MLB Player News
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Lucas Giolito SP | BOS
Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Control issues continue Tuesday
Giolito came away with a no-decision Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out three.
The right-hander threw 61 of 98 pitches for strikes as he once again had trouble avoiding free passes. Over his last five starts, Giolito has a 22:18 K:BB in 25.2 innings, but he's given up more than two earned runs just once during that stretch, posting a 3.16 ERA despite a 1.60 WHIP. He currently lines up to take the mound on the final day of the regular season, at home against a Tigers team that has collapsed down the stretch, but with the Red Sox also fighting to lock up a wild-card spot, it's not clear if they will actually risk Giolito's wildness if a playoff berth is on the line.
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Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Delivers quality start Tuesday
Gil didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the White Sox, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander made only one real mistake, but Colson Montgomery drove it over the fence in the sixth inning for a two-run homer. Gil has produced quality starts in three of four September outings, posting a 2.78 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 22.2 innings on the month despite a concerning 10:12 K:BB. Gil currently lines up to pitch on the final day of the season, at home against the Orioles, but the Yankees could change their rotation plans depending on whether they're still in a battle with the Blue Jays for the AL East title by then.
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Hunter Barco P | PIT
Pirates' Hunter Barco: Earns win in debut
Barco (1-0) allowed two hits in a scoreless inning to earn the win Tuesday against the Reds.
Barco had his contract selected Tuesday and made his debut in the sixth inning. He allowed a pair of singles but ultimately escaped a jam by inducing a groundout. Barco may make one additional appearance out of the bullpen before the close of the season, and he could be in line to compete for a rotation spot to begin 2026.
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Shane Smith RP | CHW
White Sox's Shane Smith: Fans eight in no-decision
Smith came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees, allowing one run on five hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
The right-hander only tossed 60 of 93 pitches for strikes, with his inefficiency preventing him from working deeper into the game, but his eight strikeouts tied his season high. Smith hasn't been able to complete six innings in any of his four September starts, posting a 4.95 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB over 20 innings as he alternates bad outings with good ones. He'll try to break that pattern to close out the campaign, as he lines up for one more start on the final day of 2025 on the road against the Nationals.
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Patrick Corbin SP | TEX
Rangers' Patrick Corbin: Short start Tuesday
Corbin (7-11) took the loss Tuesday against the Twins, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two in 3.2 innings.
Corbin got through two innings unscathed, but the Twins were able to get to him in the third with two runs on four hits. Corbin's day was done at 65 pitches after a walk in the fourth and he's now failed to reach five innings in four of his last seven starts. The Rangers have officially fallen out of playoff contention and presumably will roll Corbin out once more this weekend for a start against the red-hot Guardians. Corbin's now at a 4.34 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 126:49 K:BB in 151.1 innings.
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Robbie Ray SP | SF
Giants' Robbie Ray: Will not make another start
Ray is no longer scheduled to start Wednesday against the Cardinals and appears unlikely to pitch again this season, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The Giants were officially eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, and Ray has already logged 182.1 innings in 2025 after missing most of the previous two seasons with injury, so he'll shut things down a little early. The 33-year-old finishes with a 3.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 186:73 K:BB covering 32 starts. JT Brubaker will start for the Giants on Wednesday.
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Cristopher Sanchez SP | PHI
Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez: Reaches 200 Ks on Tuesday
Sanchez didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Marlins, scattering three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out six.
The southpaw was brilliant once again, firing 65 of 91 pitches for strikes and leaving the mound in line for his 14th win, but the Phillies' bullpen melted down late. Sanchez had to settle for his 22nd quality start of 2025, tying him for the major-league lead with Logan Webb, and his first career 200-strikeout season. He's risen to the occasion as the team's ace due to Zack Wheeler (shoulder) being lost for the year -- Sanchez has completed seven innings in four of his last five outings, posting a 1.85 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 31:3 K:BB through 34 innings during that span. Sanchez's next start is expected to come in the first game of the playoffs, so he'll wrap up a breakout regular season with a 2.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 204:44 K:BB through 196.1 innings.
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Zebby Matthews P | MIN
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Fires seven strong innings
Matthews (5-6) got the win Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six in seven innings. He did not issue a walk.
Matthews allowed a solo home run to Joc Pederson on just his second pitch of the game but shut down the Rangers from there. Tuesday's performance was an excellent bounce-back effort from Matthews after he was shelled his last time out, tying his career worst in runs allowed (nine) while setting a new career worst in hits allowed (11). The quality start was Matthews' third in his last five outings in what's been a strong finish to an up-and-down season for the 25-year-old. Matthews lines up for one additional road start this weekend against the Phillies.
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Edward Cabrera SP | MIA
Marlins' Edward Cabrera: Lasts four innings in return
Cabrera came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Phillies, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander returned from an elbow sprain for the final week of the season, having last pitched Aug. 30. Cabrera tossed 40 of 67 pitches for strikes but served up homers to Kyle Schwarber and Otto Kemp, and he exited the mound in line for the loss until the Marlins' offense woke up late. Cabrera has had something of a breakout campaign between IL stints, posting a 3.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 143:43 K:BB over a career-high 132.2 innings, and he could get one more start on the final day of the season, at home against a Mets team currently scrambling to hang onto a playoff spot.
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Randy Vasquez RP | SD
Padres' Randy Vasquez: Shines in seven shutout frames
Vasquez (6-7) earned the win Tuesday, allowing a hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings against the Brewers. He struck out three.
Vasquez handled the Brewers well Tuesday, keeping them off the bases entirely from the fourth inning onward. The right-hander has been sharp in September, posting a 2.53 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 21.1 innings in four starts. His peripherals (4.88 FIP) aren't pretty, but the 26-year-old has delivered results in 2025, carrying a 3.73 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 27 outings and 132.2 innings for the Padres.