MLB Player News
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Tyler Anderson SP | LAA
Angels' Tyler Anderson: Hurls five scoreless frames Friday
Anderson allowed five hits and issued three walks while striking out one batter over five innings in a no-decision against Houston on Friday.
Anderson made his first start in seven days, as he got some extra time off during the week while on paternity leave. The additional rest appears to have served him well -- the veteran lefty kept the Astros off the scoreboard during his five frames after pitching to a poor 6.13 ERA across his previous eight outings. Anderson should be good to make his next start on his regular schedule, so he's slated to face the Royals on the road next week.
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Ranger Suarez SP | PHI
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Dodges damage in no-decision
Suarez didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 win over Atlanta, allowing one run on 10 hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out two.
The lefty didn't have his best stuff and dealt with runners in scoring position during every inning he worked, but Suarez was able to limit the damage and leave the mound after 92 pitches (58 strikes) with the score tied 1-1. It was an abrupt fall back to earth after he'd struck out 23 batters in 13.2 innings while winning his prior two outings, but he appears to be back on track after stumbling to a 6.59 ERA over his first five trips to the mound coming out of the All-Star break. Suarez faces a tough challenge in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Milwaukee.
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Bryce Elder SP | ATL
Braves' Bryce Elder: Stifles Philly in no-decision
Elder came away with a no-decision Friday as Atlanta fell 2-1 to the Phillies, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander held a very dangerous offense in check over 96 pitches (58 strikes), with only a leadoff walk to Kyle Schwarber in the fourth inning coming back to bite him. The quality start was Elder's fourth in six August starts, but he wraps up the month with a 4.82 ERA and 26:12 K:BB in 37.1 innings despite a 1.15 WHIP. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound at home next weekend against the Mariners.
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Mitchell Parker P | WAS
Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Remains winless in August
Parker (7-15) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on six hits over 6.1 innings as the Nationals fell 4-1 to the Rays. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
The seven strikeouts marked his highest single-game total since June 18 and the quality start was his first since July 19, but a lack of support from the Washington offense gave Parker little margin for error and stuck him with his fifth straight losing decision in August. Over six starts on the month, the southpaw has a ghastly 10.21 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB in 27.1 innings while serving up nine homers, including two Friday. Parker will try to build on this performance in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Marlins.
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Adrian Houser SP | TB
Rays' Adrian Houser: Quick hook in no-decision
Houser came away with a no-decision in Friday's 4-1 win over the Nationals, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander tossed an inefficient 86 pitches (51 strikes) before getting lifted with Tampa Bay up 3-1, missing out on his eighth win of the season. Houser's performance so far in a Rays uniform hasn't matched what he accomplished earlier in the year with the White Sox, and through five starts for his new squad he's managed a 4.85 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB through 26 innings. He'll try to get on track in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mariners.
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Zack Littell SP | CIN
Reds' Zack Littell: Delivers quality start Friday
Littell didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Cardinals, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits over seven innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.
Some shaky defense, including a catcher's interference call on Jose Trevino in the third inning, helped Littell salvage a quality start -- his third in five outings for Cincinnati. The right-hander sports a 3.90 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB through 27.2 innings with his new club, and he'll look for his first win since Aug. 5 in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Blue Jays.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Activated for start
Atlanta reinstated Sale (ribs) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Phillies.
Sale made three rehab starts after landing on the injured list in late June with a fractured ribcage, posting a 2.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP alongside an 11:3 K:BB through 10.2 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett. Now fully healthy, he'll be welcomed back to MLB action by the Phillies, against whom he tossed six shutout innings when he last faced them in late May. The veteran lefty reached just 77 pitches in his final rehab outing, however, so there's a chance Atlanta will limit his workload during his first start back from the IL. Nathan Wiles was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Matthew Liberatore SP | STL
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Stung by long ball again Friday
Liberatore came away with a no-decision in Friday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Reds, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out four.
The southpaw served up two home runs, including a solo shot by Spencer Steer in the top of the sixth inning that helped chase Liberatore from the game. He's been taken deep at least once in five straight starts, and since the beginning of July he's stumbled to a 2.1 HR/9, helping to fuel a 5.77 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 26:17 K:BB in 39 innings over that stretch. Liberatore will try to keep the ball in the yard in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the A's.
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German Marquez SP | COL
Rockies' German Marquez: Hit hard by Cubs in return
Marquez (3-12) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He failed to record a strikeout.
Marquez was far from sharp in his first major-league start since July 20, surrendering at least five runs for the eighth time this season. It was the veteran right-hander's first outing this year with zero strikeouts, and he's now walked at least three in four of his past five appearances dating back to June 29. Marquez has a miserable 5.87 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 73:38 K:BB across 102.2 innings, so he won't be a recommended streaming option at hitter-friendly Coors Field against the division-rival Giants next week.
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Cade Horton P | CHC
Cubs' Cade Horton: Stellar second half continues
Horton (9-4) picked up the win Friday against the Rockies, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four.
Horton pitched at least five innings for the seventh time in his last eight starts, though the six hits allowed were his most since July 9 in Minnesota. The rookie right-hander has been dealing since the All-Star break, producing a shiny 0.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 38:13 K:BB across his last 50 frames. Horton will be trying to keep the good times rolling at home against Atlanta in his next scheduled appearance.