs on 90 pitches (56 strikes) and was in line for his eighth win of the season, but he had to settle for the no-decision after the Twins tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth. Nelson has logged a quality start in each of his last five outings (though he has just one win to show for it), and the 27-year-old right-hander has 2.92 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 64.2 innings in 11 starts since the All-Star break. His next start is tentatively slated for next weekend at home against the Phillies.

Elder (7-10) took the loss against the Astros on Saturday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out seven across 4.1 innings.

Elder generated 17 whiffs on 89 pitches (58 strikes), but he gave up three runs in both the second and third innings, with the Astros' scoring barrage capped off by a two-run homer by Christian Walker in the third. Saturday ended Elder's streak of quality starts at four, and the 10 hits he yielded match a season high. He now sits at a 5.56 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 142.1 innings this season. Elder will look to bounce back in his next start, which is lined up for next weekend on the road against the Tigers.

Walker (5-8) picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings in an 8-6 victory over the Royals. He struck out three.

The right-hander's nemesis on the day was Salvador Perez, who took him deep twice in the first three innings, but Walker got enough run support to overcome another mediocre performance and record his first win since Aug. 5. He's coughed up at least four runs in four straight trips to the mound, stumbling to a 7.65 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB over 20 innings during that swoon, but with Zack Wheeler (shoulder) set to undergo season-ending surgery, Walker may have some job security in the Phillies' rotation. He lines up to make his next start on the road next weekend in Arizona.

Rea allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Rea held the Rays scoreless through four frames before giving up a run in the fifth. The right-hander then allowed the first two batters he faced in the sixth to reach base, and both ended up scoring. Rea did induce a healthy 13 whiffs and notched five punchouts, but the disappointing finish to his start kept him from completing six frames for the sixth straight outing. He's slated to take on Cincinnati in his next appearance.

Junk didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.

Making his second start since being activated from a brief IL stint, the right-hander produced his sixth quality start of the season on 88 pitches (58 strikes). Junk did serve up another homer, his seventh in seven trips to the mound since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 6.39 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 38 innings. He'll look for his first win since Aug. 6 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next weekend against the Rangers.

Sproat didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers, allowing six hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

Making his second trip to the mound in the big leagues, Sproat rose to the occasion in the heat of a playoff race as he needed only 70 pitches (53 strikes) to deliver his second straight quality start. The right-hander left the mound in line for his first career win, but Edwin Diaz blew the save in the ninth. Sproat will take a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB through his first 12 MLB innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Nationals.

The Padres optioned Sears to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

The Padres turned to Sears to make a spot start Friday against Colorado, during which he surrendered four earned runs on five hits and a walk while fanning eight batters in 4.1 innings. Now that they no longer need a sixth rotation arm, the Friars will send the 26-year-old back to the minors and bring up reliever Bradgley Rodriguez to round out the pitching staff.

The Rockies placed Dollander on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a patella tendon strain in his left knee.

Dollander will be eligible to return from the injured list to start one of the Rockies' final games of the season, but the more likely outcome is that Colorado keeps him on the shelf for the rest of the year. If that ends up being the case, he would finish his rookie campaign with a 6.52 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 82:49 K:BB through 98 innings across 21 starts. Bradley Blalock was recalled from Triple-A to round out Colorado's rotation.

The Rockies recalled Blalock from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

The 24-year-old righty will fill the open spot in Colorado's rotation created by Chase Dollander's (knee) move to the IL. Blalock has accumulated an 8.62 ERA and 1.79 WHIP through 47 MLB innings this season and will face a Padres offense that put up 12 runs against him on May 10, so fantasy managers searching for streaming options are likely better off looking elsewhere.