MLB Player News

Quintana (3-6) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs (five earned) on eight hits as the Mets fell 7-5 to the Phillies. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.

The veteran southpaw generated 33 called or swinging strikes among his 103 pitches as he struck out double-digit batters for the first time since August 2019, but Quintana got hit hard when the Phillies did make contact and also served up multiple homers for the first time this season. In 12 starts since making his belated season debut after the All-Star break, Quintana has a 3.39 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 55:24 K:BB through 71.2 innings, numbers right in line with his 2022 resurgence. He'll take the mound one more time in 2023, at home next weekend in a rematch with the Phillies.

Gilbert (13-7) took the loss against Texas on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.

Gilbert wasn't exactly impressive in the outing, notching twice as many walks (four) as punchouts (two), though one of the free passes was intentional. Still, the right-hander fell one out shy of a quality start and kept Seattle in the contest despite a listless performance by the team's offense. Gilbert was tagged with his second straight loss after going 8-0 over 13 games between July 4 and Sept. 11. He lines up for one more regular-season start, tentatively slated as a rematch with Texas late next week, this time in Seattle.

Montgomery (10-11) earned the win over Seattle on Saturday, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over seven scoreless innings.

Montgomery silenced Seattle's bats throughout the contest, as the Mariners didn't manage to collect multiple hits against him in any inning. The southpaw continued a dominant three-start stretch during which he has allowed just one run while posting a 17:3 K:BB over 21 frames, turning things around impressively after yielding 11 earned runs over 9.1 innings during his first two outings in September. Montgomery will likely make one more regular-season start, which tentatively lines up to take place in Seattle on Thursday.

Phillips allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Phillips was staked to a 9-0 lead through three innings, and he looked to be in line for a relatively easy win when he left the game with an eight-run lead after giving up consecutive singles to begin the sixth. However, the Reds' bullpen allowed both of those baserunners to score and surrendered three additional runs in the frame, and the Pirates attacked for seven more runs over the seventh and eighth innings to storm back for the win. Despite that outcome, Phillips made a positive overall impression in the outing, racking up 13 whiffs and a career-high nine punchouts. He's posted a solid 26:10 K:BB over 20.2 innings on the campaign and lines up for one more regular-season start, which is tentatively slated to come in St. Louis next weekend.

Falter allowed eight runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out one batter over two innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Saturday.

Falter logged just one inning as an opener in his previous outing, but it's unclear if he was slated to return to more of a traditional starting role Saturday. The lefty hurler didn't earn a chance to go very deep as he was pummeled for eight runs in just two frames. The Reds knocked three homers against Falter, including two in the first inning. Perhaps the only positive part of the pitcher's outing was that Pittsburgh was able to overcome a 9-0 deficit to pick up a victory and protect him from taking the loss. Despite the short outing, Falter tossed 57 pitches, so he presumably will have just one more chance to take the mound before the end of the campaign.

Quantrill (3-7) took the loss against Baltimore on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out four batters over four innings.

That Quantrill was able to escape the outing with just one run charged to his ledger is pretty impressive given that he allowed nine baserunners over four frames. Baltimore left eight runners on base while Quantrill was in the contest, including five over his final two innings. The right-hander was lifted after 93 pitches, snapping a streak of four straight outings during which he went at least 5.2 frames. Quantrill figures to have one more regular-season start left, which tentatively lines up to come next weekend in Detroit.

Wentz (3-12) took the loss Saturday in Oakland, allowing two runs on three hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five without issuing any walks.

The 25-year-old was deployed in a bulk-relief role, entering in the second frame after Miguel Diaz fired 1.1 scoreless innings operating as the team's opener. In Wentz's longest outing since June 17, he allowed just three hits, but one happened to be a two-run homer that gave Oakland the lead and saddled the southpaw with his 12th loss of the campaign. Control has been an issue all season, as he had a 4.1 BB/9 across 97.2 innings prior to Saturday, when Wentz avoided handing out any free passes for just the second time all season. It remains to be seen what role he fulfills in the final week of the campaign.

Means (1-1) earned the win over Cleveland on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four batters over 7.1 innings.

Means was outstanding Saturday, holding the Guardians hitless until Andres Gimenez tagged him for a solo homer with two outs in the seventh. The left-handed hurler otherwise put just two runners on base (on a walk and a hit-by-pitch), needing just 96 pitches to cover 7.1 frames. This was Means' third start after spending the majority of the season on the injured list. He's been good since his return, posting a 2.60 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB over 17.1 innings. Means appears to already be built up enough to have no restrictions as a rotation option for the postseason.

Boyle (1-0) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings in a 4-1 victory over the Tigers. He struck out five.

Boyle was once again impressive in his second major-league start, scattering five hits and allowing just one unearned run en route to the first quality start and win of his young career. The 24-year-old righty has yet to surrender an earned run across his first two outings, yielding just six hits and three walks while striking out nine across nine innings. Boyle currently lines up to face the Angels on the road in the final series of the regular season next week.

Stripling allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Dodgers. He did not factor in the decision.

The Giants were already down 3-0 by the time Stripling entered the game. He didn't do anything to keep it close, allowing a pair of runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. This was Stripling's second appearance since he returned from a back injury, and he's yielded seven runs over 7.1 innings in those games. He's at a 5.57 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 68:16 K:BB through 85.2 innings over 21 outings (11 starts) this season.