MLB Player News

Walker (3-5) took the loss Friday as the Phillies fell 7-4 to the Royals, coughing up six runs on eight hits and a walk over three innings. He struck out two.

Two-run homers by Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe in the third inning accounted for most of the damage off Walker, who failed to complete five innings for the third straight start since coming off the IL. The veteran righty has served up five long balls in 11.2 innings during his swoon, and on the season he's been taken deep 17 times in only 64.2 frames, leading to a bloated 6.26 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. The Phillies' lead in the NL East has slipped to five games over Atlanta, but for now Walker will be given a chance to work through his issues. He lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Astros.

Bibee (10-6) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk over 5.2 innings Friday, striking out six and taking a loss against Texas.

All the damage against Bibee came during a disastrous four-run second inning. Outside of that frame, he let just one Ranger reach scoring position. He's failed to complete six innings in three straight starts and five of his last six outings. However, he's 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA over that stretch. Bibee now owns a 3.46 ERA with a 150:33 K:BB through 138 innings. His next outing is projected to be at home against the Royals.

Eovaldi (9-7) yielded three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over the Guardians.

Eovaldi coughed up a run in each of the second, third and fourth innings but came out on top due to the Rangers' four-run second frame. He snapped his three-start losing streak and picked up his first win since July 29. Through 16 starts, he owned an impressive 2.97 ERA over 94 innings. In seven outings since, he's produced a 5.77 ERA despite a strong 36:4 K:BB over 39 frames. Eovaldi will carry a 3.79 ERA into his next matchup, which is projected to be on the road against the White Sox.

Birdsong allowed one hit and four walks while striking out five over four scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.

Birdsong was again decent at limiting runs, but he's issued seven walks over his last 8.2 innings. He threw just 39 of his 80 pitches for strikes in Friday's start, which contributed to him missing the five-inning mark for the fourth outing in a row. The rookie right-hander is now at a 4.57 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 54:26 K:BB through 45.1 innings over 10 big-league starts. Birdsong will have trouble against tougher opponents if he can't get his walk rate in check, though he's had only one truly awful outing so far. He'll have a tough task ahead with his next projected start coming in Milwaukee.

Castillo allowed five runs on six hits and struck out nine without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Friday.

Castillo was in line for the loss until the Mariners rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning. He gave up a season-high three homers Friday, and the five runs against also matched his season high. He had allowed multiple homers just four times over his first 25 starts this year, but has now done so in back-to-back outings. Castillo is at a 3.66 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 163:43 K:BB through 159.2 innings over 27 outings this year. He's projected for a home start versus the Rays next week.

Miller allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out nine without walking a batter over six innings Friday, coming away with a no-decision versus the Rays.

Miller wasn't great last Saturday in St. Louis in his return to the majors, but he was a little better in this one. His nine strikeouts were his most since he fanned 11 in his season debut March 29, and Friday's quality start was his second in nine outings for the Dodgers. Miller is now at a 7.49 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 37:19 K:BB through 39.2 innings. The right-hander is tentatively projected for a home start versus the Orioles next week and will likely stay in the rotation until one of Yoshinobu Yamamoto (triceps) or Tyler Glasnow (elbow) is ready to return. Yamamoto, who is on the 60-day injured list, is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week, while Glasnow has yet to resume throwing after landing on the IL on Aug. 16, so Miller certainly has a chance to get a longer look in the majors.

Musgrove (4-4) allowed one hit and struck out nine over seven scoreless innings to earn the win over the Mets on Friday.

Musgrove needed just 75 pitches (58 strikes) to get through seven frames in his best start of the campaign. That was his highest pitch count in three starts since returning from a bone bruise and bone spur in his right elbow. The 31-year-old trimmed his ERA from 4.97 to 4.43 in the process, and he's added a 1.26 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB over 65 innings across 13 starts this season. Musgrove's workload may remain limited in his next projected start, which is expected to come in St. Louis.

Meyer allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters over six innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Friday.

Meyer looked good, registering his first quality start since April 13. The 25-year-old had struggled since being called up July 27, pitching to an 8.10 ERA and allowing four or more runs in his last four games prior to Friday. Meyer will not be facing an innings restriction the rest of the way and should be given plenty of opportunity to find his footing.

Hendricks didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Marlins, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks across 4.2 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

Hendricks has a rough start to the season but has looked somewhat better of late, allowing three runs or fewer in seven of eight starts since the beginning of July with a 4.54 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB in 39.2 innings. With Jordan Wicks (oblique) closing in on his return from the IL though, the 34-year-old Hendricks could get bumped from the rotation for a Cubs team that remains on the fringes of the wild-card race in the NL and could begin focusing on the future down the stretch.

Freeland (3-6) took the loss against the Yankees on Friday, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Freeland pitched well but was burned by two homers while the Rockies couldn't muster any offense against Carlos Rodon. The southpaw threw a season-high 106 pitches and worked into the seventh inning for the fifth time in his past 10 starts. On the season, he owns a 5.70 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 62:23 K:BB across 79 innings and lines up to face the Marlins at home next week.