MLB Player News

Littell (5-5) earned the win over Houston on Saturday, allowing three runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out six batters over nine innings.

Littell allowed two homers to Jeremy Pena in his first three innings, with the second tying the score at 3-3. The Rays poured on the offense from there, and manager Kevin Cash elected to give the bullpen a break and let Littell finish off the contest, which he did without allowing another run. The right-hander threw 117 pitches -- the most by any major-league pitcher in a game this season -- en route to his first career complete game. Since giving up seven runs in four innings against the Angels on April 10, Littell has yielded three runs or fewer in each of his subsequent nine outings, compiling seven quality starts, five wins and a 2.97 ERA in that span.

Barco (shoulder) was activated from the 7-day injured list by Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Barco was diagnosed with a mild muscle strain in his left shoulder last week but missed just 10 days of action. The 24-year-old left-hander has made eight starts at Triple-A this season and has turned in a microscopic 0.89 ERA and 11.9 K/9 across 30.1 innings of work. Barco is viewed as one of the organization's top pitching prospects.

Kremer (5-5) picked up the win Saturday in a 4-2 victory over the White Sox, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander delivered his third quality start of the season on 102 pitches (64 strikes). All three of those quality starts have come in May, as Kremer produced a 2.73 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB over 36.1 innings on the month after sitting with a 7.04 ERA at the end of April. He'll look to continue his turnaround in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the A's.

Martin (2-6) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over six innings as the White Sox fell 4-2 to the Orioles. He struck out three.

Four of the five hits off Martin went for extra bases, including homers by Jackson Holliday and Jorge Mateo. The right-hander saw his quality start streak end at three, but he's giving the White Sox consistent innings of late, and Saturday's outing was the first time he's served up multiple long balls since April 17. Martin will take a 3.67 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 41:17 K:BB through 68.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Tigers.

Hendricks did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Guardians, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six across 5.2 innings.

Hendricks kept the Guardians off the board through the first three innings, but he yielded at least one run in each of the next three frames, capped off by a Steven Kwan solo home run in the sixth. Hendricks has given up at least three earned runs in eight of his last nine starts, and his 5.34 ERA across 59 innings is fourth highest in the majors among qualified starters. He's slated to make his next start against the Mariners at home next weekend.

Cecconi did not factor into the decision in Saturday's game against the Angels. He allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three across 4.1 innings.

Cecconi kept things scoreless through the first two innings before giving up five runs over the next three frames, including three home runs to Yoan Moncada, Taylor Ward and Jo Adell. It's the most runs Cecconi has given up across three starts this season, but he was able to avoid the loss as the Guardians' bats came alive from the fifth frame onward. Cecconi has a 5.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB across 15.1 innings this season. He's slated to face the Astros at home next weekend.

Patrick (3-4) earned the win against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks with six strikeouts over six innings.

The Brewers' offense exploded and Patrick capitalized, generating 10 whiffs on 94 pitches en route to his first win since May 6. While the 26-year-old has completed six frames just four times, he has now yielded three earned runs or fewer in all 12 of his starts this season. He'll take an impressive 2.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 57:18 K:BB across 63.2 innings into a home matchup with the Padres next weekend.

Luzardo (5-1) took the loss against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing 12 runs on 12 hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

Luzardo was tagged for four runs in the first inning and was unable to escape the fourth, yielding eight more runs while recording just one out. He surrendered career highs in both hits and earned runs after allowing no more than three earned runs in any of his previous 11 starts this year. The disastrous outing inflated the southpaw's ERA from 2.15 to 3.58, and he now owns a 1.34 WHIP with an 81:22 K:BB across 70.1 innings. He'll try to get back on track in a favorable road matchup with the Pirates next weekend.

Skubal allowed two hits and no walks while striking out seven in seven scoreless innings against the Royals on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.

Skubal had all the momentum behind him heading into Saturday's game after firing a complete-game shutout against the Guardians last Sunday. He was locked into a fierce duel with Michael Wacha, with both pitchers tossing seven scoreless innings. Skubal needed just 90 pitches (63 strikes) and generated 14 whiffs while limiting the Royals to two baserunners. He has recorded at least seven strikeouts in each of his last seven outings, and his 99 punchouts (across 75.2 innings) is second most in the majors behind MacKenzie Gore (101). Skubal is lined up to face the White Sox on the road next week.

Lucas (3-2) picked up the win in Saturday's 8-7 victory over the A's, allowing four hits and a walk over 4.2 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three.

The southpaw entered the game with one out in the second inning after opener Braydon Fisher coughed up five runs, and Lucas looked like he would have no more success than the right-hander did, quickly loading the bases on three straight singles. Lucas buckled down and escaped the jam, however, and cruised through the next four frames while the Toronto offense took control. This was expected to be just a spot outing in the rotation for the 28-year-old, who tossed 70 pitches (46 strikes), so he could be optioned right back to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for a fresh bullpen arm. If Lucas does stick around, however, Saturday's performance could give him a case to push Eric Lauer for the fifth starter role.