MLB Player News
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Taijuan Walker SP | PHI
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Carried by offense to fifth win
Walker (5-8) picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings in an 8-6 victory over the Royals. He struck out three.
The right-hander's nemesis on the day was Salvador Perez, who took him deep twice in the first three innings, but Walker got enough run support to overcome another mediocre performance and record his first win since Aug. 5. He's coughed up at least four runs in four straight trips to the mound, stumbling to a 7.65 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB over 20 innings during that swoon, but with Zack Wheeler (shoulder) set to undergo season-ending surgery, Walker may have some job security in the Phillies' rotation. He lines up to make his next start on the road next weekend in Arizona.
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Colin Rea SP | CHC
Cubs' Colin Rea: Fans five in no-decision
Rea allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Rea held the Rays scoreless through four frames before giving up a run in the fifth. The right-hander then allowed the first two batters he faced in the sixth to reach base, and both ended up scoring. Rea did induce a healthy 13 whiffs and notched five punchouts, but the disappointing finish to his start kept him from completing six frames for the sixth straight outing. He's slated to take on Cincinnati in his next appearance.
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Ryan Bergert P | KC
Royals' Ryan Bergert: Escapes with no-decision in Philly
Bergert didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out five.
It's the third straight start in which Bergert issued three free passes, and his loss of control has left him with an 8.76 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB in 12.1 innings during the skid. The Royals could get one or more of Michael Wacha (concussion), Seth Lugo (back) and Cole Ragans (shoulder) back from the IL in the next week or two, so Bergert's hold on a rotation spot may be slipping. For the moment, he's scheduled to make his next start at home next weekend against the Blue Jays.
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Davis Martin SP | CHW
White Sox's Davis Martin: Tagged with 10th loss
Martin (6-10) took the loss against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings.
Martin kept the Guardians batters in check for most of his outing outside of a C.J. Kayfus two-run homer in the second, but the White Sox batters weren't able to generate enough runs for the 28-year-old right-hander to avoid the loss. Martin has yielded three earned runs or less in nine of 10 starts since the All-Star break, and over that span he has a 4.35 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 51.2 innings. He's tentatively lined up to face the Padres on the road next weekend.
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Janson Junk RP | MIA
Marlins' Janson Junk: Fires quality start Saturday
Junk didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.
Making his second start since being activated from a brief IL stint, the right-hander produced his sixth quality start of the season on 88 pitches (58 strikes). Junk did serve up another homer, his seventh in seven trips to the mound since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 6.39 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 38 innings. He'll look for his first win since Aug. 6 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next weekend against the Rangers.
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Charlie Morton SP | ATL
Tigers' Charlie Morton: Shaky control in no-decision
Morton came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings loss to the Marlins, giving up two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out four.
The 41-year-old righty threw only 42 of 76 pitches for strikes before getting the hook. Morton has failed to last five innings in three straight starts, and over eight trips to the mound since joining the Tigers he's limped to a 5.92 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 45:21 K:BB in 38 innings. He'll try to turn things around in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against Atlanta.
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Parker Messick P | CLE
Guardians' Parker Messick: Logs quality start vs. South Siders
Messick (3-0) earned the win against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out four across six innings.
Messick got off to a slow start by allowing three hits and a run in the first inning, but the 24-year-old southpaw kept the White Sox off the board over the next five frames. He has logged four quality starts in five outings since making his major-league debut Aug. 20 and sports a 1.84 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 29.1 innings this season. Messick is in line to make his next start against the Twins on the road next weekend.
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Trey Yesavage SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage: Headed to majors
The Blue Jays plan to call up Yesavage from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Sunday's game against the Orioles or Monday's game in Tampa Bay, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Yesavage has been on schedule to pitch for Buffalo on Sunday, but he'll instead meet up with the big club in Toronto for its series finale with Baltimore, though it's not clear if he'll be activated ahead of that contest. The right-hander has climbed through four levels in the minors this season, beginning the campaign in Single-A ball and reaching the Triple-A level on Aug. 12. Though the 2024 first-round draft pick is considered one of the Blue Jays' top prospects and is viewed as a starter over the long haul, he'll be making his big-league debut out of the bullpen. After accruing a 3.24 ERA and 150:38 K:BB in 91.2 innings while starting in 21 of his first 22 appearances of the season, Yesavage has worked in relief in two of his last three outings for Buffalo and has struck out 10 while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks over 6.1 innings. The right-hander could be broken in as a low-leverage, multi-inning reliever for Toronto initially, but if he excels over the final two weeks of the regular season, he could emerge as a key piece in the Blue Jays bullpen during the playoffs.
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Brandon Sproat P | NYM
Mets' Brandon Sproat: Brilliant start wasted
Sproat didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers, allowing six hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Making his second trip to the mound in the big leagues, Sproat rose to the occasion in the heat of a playoff race as he needed only 70 pitches (53 strikes) to deliver his second straight quality start. The right-hander left the mound in line for his first career win, but Edwin Diaz blew the save in the ninth. Sproat will take a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB through his first 12 MLB innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Nationals.
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Drew Rasmussen SP | TB
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Pulled after five frames again
Rasmussen allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five batters over five innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Saturday.
Rasmussen tossed just 80 pitches in the outing, and he's now been pulled after five frames (despite not throwing more than 82 pitches) in each of his past three starts. While he hasn't taken a loss since June 19, the right-hander also has recorded five consecutive no-decisions despite not allowing more than three runs in any outing during that stretch. Rasmussen's overall numbers this season remain strong, as he's posted a 2.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 122:34 K:BB over 144.2 innings spanning 29 starts. He's in line to make his next start at home against Toronto.