MLB Player News
-
Michael Burrows SP | PIT
Pirates' Mike Burrows: Starting again Sunday
Burrows is slated to start Sunday's game against the Nationals in Washington.
After making a pair of relief appearances Aug. 30 and Sept. 3, Burrows slotted back into a starting role Tuesday against the Orioles, though the Pirates continued to manage his workload in his first full season back from April 2023 Tommy John surgery. In his start versus Baltimore, Burrows struck out six and generated 14 whiffs while permitting one run on two runs and one walk, but he was lifted after just four innings and 56 pitches. Braxton Ashcraft ended up piggybacking Burrows and covered three innings out of the bullpen, but with Ashcraft slated to start Monday's series opener versus the Cubs, Burrows could have a slightly longer leash Sunday while he makes his second straight start.
-
Lucas Giolito SP | BOS
Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Strong effort in loss
Giolito (10-4) took the loss Friday versus the Yankees after giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out six batters across 5.2 innings.
Giolito put the Red Sox in an early hole by giving up a home run to Aaron Judge in the first inning, and an RBI single from Cody Bellinger in the third was all New York needed to remain in front for the rest of the game. Giolito was pulled one out before he could deliver his third quality start in his last four appearances. Still, he will take a season-best 3.31 ERA into his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come against the Athletics on Wednesday.
-
Tyler Mahle SP | TEX
Rangers' Tyler Mahle: Excels in Friday's rehab start
Mahle (shoulder) struck out six and allowed one hit and no walks over four shutout innings in his rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
The Rangers had contemplated bringing Mahle back from the 60-day injured list for this weekend's series with the Mets, but he instead remained on assignment with Round Rock to continue getting stretched out as he works his way back from the right shoulder strain that has kept him on the shelf since June 15. The veteran right-hander looked about as sharp as the Rangers could have hoped during his third rehab start Friday, showing improved stuff and command from his prior two outings while firing 31 of his 52 pitches for strikes and generating seven whiffs. He'll likely return from the IL for the Rangers' home series versus the Marlins next weekend, but because he's not yet ready to handle a typical starter's workload, Mahle could temporarily work as a bulk reliever, or perhaps get deployed in a piggyback arrangement with current No. 5 starter Jacob Latz.
-
Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Tosses six hitless frames
Gil (4-1) earned the win Friday against Boston after pitching six scoreless, no-hit innings and allowing four walks while collecting four strikeouts.
After missing the entire first half with a strained lat, Gil saved his best performance of the year for a late-season rivalry matchup against the Red Sox. A high pitch count forced him to come out of the game despite his no-hit bid, but not before he extended his streak of allowing two runs or less across at least five innings to seven starts. The 27-year-old owns a 1.89 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 38 frames in that span and will aim to keep things rolling in Minnesota next week.
-
Chris Bassitt SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Fans six in no-decision
Bassitt didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-1 win over the Orioles, giving up one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out six batters across five innings.
An RBI single from Jackson Holliday in the third inning represented the only blemish on Bassitt's line Friday. However, the 36-year-old will have to settle for a no-decision, as most of the run support supplied by Toronto's offense didn't come until he was taken out of the game. He'll take a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP -- the lowest that either number has been since July 23 -- into his next start against the Rays next week.
-
Michael Lorenzen SP | KC
Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Handed 11th loss
Lorenzen (5-11) took the loss Friday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks over three innings against Philadelphia. He struck out three.
Lorenzen surrendered just one run across the first two innings but gave up three in the third and was pulled after surrendering three straight doubles to open the fourth inning. The veteran right-hander has lost his past three starts and has a 6.18 ERA in six outings since returning from an oblique injury in mid-August.
-
Walker Buehler SP | PHI
Phillies' Walker Buehler: Victorious in Phillies debut
Buehler (8-7) earned the win Friday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over five innings against Kansas City. He struck out three.
The veteran right-hander was assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after signing with the Phillies in late August, and he delivered one of his better starts of the season in his team debut after a tumultuous run in Boston. Buehler will be part of the Phillies' six-man rotation for the final weeks of the regular season, and Friday's showing was a good step toward potentially earning a spot on the playoff roster. His 5.29 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 117.1 innings between Boston and Philadelphia remain unsightly, however.
-
Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Takes no-decision
Keller did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over 5.1 innings in a 6-5 loss against Washington. He struck out four.
The right-hander appeared on his way to his seventh victory of the season with a 3-0 lead through five frames, but he was charged with a couple runs on three hits in the sixth before the Pittsburgh bullpen faltered an inning later. Keller entered the All-Star break with a 3.48 ERA across 119 innings, but he has a 5.73 ERA in 10 starts since the midseason break.
-
Shane Baz SP | TB
Rays' Shane Baz: Lasts just 2.1 frames
Baz (9-12) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over 2.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.
The right-hander threw only 37 of 67 pitches for strikes as he delivered his shortest outing of the campaign. Baz had a decent start to the season with a 4.33 ERA and eight wins through his first 17 outings, but he has a 1-9 record and a 6.49 ERA across his past 12 starts. A tough matchup with the Blue Jays is likely on tap for his next turn through the rotation.
-
Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Notches 13th win
Boyd (13-8) earned the win Friday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Rays. He struck out one.
Boyd delivered his shortest start since Aug. 8 and surrendered at least four runs for the fourth time in his last five outings, but he was still able to build on his career-high win total. The left-hander had a 2.46 ERA through his first 24 starts of the year, but the recent stumble has seen that mark increase to 3.05. Still, it's been a career year for Boyd, whose previous career best in a season of more than 15 starts was a 4.39 ERA.