MLB Player News

Wacha (8-2) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Reds while striking out four.

Wacha (shoulder) returned Saturday after being forced to skip his last start and managed to pitch his way out of trouble for most of the afternoon, despite allowing the leadoff man to reach base in four of his five innings of work. The right-hander has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 consecutive starts dating back to April 26 against the Cubs while winning six of his last seven decisions (spanning nine starts). He'll look to keep that momentum going next weekend when the Padres take on the Mets in San Diego.

DeSclafani (4-8) took the loss Saturday as the Giants were downed 4-1 by the Mets, giving up three solo home runs in three innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The homers were the only hits the veteran right-hander allowed and they all came in the third inning, as Francisco Alvarez, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor took DeSclafani deep to chase him from the game after only 55 pitches (34 strikes). After a strong start to the year, he has a 6.39 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB over his last eight outings and 38 innings, serving up eight homers along the way. DeSclafani will try to turn things around in his final start before the All-Star break, which is likely to come at home next weekend against the Rockies.

Wheeler (7-4) picked up the win Saturday in a 19-4 rout of the Nationals, giving up four runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander was far from sharp, tossing 55 of 85 pitches for strikes before exiting, but he got more than enough run support to allow him to win his fourth straight decision. Since his last loss May 22, Wheeler's posted a 3.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 48:8 K:BB through 41.1 innings, and he'll get one more turn through the rotation before the All-Star break, a start that lines up for next weekend in Miami.

Kelly (calf) threw a 31-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

This was the first time Kelly was on the mound since he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf last Tuesday. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Kelly could rejoin the team's rotation soon after the All-Star break.

Severino (1-3) took the loss Saturday, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits and three walks over four innings against St. Louis. He struck out two.

Severino ran into trouble in the bottom of the third, allowing back-to-back singles to open the frame before surrendering a three-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt. But the right-hander's troubles didn't end there as the Cardinals went on to add another two runs in the inning and two more in the fourth. The seven earned runs allowed tied his season high and Severino has now lost three of his last four decisions. He's also walked at least three batters while giving up at least seven hits in three of his last four starts.

Flaherty (5-5) earned the win Saturday, allowing four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings against the Yankees. He struck out four.

Flaherty got himself back on track Saturday after allowing six runs in each of his last two starts. The right-hander fanned only four batters but produced 11 swinging strikes en route to his fifth win of the season. Flaherty has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last six starts and was able to lower his ERA from 4.95 to 4.60 with his performance against the Yankees.

Stroman (9-6) took the loss against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over 5.2 innings.

Stroman exited his previous start after 3.1 innings due to a finger blister, but he had recovered enough by Saturday to take his turn in the rotation. The right-hander struck out four of the first six batters he faced and finished with seven punchouts, but the Guardians got to him for three singles in the sixth frame, with all three of those batters coming around to score (two after he departed). Stroman has given up 11 runs (eight earned) over his past nine innings across two starts, increasing his season ERA from 2.28 to 2.76.

Bibee (5-2) earned the win over the Cubs on Saturday, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out nine batters over 5.2 scoreless innings.

Bibee struck out two of the three batters he faced in the sixth inning, but he gave up a one-out infield single and wasn't allowed to finish the frame. That cost him a quality start, though the rookie right-hander nonetheless shined, tying a career high with nine punchouts while recording his first scoreless MLB appearance. Bibee has cemented his place in the Guardians' rotation by allowing just one earned run over his past 11.2 frames across two starts, notching a 16:6 K:BB over that span. He's impressed with a 3.46 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 67:23 K:BB in 65 innings overall this season.

Urias (5-5) took the loss against Kansas City on Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters over three innings.

Urias' return from a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring injury didn't go well, though part of the issue was bad fortune. Of the four hits he allowed in the first inning, three were bloop singles that left the bat at less than 72 mph. Regardless, the Royals put up five runs in that frame, and Urias' struggles weren't limited to bloopers -- he also issued a walk and hit a batter with a pitch. The southpaw retired five of the final six batters he faced, but he was lifted after 66 pitches since he was on a pitch count following the layoff. Urias will look to bounce back and go deeper into his next start, which is projected to be a home outing against Pittsburgh.

Lynch (2-3) earned the win over the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Kansas City staked Lynch to a 5-0 lead after one inning, but he gave three of those runs back in the second. However, Los Angeles didn't score against him again, and the southpaw managed to finish five frames despite needing 108 pitched to do so. The victory was the second in three starts for Lynch after he failed to notch a win over his first four outings. He's been solid over his past three starts, posting a 2.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP despite an unappetizing 8:6 K:BB over 18 innings.