MLB Player News

Valdez (13-4) picked up the win over Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over seven innings.

Valdez was a bit wild with four walks, but he surrendered only two base hits and completed seven innings for the third straight outing. He finished with his 21st consecutive quality start, surpassing the franchise record set by Mike Scott in 1986. Valdez has earned a win in five of his past six appearances, and he's already established a career-best mark with 13 victories on the campaign. The southpaw doesn't typically post huge strikeout numbers and has issued at least three passes in three of his past four starts, but he keeps rolling along as one of the game's most consistently effective starting pitchers.

Quantrill (10-5) allowed five hits and a walk while striking out six over seven shutout innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Padres.

Quantrill was able to keep his former team quiet. This was the right-hander's third scoreless outing in his last four starts. He's allowed eight runs in 32 innings in August, good for a 2.25 ERA with a 23:5 K:BB. For the season, he's pitched to a 3.59 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 94:38 K:BB through 143 innings across 24 starts. Quantrill is projected for a home start versus the Orioles next week.

Gallen did not factor in the decision against Kansas City on Wednesday despite pitching six scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and issued three walks while striking out six batters.

Gallen's three free passes tied a season high, but the Royals couldn't capitalize as the Arizona ace held them to only one extra-base hit and no runs. However, Kansas City starter Brady Singer was almost equally impressive, and Gallen left after six innings clinging to a one-run lead. A meltdown by the Diamondbacks' bullpen in the seventh then turned things around and cost Gallen a fifth straight win. Despite the disappointing outcome, this was another outstanding effort by the right-hander, who hasn't allowed any runs over 27.1 innings across his past four starts. Since the All-Star break, Gallen has gone 5-0 with a miniscule 0.80 ERA and a 49:10 K:BB over 45 frames.

Singer (7-4) earned the win over Arizona on Wednesday, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on four hits and no walks while striking out six batters.

Singer cruised through four scoreless frames before Daulton Varsho knocked a solo shot off the right-hander in the fifth. That looked like it might be enough to tag the Kansas City ace with the loss as Zac Gallen outdueled him with six shutout innings, but a late offensive surge by the Royals turned things around and handed Singer his third victory over his past four starts. He's been tossing the ball well for over a month, picking up eight quality starts over his past nine outings and compiling an outstanding 2.01 ERA along with a 62:16 K:BB across 58.1 innings over that stretch. The 2018 first-round draft pick has blossomed in his third big-league campaign, recording a 3.15 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through 21 appearances, including 18 starts.

Kirby didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on eight hits over seven innings in a 3-1 loss to the Nationals. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander was impressive once again, firing an efficient 85 pitches (69 strikes) before exiting with the Mariners down 1-0, but his teammates were at least able to take him off the hook for the loss with a run in the eighth. Kirby hadn't worked more than six innings in a start since July 2 as Seattle keeps a close eye on his workload, but he still sports a 2.43 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 40:4 K:BB through 33.1 innings since the All-Star break.

Irvin didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Marlins, allowing three hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out 11 without walking a batter.

The lefty put together perhaps the best start of his big-league career, setting a new personal best with the 11 Ks and generating a massive 25 swinging strikes among his 92 pitches. Unfortunately, Irvin was denied his seventh win of the year when Zach Jackson and Dany Jimenez faltered in the eighth and ninth innings. The quality start was Irvin's 13th of the year, and he'll carry a 3.16 ERA and 98:26 K:BB through 142.1 innings into his next outing.

Luzardo didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the A's, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out four.

While he wasn't at his most dominant, Luzardo did take a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jonah Bride broke it up with a leadoff single. The southpaw tossed 66 of 102 pitches for strikes as he delivered his second straight quality start and fifth in 11 trips to the mound this season. Luzardo will take a 3.34 ERA and 69:23 K:BB through 59.1 innings into his next outing.

Mikolas (10-10) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk over 6.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out three.

After going 1-2-3 to start the game, Mikolas allowed three runs in the second and then settled in before getting saddled with two unearned runs in the seventh on his way to his 10th loss of the season. Despite the hiccups, Mikolas made it through six innings for the sixth time in his last seven outings, five of which have been quality starts. The 34-year-old has quietly put together his best season since 2018 with a 3.35 ERA and 1.02 WHIP to go along with his double-digit win total.

Farrell did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks over 4.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out three.

In his first start after being called up, Farrell mostly held the Cardinals in check as the only damage on the night came from a Lars Nootbaar solo home run in the fifth. That said, he was fortunate to only give up one run, as St. Louis recorded multiple hits in both the third and the fourth innings, and he managed not to walk a batter despite throwing only 43 of 71 pitches for strikes. It's unlikely Farrell will stick in the rotation, but if he does, he would likely draw a matchup against the Blue Jays next week.

Keller (4-10) took the loss in Wednesday's 14-2 rout at the hands of Atlanta, surrendering seven runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander reeled off five straight quality starts sandwiched around the All-Star break, but Keller's solid run has come crashing to a halt as he's failed to get more than 11 outs in either of his last two outings. Fortunately for his ratios, a couple errors by Josh VanMeter kept all of Atlanta's five runs in the fourth unearned. Keller tossed 53 of 82 pitches for strikes Wednesday before getting the hook, and he'll carry a 4.50 ERA and 97:44 K:BB through 118 innings into his next start.