MLB Player News

Abbott came away with a no-decision Saturday in the Reds' 3-2 win over the Mets, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out five.

The rookie southpaw tossed an inefficient 91 pitches (54 strikes) before getting the hook after serving up a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fourth inning, missing out on his ninth win of the season in the process. Abbott has failed to complete more than four innings in four of his last five starts, stumbling to a 6.33 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB through 21.1 innings over that stretch, but the Reds don't have any better rotation options as they try to hang onto a wild-card spot in the NL. He lines up to take the mound next at home against the Pirates next weekend.

Toussaint (4-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 7-6 victory over the Twins, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight.

A leadoff double by Edouard Julien led to a 1-0 Minnesota lead in the top of the first inning, but Toussaint shook it off and dominated the rest of the way, generating a whopping 32 called or swinging strikes on only 74 pitches. The 27-year-old right-hander has given up three runs or less while lasting at least five innings in four of his last five starts, but a one-inning, eight-run collapse against the Royals in the fifth outing has kept his ratios inflated. Toussaint will carry a 5.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP into his next start, which is likely to come next weekend in Boston.

Lopez (10-8) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs on eight hits over five innings as the Twins fell 7-6 to the White Sox. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander nearly got chased early, serving up a two-run homer to Eloy Jimenez and a three-run shot to Gavin Sheets in the first inning, but Lopez survived the frame and settled down after that, although Minnesota was never able to erase the deficit. it's the second time in his last five starts he's been tagged for at least five runs including multiple home runs, but those outings account for five of the six long balls and 10 of the 14 earned runs he's allowed since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's posted a 2.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 61:10 K:BB through 55 innings. Lopez will look to get back on track in his next start, which is likely to come at home next weekend against the Angels.

Ragans came away with a no-decision Saturday, surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks over six-plus innings as the Royals downed the Astros 10-8. He struck out seven.

The southpaw blanked Houston for four innings before beginning to unravel, but after putting the first two batters aboard in the seventh, Ragans still left the mound in line for his seventh win before Collin Snider served up a game-tying homer to Jose Altuve. Ragans has been a revelation since being acquired from Texas in the Aroldis Chapman deal, delivering a 2.28 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 76:19 K:BB through 59.1 innings over his first 10 starts for Kansas City. He lines up for a rematch with the Astros back in Houston next weekend.

France escaped with a no-decision Saturday in the Astros' 10-8 loss to the Royals, coughing up five runs on five hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

Kansas City jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead in the wild affair, but France was able to avoid taking his sixth loss of the season when Houston tied things up at 6-6 in the top of the seventh. The right-hander has given up at least five runs in three of his last five starts, posting a brutal 8.87 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 16:15 K:BB through 23.1 innings over that stretch. With the Astros in a dogfight for the AL West title -- they're a half-game up on the Rangers and 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners after Saturday's action -- France could lose his rotation spot over the final weeks of the season, with Jose Urquidy the most likely replacement.

Mikolas (7-12) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing five runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Mikolas hung tough through four frames and trailed just 2-1 entering the fifth. However, Kyle Schwarber tagged him for a three-run blast in that inning to mar the veteran right-hander's final line. Mikolas rarely helps himself with punchouts -- he's notched exactly two in each of his past four starts -- so he largely has to rely on good control and keeping the ball in the park. The latter hasn't been a strong suit of his of late, as Mikolas has given up six homers over his past three starts -- one more than he had surrendered over his previous eight outings combined.

Suarez (3-6) earned the win over St. Louis on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and four walks while striking out five batters over six innings.

Suarez had shaky control in the outing, throwing just 63 of 106 pitches for strikes and tying a season high with four walks. However, he was able to mostly navigate around trouble, leaving the bases loaded in the third inning before retiring 10 of the final 12 batters he faced. This was Suarez's first win in three starts since returning from a hamstring injury Sept. 1, and he's posted a 3.31 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB over 16.1 innings during that stretch.

Williams allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one batter over two innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Saturday.

Williams was ambushed from the outset, allowing six of the first seven batters he faced in the contest to reach base, with the only out during that span coming by way of a sacrifice fly. That led to three runs, though it could have been much worse, as the Brewers finished the inning with the bases loaded. Williams was better in the second, facing the minimum three batters thanks to an inning-ending double play, but he didn't return to the mound for the third after tossing 70 pitches. It's been a rough go for the right-hander of late, as he's surrendered a whopping 18 runs (17 earned) over 10.1 frames across his past three starts.

Burnes allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Washington on Saturday.

Burnes sprained his ankle in his previous start Sunday against the Yankees but was able to take the mound six days later without restrictions. He allowed just one run and held a 5-1 lead through five frames but couldn't get out of the sixth, yielding five straight baserunners that resulted in three runs with two outs. Aside from his final frame, Burnes looked very strong, racking up 15 swinging strikes and nine punchouts. He's posted a respectable 3.69 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB across 63.1 frames over his past 10 starts but hasn't earned a win during that stretch.

Kershaw allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four over four scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Saturday.

Kershaw was coming off of having his turn skipped due to a left shoulder issue. He ended up working a short start, throwing 56 pitches (34 strikes) before turning the ball over to Emmet Sheehan, who followed up with three more scoreless innings. Kershaw has dealt with the shoulder troubles throughout the second half of the campaign, and with the Dodgers clinching the NL West on Saturday, he may be given additional time off before the playoffs. He's pitched to a 2.52 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 127:36 K:BB through 121.1 innings over 22 starts this season, matching the number of appearances he's made in each of the previous two campaigns. He's tentatively projected for a home outing against the Giants his next time out.