MLB Player News

Williams allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight across six scoreless innings in the Guardians' 3-2 extra inning win against the Twins on Saturday but did not factor into the decision.

Williams started out hot by striking out four of the first six batters he faced. He managed to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth and kept the Twins off the board in his six innings worked but was unable to come away with the win. Williams has logged a quality start in four of his last five outings and has a 3.33 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 116.1 innings this season, but the 62 walks he's issued are most in the majors. He's lined up to face the Mets on the road next week.

Barger went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Royals.

Barger made Friday's score a little bit more respectable after he smacked a two-run homer to right field off Thomas Hatch in the ninth inning. It was Barger's 16th home run of the season, which is tied with Vladimir Guerrero for second most on the Blue Jays behind George Springer's (concussion) 18. In the 15 games since the All-Star break, Barger has gone 16-for-58 (.276) with four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI.

Guerrero went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Royals.

Guerrero got the scoring started with a solo home run to left field off Michael Wacha in the first inning. It was Guerrero's 16th home run of the season and fourth over his last 15 games. He has been hot at the plate since the All-Star break, slashing .397/.485/.690 with five doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI in 68 plate appearances.

Gausman (7-8) took the loss against the Royals on Friday, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out five across six innings. He did not issue a walk.

All of the damage to Gausman was done in the second and third frames on home runs by Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt, respectively. Gausman finished his start strongly by retiring 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, but he wasn't able to fade the loss as the Blue Jays' bats fell silent against Michael Wacha. Gausman sports a 3.99 ERA across 128.2 innings this season, and his 1.10 WHIP and 127 strikeouts rank ninth and 12th, respectively, among qualified American League starters. He's lined up to make his next start against the Rockies on the road next week.

Wacha (5-9) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five across eight innings. He did not issue a walk.

It was another strong outing for Wacha, who has yielded one earned run in each of his last four starts. He was efficient with his pitches and finished his outing having tossed 100 pitches (71 strikes) while generating 10 whiffs and six groundouts. Wacha's recent string of performances now has him at a 3.38 ERA and 95:35 K:BB across 125.1 innings this season, with his 1.16 WHIP ranking 13th among qualified starters in the American League. He's lined up to make his next start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park next week.

Frazier went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Frazier gave the Royals a commanding seven-run lead in the ninth, when he took Mason Fluharty deep to right field for a two-run homer. It was Frazier's fourth home run of the season and first since June 1 against the Padres. The veteran outfielder has started in each of the Royals' last four games, and he should continue to see a bump in playing time for as long as Jac Caglianone (hamstring) is on the 10-day injured list.

Witt went 1-for-3 with a steal, two walks and a three-run home run in Friday's 9-3 win over Toronto.

Witt continued his strong play at the plate Friday, giving the Royals a 5-1 lead in the third after taking Kevin Gausman deep to left field for a three-run homer. Witt has recorded at least one hit in 21 of 24 games since the beginning of July, and over that span he has an .890 OPS with eight steals, seven doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI.

Garcia (1-6) allowed two runs on two hits while failing to record an out, taking the loss and a blown save versus the Mariners on Friday.

Garcia gave up a walk-off two-run home run to J.P. Crawford. This was Garcia's first blown save since June 14 versus the White Sox, though he also took a pair of losses while pitching to a 1.13 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over eight innings in July. The Rangers added Phil Maton from the Cardinals and Danny Coulombe from the Twins at the trade deadline, both of whom earned holds prior to Garcia's blown save. That suggests Garcia will maintain closing duties for now, though any extended struggles will likely cost him the role. He's managed a 3.05 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 46:16 K:BB with nine saves, 11 holds and four blown saves over 41.1 innings this season.

India went 1-for-5 with a double and a run in Friday's 9-3 win over the Blue Jays.

India returned Friday from a one-game absence due to a sore shoulder. He got on base in the third inning on a double and was brought home when Bobby Witt smacked a three-run homer off Kevin Gausman. India has struggled at the plate in 12 games since the All-Star break, going 7-for-46 (.152) with eight runs, four doubles, one homer and eight RBI.

Leiter allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.

Leiter had a 12-pitch at-bat against Cole Young that ended in a walk in the fifth inning, getting the Texas right-hander's pitch count up faster than expected. He was charged with one run in that frame when Hoby Milner allowed an inherited runner to score. Leiter had reached the five-inning mark in each of his previous three starts, winning all of them with six runs allowed over 17.1 innings in that span, so this was a step back. He's also walked at least three batters in four straight starts. Leiter now has a 4.10 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 90:48 K:BB through 96.2 innings across 19 starts this season. Kumar Rocker was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, so it looks like Leiter will hold onto his rotation spot after the Rangers acquired Merrill Kelly from the Diamondbacks on Thursday. Leiter is projected to make his next start at home versus the Yankees.