MLB Player News

Criswell (6-4) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while failing to record a strikeout over five innings, earning the win Saturday over the White Sox.

Criswell continues to operate on a short leash -- this was the first time in four starts since he rejoined the Boston rotation where he pitched deep enough to qualify for the win. He's allowed multiple runs in just three of his 10 outings since the All-Star break, though five of those were relief appearances. For the year, Criswell has a 4.11 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 66:27 K:BB through 92 innings over 23 outings (17 starts). He's tentatively projected to make his next start on the road versus the Yankees.

Gilbert (7-11) took the loss Saturday versus the Cardinals, throwing a complete game (eight innings) in which he allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit-by pitch while striking out 10.

Gilbert was just about at his best Saturday, but a hit batsman and a Pedro Pages two-run home run in the eighth inning sent him to the unlucky loss. This was Gilbert's fifth quality start in seven outings since the start of August. He's covered eight innings on four occasions this year, though this was his first complete game of the campaign. The 27-year-old is now at a 3.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 191:33 K:BB through 185.2 innings over 29 starts this season. Gilbert is projected to make his next start at home versus the Rangers.

Duran (6-9) took the loss Saturday versus the Royals, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and a hit batsman while striking out one over one-third of an inning.

Duran avoided the blown save, but he set the stage for the Twins' collapse by allowing three of the first four batters he faced to reach base. Griffin Jax couldn't slow the Royals, ultimately allowing two inherited runners to score. Duran has been charged with multiple runs in four of his 19 appearances since the All-Star break, permitting 15 runs (10 earned) over 16.2 innings in that span. He's now at a 3.80 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 54:13 K:BB while collecting 22 saves and five holds through 47.1 innings this season.

Ober allowed one hit and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Royals on Saturday.

Ober was dominant, but Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax melted down in the eighth inning to let the Royals steal one. Ober had thrown just 83 pitches (59 strikes) when he was pulled with the bottom half of the Royals' order due up in the eighth. While Ober's winless streak is at five starts, this was his fourth quality start in that span and his fifth scoreless outing of the year. He's now at a 3.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB through 155 innings over a career-high 27 starts. The 29-year-old's next start is projected to be at home versus the Reds.

Lynch (1-0) allowed a hit and struck out four without walking a batter over three scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday over the Twins.

Lynch served as a de facto piggyback reliever after starter Alec Marsh went five innings. The Royals' four-run rally in the eighth inning put Lynch in position to be the pitcher of record, and Lucas Erceg was able to lock down the save. Lynch hasn't allowed a run over 7.2 innings across five appearances since he rejoined the major-league roster in late August. He's now at a 4.75 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 30.1 innings over 10 outings (three starts) this year. He is likely to end the campaign in a multi-inning relief role as long as he stays in the majors.

Erceg struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Twins.

Erceg was able to protect the two-run lead the Royals established in the eighth inning. It's his second clean outing in a row after he struggled in three straight appearances from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, including one outing which was cut short when he was hit on the hand by a batted ball. He's up to 10 saves -- including seven as a Royal -- while posting a 3.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 61:15 K:BB through 53 innings between Kansas City and Oakland this year.

Marsh allowed two runs on four hits and struck out five without walking a batter over five innings, taking a no-decision versus the Twins on Saturday.

Marsh threw 60 of 84 pitches for strikes in a decent start, but he received almost no help while he was in the game. The Twins put up both runs against him in the third inning, and it took until the eighth for the Royals to offer a response. Over his last three outings, Marsh has given up nine runs (seven earned) over 14.2 innings, which is a little more stability than he offered in July before he lost his spot in the rotation. Overall, he's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 105:34 K:BB through 116 innings over 23 appearances (22 starts). Marsh is tentatively projected to make his next start at Pittsburgh.

Manager Alex Cora said after Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox that Bello will make his next start in Monday's series opener against the Orioles, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Bello was slated to start in Sunday's series finale versus Chicago, but the decision was made to push him to Monday in order to give Tanner Houck additional rest on the heels of the latter pitcher's last outing Wednesday against the Mets. Cora added that a minor-league call-up could be utilized for Sunday's contest, with Richard Fitts being a leading candidate to move up from Triple-A Worcester. In his nine starts since the All-Star break, Bello has gone 2-2 with a 3.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB over 52.1 innings.

Cortes (9-10) was the pitcher of record in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Cubs, allowing one walk and no hits with three strikeouts over 4.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Cortes pitched in relief for the first time this season and didn't allow a hit while throwing 33 of 48 pitches for strikes. The results had been a mixed bag in his previous five outings, as he fired three quality starts but gave up 11 earned runs in the other two appearances. On the season, he owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 147:33 K:BB across 163.1 innings. Cortes piggybacked Clarke Schmidt on Saturday in the latter's return from the injured list, but it's unclear if the two pitchers will be deployed in tandem moving forward, or if both will have starting roles as part of a six-man rotation.

Walls went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBI, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Orioles.

Walls had his best game of the season Saturday, homering for the first time this year in the third inning and swiping his 13th bag in the eighth. The shortstop has produced on just six hits in his past 10 games, scoring six times while driving in seven runs. On the season, he is hitting just .178 with 12 RBI and 23 runs scored across 212 plate appearances.