MLB Player News

Kopech (5-10) earned the win over Cleveland on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three batters over 5.1 innings.

Kopech held the Guardians scoreless through five frames and was handed a 5-0 lead, but he allowed three straight one-out hits amid the chaos of a sixth-inning brawl between the teams and was unable to complete the frame. However, the right-hander nonetheless pitched well enough to emerge with his just his second win over his past 11 starts. Kopech didn't miss a ton of bats and again struggled to find the strike zone, and he's now walked at least three batters in all but one of his last eight outings. On a more positive note, he didn't allow any balls to leave the park Saturday, the first time he's held a team homerless over his past seven starts.

Anderson (5-3) allowed two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out six over five innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Mariners.

Anderson had gone two starts without walking multiple batters before regressing Saturday. He particularly struggled in the third inning, which saw him give up three of the five baserunners and both runs on a Julio Rodriguez double. Anderson continues to return mixed results with a 4.92 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 86:44 K:BB through 104.1 innings over 20 outings (19 starts) this season. He is tentatively lined up for a challenging road start in Houston next weekend.

Kirby (10-8) allowed a run on three hits and struck out five without walking a batter over seven innings to earn the win Saturday over the Angels.

The lone blemish on Kirby's line was a Randal Grichuk solo home run in the third inning. This was a return to Kirby's impeccable control -- he'd issued eight walks over his last seven starts, an unusually high mark for the right-hander. He's logged 16 quality starts in 22 outings this season, pitching to a 3.32 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 124:14 K:BB through 135.2 innings on the year. Kirby is projected for a difficult home start versus the Orioles next weekend.

Grove allowed a hit and struck out four without walking a batter over 1.1 scoreless innings Saturday versus the Padres. He did not factor in the decision.

Grove was announced as the starter, but it ended up being more of an opener situation, with Ryan Yarbrough following him with 4.1 innings in bulk relief. That kind of arrangement may be the only way Grove sticks on the major-league roster in the near term. He was touched up for eight runs over six innings in his last start and still carries a 6.61 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 67:18 K:BB through 64 innings this season. While his strikeout numbers are solid, he'll likely be limited to low-leverage situations if he ends up as a traditional reliever going forward.

Snell allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out eight over five innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Saturday.

Snell's impressive run of 13 starts without allowing more than two runs came to a close, though it happened against a tough division rival. The southpaw was in line for the loss until the Padres rallied ahead in the eighth inning. Snell's 1.30 WHIP and 164:72 K:BB aren't the most encouraging marks, but he's allowed just 12 homers in 23 starts this season to offset an ugly 5.2 BB/9. That's helped him maintain a 2.61 ERA through 124 innings on the year. Snell is lined up for another challenging start on the road in Arizona during next weekend's series.

Skubal (2-1) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Rays. He struck out six.

Skubal did a good job of pitching his way out of multiple jams throughout the contest, outside of the second inning, when he allowed one run to come across on a Manuel Margot single. The 26-year-old lefty would then hold the Rays scoreless over the next 3.1 innings before being relieved by Jose Cisnero. Skubal has now given up one run or fewer in four of his six starts, while the 5.1 innings marked his longest outing since he made his season debut in early July. He holds a very healthy 33:4 K:BB through 27 innings on the campaign.

Cortes did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over four innings against Houston. He struck out eight.

Cortes walked Jose Altuve to open the game before striking out the side, all swinging, to get out of the inning. The lefty would then give up a solo home run to Altuve in the third, though it was the only hit he allowed over his four innings of work while posting a season-high eight strikeouts. Cortes even struck out the side in order before heading to the bench. He's now fanned at least five batters in each of his last four starts. The Yankees certainly have to feel good about what they saw out of Cortes in his return to the rotation following the shoulder injury.

Matz (3-7) allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the win Saturday over the Rockies.

Matz gave up a run for the first time in three starts, but he turned in his third straight quality start. It's been an impressive return to form for the southpaw after an awful start to the season. He's now at a 3.91 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 93:32 K:BB over 99 innings through 24 appearances (16 starts). Matz will looking to keep it rolling next weekend in a road start versus the Royals.

Verlander (6-6) took the loss Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings against the Yankees. He struck out four.

Verlander allowed back-to-back hits to start the bottom of the second, leading to a sacrifice fly from Anthony Volpe for the Yankees' first run of the game. The right-hander would then retire seven of the next nine batters he faced before serving up a hanging slider to Jake Bauers, who launched it over the wall in right field. Despite taking the loss, it was still a quality outing for Verlander in his return to Houston following the trade. He's now allowed two earned runs or fewer in four consecutive starts and in six of his last seven.

Richardson will be called up from Triple-A Louisville to make his first big-league start Sunday against the Nationals, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Richardson was scratched from his scheduled start with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, and it turns out the reason was to keep him on schedule for his first start in the major leagues. Richardson is one of Cincinnati's better prospects, but he hasn't thrown more than 49 pitches in a game since May, so he'll likely face some sort of pitch limit Sunday.