MLB Player News

Wacha tossed 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out one batter.

Wacha pitched well, giving up just one run on a Royce Lewis homer. The veteran hurler looked like he was on his way to a fourth straight quality start, but manager Matt Quatraro elected to pull him with two outs in the sixth inning (at 94 pitches) with Lewis coming up for another turn at the plate. Wacha has made it four straight outings with two or fewer earned runs, and he's lowered his season ERA to 3.44 with that effective stretch. He lines up for a tough next start in what's projected to be a road matchup versus the Dodgers.

Ober completed six innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks with no strikeouts.

Ober allowed two runs in the third inning and another run in his sixth and final frame. He was far from overpowering, getting just six whiffs and finishing without a punchout for the first time this season, but his performance was nonetheless good enough to go in the books as a second consecutive quality start. Ober's 4.45 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 63:24 K:BB across 93 innings this season make him a fringe, at best, roster option in most fantasy leagues, but he's managed to scratch out a 7-3 record for the Twins. He's slated to make his next start at home against Baltimore.

Junk (5-7) took the loss against Atlanta on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter over three innings.

Junk threw 47 pitches (26 strikes) before a rain delay held up the game for over an hour. That was enough for Marlins manager Clayton McCullough to decide not to put Junk at risk of an injury by sending him back out to the mound when play resumed. The two runs Junk gave up were on a home run by Ronald Acuna, though the homer was the result of two Marlins outfielders colliding while trying to make the catch and popping the ball over the wall. While this was Junk's shortest outing of the campaign, that obviously comes with an asterisk due to the impact of the weather. The right-hander's arm should at least be relatively fresh the next time he takes the mound, which is projected to be in a matchup versus Pittsburgh.

Perez tossed three scoreless and hitless innings in a no-decision against Miami on Thursday, issuing one walk and striking out three batters.

Perez cruised through three frames, throwing 22 of 35 pitches for strikes and limiting the Marlins to one baserunner (on a second-inning walk that was quickly wiped out by a double play). However, inclement weather delayed the game for over an hour, and Atlanta manager Walt Weiss elected to not send Perez back to the mound after play resumed. Perez nonetheless made another strong impression, improving his season ERA to 3.14. He's now given up just one hit and zero runs across 10 innings over his past two starts. Perez is now projected to next take the mound -- presumably with a pretty fresh arm -- at home versus the Mets early next week.

Peterson did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings.

Peterson held his own Thursday in a pitching duel with Dylan Cease, who fired seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. His only run allowed came in the first inning on a disengagement violation, which was an unfortunate sequence given that he ended the frame just two pitches later. Peterson then blanked Toronto over his final four innings despite consistently pitching through traffic. Over his last five starts, the left-hander has surrendered just six runs (five earned) across 28.2 innings, lowering his ERA from 6.75 to 5.35 during that stretch. He also owns a 1.50 WHIP and 88:43 K:BB across 106 innings this season.

Cease did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Cubs, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings.

Cease threw 66 of his 104 pitches for strikes and recorded his fifth double-digit strikeout performance over his last 10 outings despite generating just 10 whiffs. Unfortunately for the right-hander, closer Louis Varland was unable to maintain a two-run lead. Cease has now authored six consecutive quality starts, posting a sparkling 0.84 ERA with 56 strikeouts across 43 innings during that span. Four of those six outings have featured at least seven scoreless innings. He will carry a 2.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 184:52 K:BB across 126.1 innings into his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Ashcraft (11-5) took the loss Thursday against the Brewers, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings.

Ashcraft was tagged for a solo homer by Jackson Chourio in the first inning and surrendered another solo shot to Gary Sanchez in the fifth as Milwaukee handed him his fifth loss of the season. The right-hander has struggled over his last five starts, allowing 22 runs (21 earned) across 24 innings, causing his ERA to climb from 3.24 to 4.08. Despite the recent skid, Ashcraft has remained a reliable innings eater, completing at least five frames in all but two of his 23 starts this season. The 26-year-old is scheduled to make his next start on the road against the Marlins.

May (6-7) earned the win Thursday against the Pirates, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings during his Brewers debut.

Making his first appearance in a Brewers uniform, May turned in a quality start despite battling some command issues. He threw 97 pitches, issuing three walks and hitting another batter, but limited Pittsburgh to just three hits. In his last five starts, the right-hander has issued 14 walks and hit an additional three batters. May posted a 5-7 record with a 4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 106:35 K:BB across 109 innings in 21 starts with St. Louis before the trade. He's scheduled to make his next start against the Padres.

Sanchez (15-4) earned the win Thursday over the Nationals, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

Sanchez wasn't at his best Thursday, as he failed to make it through six innings for just the second time in his last five starts. Still, the southpaw came away with his league-leading 15th win of the season and his sixth in his last seven outings. Overall, the 29-year-old Sanchez sports a 2.65 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 174:35 K:BB across 24 starts (149.2 innings) this year. He's currently in line to face the Cardinals on the road his next time out.

Miller (4-6) took the loss Thursday against the Tigers, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out five.

Detroit got to Miller early Thursday, scoring three runs in the first inning (two coming on a Dillon Dingler homer) before giving up a fourth run in the second. Miller managed to settle in and hold the Tigers scoreless over his final three frames, but Seattle couldn't climb out of the early hole in an eventual shutout defeat. The 27-year-old Miller's been slumping of late, going 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA across 26.1 frames in his last five outings. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.08 with a 0.95 WHIP and 79:15 K:BB across 79 innings this season. Miller will look to get back on track in his next start, tentatively scheduled to come on the road next week against the Yankees.