MLB Player News

Smith didn't factor into the decision against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6.1 innings.

The right-hander carried momentum from arguably his best outing of the season earlier in the week, a seven-inning, one-hit shutout of the Royals, and was sharp again against MLB's highest-scoring offense. Smith retired 10 of his first 11 batters before surrendering a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the fourth inning and later gave up another long ball to Austin Wells in the seventh. Aside from the two mistakes, Smith limited New York to just one other hit while racking up strikeouts. The 25-year-old will take a 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 112:50 K:BB across 120.1 innings into his next scheduled start against the Twins.

Ferguson allowed one run on two hits and one walk in the seventh inning Saturday against the Guardians. He struck out one.

Ferguson has now surrendered at least one run in four of his past six outings. The 29-year-old southpaw has certainly been inconsistent when called on from the Mariners' bullpen since joining the team in late July -- Ferguson has a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB through his first 12 innings for Seattle.

Speier threw a clean eighth inning Saturday against the Guardians. He struck out one.

Speier's scoreless streak is now up to 5.1 innings, and he's given up just one run over 11 frames in the month of August. The 30-year-old left-hander has been an outstanding setup man in the Seattle bullpen for most of the year -- Speier owns a 2.20 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 34:6 K:BB across his last 28.2 frames (37 outings).

Schlittler didn't factor into the decision against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.

Following back-to-back scoreless starts, the rookie kept his breakout run alive Saturday, notching his third consecutive outing of at least six frames and eight punchouts. This performance lowered Schlittler's ERA for the month of August to 1.60 alongside a 39:11 K:BB across 33.2 innings. The right-hander is quickly establishing himself as a reliable piece of New York's rotation, though his next scheduled start comes against the Blue Jays, who are among the league leaders in OPS against right-handers.

Chapman and the Red Sox agreed Saturday to a one-year, $13.3 million contract extension with a vesting option for 2027, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Chapman has re-emerged as one of the most dominant closers in baseball this season, posting a 1.04 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 74:14 K:BB over 52 innings spanning 57 outings while racking up 26 saves in 28 chances. The 37-year-old joined Boston on a one-year contract last December and will now be with the club for at least one additional campaign. Romero relays that the option for 2027 is a vesting option based on innings pitched that will become a mutual option if it doesn't get triggered.

Kurtz's MRI on his oblique revealed that he does not have a strain, and manager Mark Kotsay said he's hopeful the first baseman will be back playing "sooner than later," Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

This should provide a big sigh of relief for both the A's and fantasy managers who roster Kurtz, as an oblique strain would have likely resulted in a stint on the IL. Instead, Kurtz should be considered day-to-day, though he's not in the lineup Saturday versus Texas. Tyler Soderstrom will likely hold down the fort at first base until Kurtz is ready to return to action.

May (7-11) took the loss Saturday, coughing up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and four walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox fell 10-3 to the Pirates. He struck out five.

Boston held an early 2-1 lead as May gave up only an unearned run through four innings, but the wheels began to come off for the right-hander in the fifth after a leadoff single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. May has been tagged for at least four runs in four of his last eight starts, stumbling to a 6.13 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB over 39.2 innings during that stretch. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Arizona.

Lowe went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Nationals.

The 27-year-old outfielder gave the Rays all the offense they would need when he took Jake Irvin deep in the first inning for a three-run blast, but Lowe added a bit of insurance with a solo shot off the right-hander in the fourth. The performance snapped a 22-game homer drought for Lowe, and through 85 contests on the season he's up to nine long balls and 16 steals to go along with a .236/.301/.387 slash line.

Baker struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Nationals.

Pete Fairbanks threw 22 pitches the night before and was presumably unavailable, but Griffin Jax handled the eighth inning after Mason Englert gave up Washington's only run, while Baker took care of the ninth. It was Baker's first save since being acquired by the Rays in early July, and after some initial struggles with his new team, he's posted a 1.50 ERA, 0.42 WHIP and 15:1 K:BB over 12 August innings.

Osuna isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Athletics.

The lefty-hitting Osuna had been in the lineup for each of Texas' previous two games against a right-handed starter, but he's beginning on the bench Saturday despite the A's sending righty Mason Barnett to the mound. The Rangers' starting outfield Saturday consists of Wyatt Langford, Michael Helman and Adolis Garcia from left to right.