MLB Player News

Wheeler did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to Arizona, yielding two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight.

Out of the seven hits the veteran right-hander allowed, only one went for extra bases -- a 393-foot solo homer by Joc Pederson in the third inning. With this 100-pitch outing, Wheeler collected his 17th quality start of the season and posted his sixth consecutive start with six or more punchouts. Over those six appearances, he has pitched to a 2.92 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 44:12 K:BB across 37 innings, despite coughing up seven runs July 29 against the Yankees. The 34-year-old lines up to make his next start against the Nationals at home next week.

Nelson did not factor into the decision in Friday's win over Philadelphia, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over 7.1 innings. He struck out nine.

The 26-year-old righty generated 14 whiffs en route to his nine punchouts, as he gathered his career-high eighth quality start of the season with this performance. Nelson impressively held a formidable Phillies lineup in check, with the only significant damage coming via a Bryce Harper 373-foot solo shot in the seventh inning. After pitching to a 4.98 ERA across 86.2 innings before the All-Star break, Nelson has been on a roll since, firing a 3.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 36:9 K:BB over 31 innings. Nelson is currently slated to make his next start against the Rays on the road.

Gordon did not factor into the decision in Friday's win over Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out seven.

It looked like the rookie right-hander was in for a long night after allowing a titanic 448-foot solo homer to Marcell Ozuna in the first inning. However, Gordon settled in nicely after that and collected a career-high seven punchouts in an 89-pitch performance. Overall, the 26-year-old has pitched to a 6.15 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 23:3 K:BB across 26.1 innings this season. He lines up to make his next start against the Diamondbacks on the road next week.

Cobb (0-1) took the loss in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Twins, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out one.

Making his first start since last September, Cobb was shaky out of the gate, allowing a run in each of the first two innings before giving up a three-run homer to Matt Wallner in the fifth. The 36-year-old Cobb was solid with San Francisco last year, going. 7-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 28 starts. He's currently slated to make his next start at home versus the Cubs next week.

Civale (3-8) earned the win Friday against the Reds, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out five.

The 29-year-old righty picked up his fifth quality start of the season with this 93-pitch effort. He had been cruising up until the seventh inning, when the Reds laced three consecutive hits, starting with a leadoff Spencer Steer homer. Cincinnati ran into an out at the plate on the third hit, a double, and then manager Pat Murphy lifted Civale. After arriving in a trade from Tampa Bay on July 3, he has pitched to a 4.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 29:12 K:BB over 31.1 innings. Civale currently lines up to face the Dodgers at home for his next start.

Varland didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader. He allowed three runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while striking out four.

Varland was cruising early, allowing just three hits while blanking Cleveland through his first four innings. However, things quickly unraveled in the fifth, as the right-hander allowed five hits including a three-run homer to Josh Naylor. The 26-year-old has struggled to a 6.46 ERA in 30.2 innings in the majors this year with a 1.66 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB. However, he fared better in Triple-A, posting a 1.48 ERA in his last six outings with St. Paul. Varland could get an extended look in Minnesota's rotation down the stretch with Joe Ryan (shoulder) sidelined indefinitely. He's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Rangers in his next outing.

Spiers (4-4) took the loss Friday, allowing eight runs on seven hits and four walks over five innings against Milwaukee. He struck out seven.

The Cincinnati right-hander's outing began on a sour note, as he allowed a three-run homer to Willy Adames in the first inning. In total, the Brewers knocked four extra-base hits off Spiers, who has failed to reach the sixth inning in five consecutive starts. Over than span, he's gone 2-3 with a 6.39 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB across 25.1 innings. Spiers will look to bounce back in his next start, currently scheduled to come against the Cardinals at home next week.

Houck did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Astros, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with one strikeout over six innings.

Houck allowed a run in the first inning but rebounded for five scoreless frames before departing with a 3-1 lead that the bullpen couldn't preserve. He generated only two swinging strikes on 82 pitches but also limited the Astros to four hard-hit balls. The 28-year-old's command remains worth monitoring, as he has posted a 19:19 K:BB in six starts between July and August. On the year, he owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 124:38 K:BB across 140 innings and lines up to face the Orioles next week.

Blanco did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

Blanco surrendered a two-run double in the second inning and allowed another run to score on an errant pickoff attempt in the fourth. He was pulled at 88 pitches in his shortest appearance since being ejected after three innings May 14. The 30-year-old is winless in four outings since the All-Star break, yielding 12 earned runs across 19 innings while failing to log a quality start. On the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 126:51 K:BB across 128 innings and will try to get back on track in a matchup with the Rays next week.

Soriano didn't factor into the decision Friday against Washington, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven.

After allowing a run on a pair of hits and a walk in the first inning, Soriano proceeded to blank the Nationals over his final five frames, allowing just two additional hits. The 25-year-old has held opponents to one run or fewer in four of his last five outings. His ERA is down to 3.36 on the season with a 1.19 WHIP and 92:42 K:BB across 109.2 innings. Soriano's currently in line for a home matchup with Atlanta in his next outing.