MLB Player News

Walker went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBI in Wednesday's 10-2 win against the White Sox.

Walker helped Houston get off to a fast start with a two-run blast to left field in the first inning. He added a two-run double in the third to finish with a season-high four RBI. Walker has largely struggled so far during his first campaign in Houston, and even after Wednesday's big performance he still holds a modest .653 OPS through 65 games. If that mark holds, it would be his lowest OPS since 2018 and his first time below an .800 mark since 2021.

Burke (3-7) took the loss against Houston on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 3.2 innings.

Burke fell behind quickly, giving up three runs in the first frame (two of which came on a Christian Walker homer). Things didn't get much better for the right-hander from there, and he ended up surrendering a career-worst seven runs in the defeat. It was a sharp downturn after Burke rolled off a quality start in each of his previous three appearances entering Wednesday and gave up just five runs with a 17:5 K:BB over 19 frames during that span. He'll look to get back on track in what's projected to be a home start against St. Louis his next time out.

Gusto (4-3) earned the win over the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Gusto got plenty of run support, as Houston held a 7-0 lead through four innings. The right-hander gave up a pair of runs in the fifth, but he capped his outing with a scoreless sixth to record his first career quality start. Gusto also racked up a career-high seven strikeouts and notched 11 whiffs. He's settled into a rotation spot with several Houston starters dealing with injuries, and Gusto's next start is projected to be a road matchup against the Athletics.

Bubic (5-4) was charged with the loss Wednesday against the Yankees after giving up five runs on six hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out three.

It was the shortest outing of the year for Bubic, who yielded a season-high five runs. The 27-year-old left-hander also matched season worsts with four walks and three punchouts, and his six hits allowed were one short of his season high. Bubic's ERA still stands at an outstanding 1.92 along with a 1.07 WHIP and 82:26 K:BB across 79.2 innings, and he'll look to get back on track his next time out against a Rangers team that has an abysmal .542 OPS versus southpaws since the beginning of May.

Schmidt (3-3) tallied the win Wednesday against the Royals after giving up two hits and three walks in six shutout innings. He struck out seven.

It was Schmidt's second scoreless start in his last three outings, and he's now thrown at least six frames in five of his last seven appearances. The 29-year-old right-hander scattered two singles, and he came one strikeout shy of tying his season high. Schmidt holds a quality 3.60 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 57:24 K:BB across 55 innings, and he'll remain worth deploying in the vast majority of fantasy formats versus the Angels in his next scheduled start.

Semien went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Twins on Wednesday.

Semien's lone hit was a productive one, as he belted a solo homer to left field in the second inning. The veteran second baseman continues to turn things around after a horrible start to the season that resulted in a .172 batting average through 56 games. Since May 30, Semien is batting a robust .459 (17-for-37) with three home runs, 10 RBI, 13 runs and three stolen bases over 11 contests.

Buehler (5-4) tallied the win Wednesday against the Rays after giving up three runs on six hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out seven.

It was an encouraging bounce-back performance for Buehler, who was crushed for a season-high seven runs in his previous start against the Yankees. The 30-year-old right-hander tied his second-highest strikeout total of the year, and he fired a season-high seven frames for his fourth quality start of the campaign. Buehler will look to further improve on his 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB over 55.2 innings in his next outing, which is set to come at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against a Mariners club that has a .600 OPS at home since May 1.

Buxton went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, a double, a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-2 win against the Rangers.

The Rangers couldn't get Buxton out in the contest, as the veteran outfielder reached base in all four trips to the plate. His biggest hit was a massive 479-foot, three-run blast to center field in the third inning that gave the Twins their first lead. In addition to the power display, Buxton also swiped his 11th bag of the campaign. With 11 home runs and 11 steals on the season, Buxton is one of 15 major-leaguers who have reached double figures in both categories so far.

Littell (6-6) was charged with the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox after giving up four runs on eight hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out six.

Littell's control remained nearly impeccable, as he issued one walk or fewer in his 10th straight start, but his struggles containing the long ball resurfaced. The 29-year-old right-hander served up a whopping four homers for the second time already this year, and he now inauspiciously leads the majors in homers allowed (21). Littell still owns a steady 3.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 58:11 K:BB across 86.2 innings, and he'll aim to reduce the hard contact the next time he's scheduled to take the hill, likely next week versus the Orioles.

Leiter (4-3) took the loss against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three batters over four-plus innings.

Leiter gave up a three-run homer to Byron Buxton in the third inning to account for most of the damage against him. The right-hander also struggled with his control, throwing just 51 of 87 pitches for strikes and issuing four free passes. Leiter had been pitching well entering Wednesday, posting a 2.20 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over five starts since his previous loss May 8, so he has earned himself a lengthy leash in terms of the security of his rotation spot. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is projected to be a matchup at home versus Kansas City.