MLB Player News

Fried (7-5) took the loss against Arizona on Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

Fried held the Diamondbacks scoreless over the first four innings before surrendering a leadoff shot to Eugenio Suarez to open the fifth. That would end up being the only run scored all night, leading to the lefty's second straight loss. Fried has logged quality starts in three of his last four outings, though he has just one win to show for it. He's also issued three walks in three of his last five starts.

Pfaadt (4-6) picked up the win over Atlanta on Thursday, allowing three hits over six shutout innings while striking out four.

Pfaadt retired the first nine batters he faced and never allowed a runner to reach second base. It was the first scoreless outing of the season for the right-hander, who induced 11 whiffs in the contest, and he's now logged quality starts in four of his last six trips to the mound. He's also gone at least six innings in 12 of his last 14 starts and hasn't walked a batter in either of his last two to open the month of July.

Munoz (1-4) was charged with the loss against the Astros on Thursday, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks over 6.2 innings while striking out two.

The Astros were able to get to Munoz early, tagging him for runs in four of his first five innings of work, although some shaky defense buffered the right-hander's ERA. The 24-year-old then went on to retire six consecutive batters to close out his night, before being relieved by Andrew Nardi with two outs in the seventh. Munoz has now surrendered multiple runs and two or more walks in five consecutive outings, including a relief appearance his last time out, and he hasn't picked up a win since May 1 against the Rockies.

Steele (2-3) earned the win over Baltimore on Thursday, pitching seven scoreless innings during which he gave up three hits and issued no walks while striking out four batters.

Steele shut down a potent Orioles lineup, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and allowing just three baserunners (all on doubles) overall. The left-hander couldn't get into the win column over his first 12 starts but has now notched consecutive victories, allowing just one run over 16 innings while posting an 11:2 K:BB during that stretch. Steele's excellence extends further than that -- he's posted seven straight quality starts, registering a 1.65 ERA and 45:7 K:BB across 49 frames over that span.

Mercado could make a spot start Sunday against the Athletics, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Mercado was moved to the bullpen after being roughed up by Atlanta in his latest start, though the Phillies have since scratched Zack Wheeler (back) from Sunday's upcoming scheduled start. That could set Mercado up for a spot start heading into the All-Star break. It's also possible that Philadelphia opts for a bullpen game instead.

Gore (6-8) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks over 4.2 innings against the Mets. He struck out four.

Gore was embattled in a scoreless pitchers' duel with Mets starter David Peterson through four but fell apart in the fifth, loading the bases to set up a Brandon Nimmo's bases-clearing double that ended Gore's day. Nimmo later scored, saddling Gore with a fourth earned run on his line. Following a start to the season that saw Gore allow three or fewer earned runs in 14 of his first 15 starts, the lefty has now allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings. While his WHIP has risen just 0.05 points from 1.38 to 1.43 over that four-start stretch, his ERA has risen from 3.26 to 4.01.

Peterson (4-0) earned the win Thursday, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and three walks against the Nationals. He struck out five.

Peterson, who has now given up two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his eight starts, kept the Nationals off the board to mark his first scoreless outing of the season. Peterson lowered his ERA from 3.58 to 3.09 with the outing, though a less impressive 1.42 WHIP belies that ERA and portends more trouble in the future. Peterson will now receive extended time off as his next start is not scheduled to take place until following the All-Star break.

Nola (11-4) picked up the win Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks across six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out nine.

Nola had no issues with the top end of the Dodgers' lineup, holding Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman hitless with five strikeouts. The lone run against Nola came off the bat of Gavin Lux, who went yard to lead off the fifth inning. Nola has generated at least eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances and has posted a quality start in 10 of his last 11 outings. The 31-year-old owns the second most wins in baseball to go along with a 3.38 ERA across 119.2 innings. However, his 8.7 K/9 would be his worst tally since his rookie year in 2015.

Knack didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Philadelphia, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

The 26-year-old had started in each of his first seven appearances this season but followed an opener in Anthony Banda on Thursday. Knack took over in the second inning with the Dodgers trailing 1-0 and surrendered a solo home run to the first batter he faced in Brandon Marsh. Though Knack retired 10 straight batters following the second frame, he surrendered a pair of singles and a triple to consecutive batters with one out in the sixth and was subsequently removed. In eight appearances, Knack owns a 3.23 ERA and a 36:10 K:BB across 39.0 innings.

Hicks (4-6) took the loss Thursday against Toronto, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk over 4.1 innings He struck out one.

Hicks surrendered solo home runs to Danny Jansen and Spencer Horwitz in the loss. Hicks has now allowed multiple long balls in three of his last eight starts after not doing so in his first 11 outings of 2024. The 27-year-old hasn't earned a win since May 19 and owns a 5.57 ERA in 42.0 innings during that nine-start stretch. The reliever-turned-starter has completed only six innings three times this season and hasn't gone deeper than five innings since late May.