MLB Player News
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Dean Kremer SP | BAL
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Fires seven scoreless
Kremer (8-7) earned the win Friday over Miami, giving up three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings while striking out seven batters.
It's hard to ask for a better bounce-back performance than the one Kremer delivered after giving up five runs in 4.1 innings during his previous outing in Atlanta. He never allowed more than one baserunner in an inning Friday, and only one of the four Marlins who reached base against him made it to third. The 29-year-old righty has been fairly inconsistent this year, but with his latest showing, he now owns a 2.17 ERA and 1.00 WHIP alongside a 27:6 K:BB across 29 innings over his last five starts. He's also collected three wins in that span.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Earns win with quality start
Scherzer (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.
Scherzer threw a season-high 90 pitches (59 strikes) to secure his first win and first quality start of the season. He was sharp through five innings before serving up a two-run home run to Nick Kurtz and a solo shot to Tyler Soderstrom in the sixth. Scherzer is now at a 4.70 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 23 innings over five starts this year. He's dealt with inflammation in his thumb throughout the year and will likely have to manage the issue in the second half as well, which could limit his effectiveness and ability to pitch deeper into games if the issue flares up.
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Ranger Suarez SP | BOS
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Takes third loss
Suarez (7-3) allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 6.2 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Padres.
Suarez wasn't at his best Friday, but the damage was limited to the second inning. This was the first time since June 7 against the Pirates that Suarez has allowed multiple runs, though it was his sixth straight start allowing one earned run or less. For the season, he's pitched to a 1.94 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 78:22 K:BB across 83.2 innings through 13 starts. Suarez figures to make his next start during the Phillies' first series after the All-Star break, which would line him up for a home matchup against the Angels.
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Ryan Bergert P | KC
Padres' Ryan Bergert: Strikes out seven in return
Bergert allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Phillies on Friday.
Bergert missed minimal time due to a forearm bruise and didn't look rusty in his return. He was a little unfortunate, as two of the three hits he allowed in this contest were solo home runs, but his seven strikeouts came up one shy of matching his season high. Bergert hasn't been let loose fully as a starter -- he finished this outing at 82 pitches (52 strikes) and has failed to reach the five-inning mark in his last three starts. Overall, he's posted a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 30:14 K:BB through 31.2 innings across 10 appearances (six starts). Bergert will get a little more time to recuperate during the All-Star break before resuming his competition with Randy Vasquez to stay in the rotation once Michael King (shoulder) returns from the 60-day injured list, which is likely to happen in August.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Strikes out five in five frames
Wacha earned a no-decision after throwing five innings, alllowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out five, during Friday's 8-3 loss to the Mets.
After allowing 21 hits combined over his last three starts spanning 15 innings, Wacha surrendered just two hits and one run in his five innings against the Mets. It's the seventh time the 34-year-old has surrendered one run or fewer in his 19 starts, and he'll enter the All-Star break on a high note. He ends the first half with a 3.74 ERA,1.27 WHIP and a 84:33 K:BB in 106.0 innings
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Kodai Senga SP | NYM
Mets' Kodai Senga: Sharp in return
Senga took a no-decision after throwing four innings, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four, during Friday's 8-3 win over the Royals.
Senga made his first big-league start since June 12, and since he made only one rehab start, he threw only four innings and 67 pitches. Regardless, the 32-year-old looked sharp in his return, notching his seventh shutout appearance in 14 starts this season, and he has still yet to allow more than three runs in a game. The right-hander has been one of the best pitchers in the game when he's been healthy, sporting a 1.39 ERA in 77.2 innings pitched.
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Tarik Skubal SP | DET
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Hit hard in uncharacteristic loss
Skubal (10-3) took the loss Friday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings in the 12-3 defeat to the Mariners.
Skubal kept the Mariners in check early but ran into trouble in the fifth, surrendering a two-run homer to Julio Rodriguez as part of a three-run frame that ended his day. It marked the ace's shortest outing since April 20 and just the fourth time all season he's allowed more than three earned runs. Despite the setback, the left-hander still owns a stellar 2.23 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 153 strikeouts through 121 innings this season.
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Lance McCullers SP | HOU
Astros' Lance McCullers: Lasts just three innings in defeat
McCullers (2-4) took the loss after throwing three innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five, during Friday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers.
McCullers' struggles on the season continued as he failed to make it through five innings for the sixth time in 10 starts. He needed 83 pitches to get through three innings, an alarming level of inefficiency, The 31-year-old has a 6.48 ERA on the season, well off the eighth-year pro's career 3.60 ERA. With 49 strikeouts in 41.2 innings this year, he's still striking out batters at a decent rate, but he must bring down his allowed walks (26) and home runs (nine) if he's to find his form again after the All-Star break.
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Luis Castillo SP | SEA
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Picks up win in one-sided victory
Castillo (6-5) earned the win Friday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings while striking out six in the 12-3 victory over the Tigers.
Castillo shined early, yielding just one earned run through the first five innings before running into trouble opening the sixth, allowing back-to-back hits and another run before being removed with a runner on third. The 32-year-old entered the matchup coming off his best start of the season and has now posted a 3.60 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 11 walks over his last six outings.
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Jack Leiter P | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Strikes out six in win
Leiter (5-6) picked up the win after throwing 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six, during Friday's 7-3 win over the Astros.
Leiter did enough to pick up the win Friday, aided by five runs of support during his outing, but struggled with his control again. The right-hander walked four batters to bring his season total up to 38 in 80.1 innings. On the flip side, the 25-year-old has struck out 18 batters over his last three starts, his most over a three-start stretch at any point this season. He enters the All-Star break with a 4.37 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 1.8 K/BB this season.