MLB Player News

Alcantara (5-10) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over nine innings against the Yankees while striking out 10.

Alcantara was dominant Saturday, not allowing a runner to reach second base until the top of the seventh after the right-hander was called for a balk, advancing Billy McKinney from first. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner then allowed one run to come across in the frame before continuing his dominance over the final two innings to log his third complete game of the season. Alcantara also racked up a season-high 10 strikeouts in the contest and has now allowed one run or fewer in three of his last four starts.

The Red Sox activated Whitlock (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Whitlock has been on the injured list since July 4 with a bone bruise in his right elbow. He holds a 5.23 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 51.2 innings but looked sharp during his rehab outing, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out three batters with Triple-A Worcester. Whitlock is expected to join the Sox's bullpen as a multi-inning reliever.

Lopez (8-6) picked up the win in Saturday's 8-1 victory over the Phillies, allowing four hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

The former Marlin has re-discovered his brilliant early-season form in August, winning all three of his starts so far this month and shutting out the opposition over 13 frames in the last two. Lopez has actually reeled off four straight quality starts including his final trip to the mound in July, posting an ace-like 1.04 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 28:2 K:BB through 26 innings over that stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, likely to come at home next weekend against the Pirates.

Bello (8-7) took the loss Saturday as the Red Sox fell 6-2 to the Tigers, giving up four runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander got taken deep by Kerry Carpenter in the second inning and Eric Haase in the fifth, continuing a recent trend that has seen Bello serve up 10 homers in seven starts since the beginning of July. Over that stretch, he's been saddled with a 5.19 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB through 40.1 innings. Bello could have a tough time keeping the ball in the park in his next outing as well, which is likely to come next weekend in Yankee Stadium.

Williams did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on five hits over five innings against the Rays. He struck out 10.

Williams allowed four baserunners over the first three frames but managed to avoid any damage until the bottom of the fourth when he hung a curveball in the middle of the zone, which Luke Raley sent over the wall in center field to tie the game at 1-1. Aside from that hiccup, the rookie right-hander continued to look like a future ace Saturday, racking up double-digit strikeouts for the second straight outing while not issuing a walk for the first time in 10 starts this season. Williams now holds a 1.59 ERA to go along with a 28:5 K:BB through three August starts.

Manning (4-4) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one unearned run on two hits and three walks over 5.1 innings in a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out only one.

The right-hander wasn't dominant, managing only seven swinging strikes among his 90 pitches, but Manning produced plenty of weak contact as he won his first game in over a month. He also kept the ball in the park, a big improvement after he'd served up six homers over his last three starts. Since the All-Star break, he carries a 5.46 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 29.2 innings, and he'll look to claw back that ERA further in his next outing, likely to come next weekend in Cleveland.

Steele did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings against the Blue Jays while striking out seven.

Steele didn't have his best stuff Saturday, allowing at least one hit in four of his five innings of work and serving up a two-run homer to Whit Merrifield. The lefty had won each of his last four decisions coming in and has now allowed three runs in three straight outings to open the month of August. On a positive note, Steele did not issue a walk Saturday for the second time in his last three starts, and he's put together a solid 20:4 K:BB over that stretch.

Bassitt did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.

Bassitt got off to a solid start, striking out four of the first seven batters he faced before surrendering a leadoff double to Nico Hoerner in the top of the fourth. The right-hander then proceeded to give up a walk, a single and a three-run homer in the next three at-bats, putting Toronto in a 4-1 hole. Bassitt has now allowed a home run and at least two walks in each of his last four starts, though he was able to make it through six frames in three of those outings. He's also recorded six or more strikeouts in four straight.

Hill (7-12) took the loss against Arizona on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings.

Hill allowed four extra-base hits among the seven knocks against him, including a Christian Walker two-run homer. The veteran hurler was pulled after racking up 83 pitches through 3.1 frames, going just one out longer than in his Padres debut, when he allowed six runs over three innings. The pair of outings are Hill's two shortest among his 23 starts this season, so it goes without saying that he's not providing the rotation boost San Diego was hoping for when it acquired him at the trade deadline. Michael Wacha (shoulder) is slated to return Tuesday, but the Padres may need to continue to roll out Hill every five days since Joe Musgrove (shoulder) isn't likely to rejoin the rotation until at least mid-September.

Gallen (12-5) earned the win over the Padres on Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over six scoreless innings.

Gallen limited the Padres to five baserunners and punched out eight batters en route to his third straight quality start. This was his best outing of the trio, as he finished without yielding any runs for the first time since May 30. Gallen has continued to thrive as a reliable ace in the midst of Arizona's midseason slide, as he's tossed at least six innings in 10 of his past 11 starts and has posted a 3.41 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 72:13 K:BB over 71.1 frames during that stretch. The right-hander ranks third in the National League with 165 strikeouts on the campaign.