MLB Player News

Birdsong (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The runs came on back-to-back solo shots by Austin Riley and Sean Murphy in the second inning, but Birdsong otherwise shut the door over 87 pitches (57 strikes). The rookie right-hander hasn't exactly been dominant to begin his big-league tenure, serving up three homers and issuing five free passes in 9.2 innings, but he's giving an injury-depleted Giants rotation some length. Birdsong lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Singer (4-5) was saddled with the loss Tuesday versus Tampa Bay, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out four batters in five innings.

Singer was able to keep the Rays' bats relatively quiet Tuesday, as the only run scored against him came as a result of a wild pitch in the second inning. However, a lack of run support from his offense combined with a collapse of Kansas City's bullpen following a lengthy rain delay will cause the 27-year-old righty to take his third loss in five starts. Singer remains without a win since May 19, but he'll have a good opportunity to get back in the win column over the weekend when he faces Colorado.

Littell (3-5) earned the win Tuesday against the Royals, throwing five shutout innings while giving up four hits and striking out four batters.

Littell was remarkably efficient Tuesday, needing only 68 pitches to get through five innings. Had it not been for a two-plus-hour rain delay, the 28-year-old righty almost certainly would have made it deeper into the game. Nonetheless, Tampa Bay's offense provided just enough run support before his removal for him to record his first win since May 11. Littell will now carry a 3.94 ERA and 1.32 WHIP into his next start against the Rangers over the weekend.

Mercado (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Mercado's 1.71 Triple-A ERA translated well into the big leagues Tuesday, as he was able to silence the Cubs' offense during his first career MLB start. The only blemish on the 25-year-old's record came via a third-inning RBI double courtesy of Cody Bellinger, but the right-hander responded by throwing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before being pulled. With Spencer Turnbull (lat) set to miss 6-to-8 weeks and Taijuan Walker (finger) out through the All-Star break, Mercado will almost certainly be granted another start -- tentatively scheduled to come Sunday in Atlanta.

Arrighetti (4-7) took the loss Tuesday, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks across four innings against Toronto. He struck out five.

Five of the six hits Arrighetti allowed went for extra bases, including a three-run home run by George Springer and a solo homer by Spencer Horwitz, both of which came in the third inning. Tuesday's outing came on the back of the rookie's best start of 2024 when he blanked the Rockies across seven innings. Arrighetti has surrendered six or more runs three times this season and has walked multiple batters in all but one of his appearances, owning a 6.13 ERA overall. He's on track to close out a two-start week Sunday in Minnesota.

Berrios (8-6) picked up the win Tuesday against Houston, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout across five innings. He also hit a batter.

Berrios kept the Astros off the scoreboard until the fifth inning, where he unwound and allowed three singles, a hit-by-pitch and a three-run home run. Still, Berrios was able to snare a second straight win as the Blue Jays had compiled seven runs prior to the fifth. The 30-year-old has been shaky as of late, owning a 5.97 ERA with 17 strikeouts and eight home runs allowed over his last five starts. He's scheduled to face the Mariners on Sunday.

Gil (9-4) took the loss Tuesday against Cincinnati, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks across four-plus innings. He struck out three.

Gil surrendered at least four runs for a third straight start, something he'd done just once in his first 13 outings, continuing an unexpected freefall after an outstanding start to 2024. He was pulled after hitting a pair of batters and allowing a two-run home run to Will Benson in the fifth inning without recording an out. While Gil still owns a 3.41 ERA and a 102:48 K:BB across 89.2 innings, fantasy managers should proceed with caution, especially with a matchup against the Red Sox on the docket for Sunday.

Ashcraft (5-4) picked up the win Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks across five-plus innings. He struck out three.

Ashcraft spent three weeks at Triple-A Louisville before allowing six runs in a start against the Pirates on June 26. He rebounded after struggling in his first start back in the bigs, blanking the Yankees over five innings before allowing a pair of singles and a walk and getting pulled without recording an out in the sixth. Ashcraft is expected to stick around for one more cycle in the Cincinnati rotation, with a start scheduled for Sunday against Detroit before Nick Lodolo (finger) returns from the injured list.

Herz didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Mets, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

After dazzling with 13 strikeouts over six scoreless innings June 15, Herz yielded eight runs (seven earned) with six strikeouts and four home runs across his next two starts. However, he stopped the skid Tuesday and allowed just one run, which came on a solo homer by Francisco Lindor in the fifth. Though the 23-year-old owns a 4.67 ERA, he's flashed tantalizing fantasy upside as a rookie and is on track to face the Cardinals, who've scored the fourth-fewest runs per game this season, in his next start.

Manaea didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Washington, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks across seven innings. He struck out five.

Although Manaea wasn't rewarded with the win, Tuesday's start marked his first time going deeper than six innings this season and was his third straight outing without surrendering a home run. The southpaw owns a 3.67 ERA across 83.1 innings, which would be his best since 2019, and has allowed only five earned runs in his last 22.2 innings pitched. Manaea is on track to start against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sunday.