MLB Player News

Elder (8-3) took the loss Saturday, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out three.

Elder struggled with his command from the jump, issuing walks to Mike Tauchman and Nico Hoerner to lead off the game before then surrendering home runs off the bats of Dansby Swanson and Jeimer Candelario. The right-hander would be charged with only three of the five runs that scored in the frame due to a fielding error by Matt Olson, though he allowed another run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Elder has now allowed five or more runs in three of his last five starts, registering a 12:10 K:BB over that stretch.

Berrios (9-7) picked up the win Saturday, giving up three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings in a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out six without walking a batter.

While he fell one out short of his 13th quality start of the season, Berrios did collect his first win since June 24. The right-hander pitched well between the victories, posting a 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 36:12 K:BB over 35.1 innings prior to Saturday's effort. He'll look to carry that momentum forward into his next outing, likely to come at home next weekend against the Cubs.

Civale dropped to 5-3 in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Tigers after allowing three earned runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings while striking out four.

Civale allowed a leadoff single in each of the first four innings, which led to one run coming across for Detroit in the second, followed by two more in the fourth. The newly-acquired right-hander was then relieved by Kevin Kelly in the fifth after surrendering a one-out double to Kerry Carpenter, marking the first time that Civale's failed to make it through at least five innings since June 14. He had given up two or fewer runs in six straight starts coming in, and the nine hits he allowed Saturday matched his season high.

Abbott (6-3) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs on nine hits and five walks over 5.2 innings as the Reds fell 7-3 to the Nationals. He struck out three.

While the rookie southpaw was able to keep the ball in Great American Ball Park, five of the nine hits off Abbott were doubles, while the five free passes he issued were a season high. The league could be figuring out the 24-year-old, as he's been tagged for 10 runs in nine innings over his last two starts, but he had compiled a 16-inning scoreless streak immediately prior to that. It should be noted that Abbot's thrown a career-high 124.1 innings combined between the minors and majors, so usage could be a factor in his recent struggles. Abbott will try to get back on track in his next outing, likely to come next weekend in Pittsburgh.

Gray (7-5) picked up the win in Saturday's 9-8 victory over the Marlins, surrendering five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

A Marcus Semien error in the fourth inning helped mitigate the damage to Gray's ERA, but it was still another shaky performance from the right-hander -- he's failed to complete six innings in three straight starts, and he's been tagged for four runs or more in five of his last six. Despite the summer swoon, he'll take a 3.72 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 95:39 K:BB through 113.2 innings into his next outing, which is likely to come next weekend in San Francisco.

Nelson (6-6) took the loss against Minnesota on Saturday, allowing six runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out five batters over three innings.

After posting a scoreless first frame, Nelson struggled to keep the Twins off the basepaths. He gave up three runs on three hits -- including a triple and a homer -- in the second inning, then surrendered three more runs on four hits in the third, which proved to be his final frame. Nelson matched his shortest outing of the campaign after what had been a relatively effective four-game stretch following the All-Star break during which he had recorded two quality starts and posted a 3.55 ERA. While Nelson has been good enough this season to hold down a spot in Arizona's rotation, his 5.16 ERA and 5.9 K/9 aren't of much use in most fantasy formats.

Maeda (3-6) earned the win over Arizona on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Maeda fell behind 1-0 in the second inning, but the Twins responded with an offensive outburst to go ahead 10-1 by the end of the sixth. The veteran hurler kept the Diamondbacks from countering, as he retired the final 14 batters he faced. Maeda struggled in his first start following the All-Star break, giving up three runs in three innings against Oakland. Since then, he's allowed two or fewer runs in each of his subsequent four outings, posting a 2.28 ERA and 31:4 over 23.2 frames during that span.

Falter allowed one run on six hits and one walk while striking out two batters over four-plus innings in a no-decision Saturday in the Pirates' 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

Falter was recalled from the minors ahead of Saturday's contest to make his first appearance in a Pittsburgh uniform after being acquired in a trade with the Phillies at the deadline. The southpaw made a decent impression, giving up six hits -- only one for extra bases -- and holding the Brewers to one run over four frames. Falter was ahead 2-0 heading into the fifth and could have had a shot at a win, but he was pulled in that inning after giving up a single to each of the first two batters he faced. It appears the 26-year-old will get a shot to remain in the Pirates' rotation with the team likely out of contention and looking to the future.

Burnes completed six innings Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five batters in a no-decision against Pittsburgh.

Despite tying a season high with four walks, Burnes was effective in the outing, allowing just a pair of hits. Both of those knocks came in the fifth inning, with the second of the two -- a Jason Delay double -- producing both of the runs charged to his ledger. The veteran hurler stuck around to complete six frames, giving him his seventh consecutive quality start and his 16th overall on the season, tied for third in the majors. Burnes' stats haven't been quite as good as they were the past few seasons, but he's still been impressive with a 3.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 141:50 K:BB over 139.1 innings.

Syndergaard (1-5) pitched six innings against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing five runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out three batters.

While Syndergaard was able to give Cleveland decent length, throwing 83 pitches over six frames, he had trouble keeping the ball in the park. The right-hander served up four homers, including three across the third and fourth innings. Syndergaard at least seemed to be physically fine after departing his previous contest as a result of taking a comebacker off his lower right leg, but this was a step back compared to that outing, during which he allowed just one run over 5.1 frames. The veteran hurler is getting a shot in the Guardians' rotation due to a slew of injuries to other starters, but he's struggled to get big-league hitters out this season, compiling a 6.75 ERA over 14 starts between Cleveland and the Dodgers.