MLB Player News

Smith allowed one run on four hits and a walk over 1.2 innings, taking a blown save in Monday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Cardinals. He didn't record a strikeout.

Smith entered the contest in the eighth inning, but he was unable to slam the door after staying on for the ninth. Since logging a save Aug. 7 versus the Tigers, Smith has allowed seven runs (five earned) with a 17:6 K:BB over 13 innings, converting three of six save chances in that span. Overall, he has a 3.24 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB through 33.1 innings, adding four saves, seven holds and four blown saves.

Webb allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings in a no-decision Monday versus the Cardinals.

Webb was tagged for 16 runs over 10.2 innings across his previous three starts. He was able to put forth a much better effort Monday, though he's now winless in four straight outings. On the year, Webb has a 4.10 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 127:40 K:BB across 155.2 innings over 26 starts. He is projected to make his next start at St. Louis next week, assuming the Giants operate with a six-man rotation to offset the injuries that have piled up late in the season.

Crews went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Padres on Monday.

Crews finished with two of Washington's five total hits, and he accounted for the team's only runs with a two-run blast in the sixth inning. It hasn't been a smooth campaign for the 24-year-old, as he's slashing just .220/.290/.371 through 93 contests. However, his bat has come alive a bit of late, as Crews is batting .313 (5-for-16) with four extra-base hits (three doubles and Monday's homer) over his past four games.

Merrill went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base Monday in a 3-2 win against Washington.

Merrill posted an RBI single in each of the first and third frames. He was in need of a positive performance, as the young outfielder had gone 0-for-13 over his previous four games. All three parts of Merrill's .241/.293/.415 slash line so far this season are on pace for a career-worst mark, but he hasn't been entirely devoid of value in fantasy, producing 22 homers, 72 runs, 72 RBI and 25 stolen bases through 141 contests.

Irvin (2-9) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 5.2 innings in a loss to San Diego on Monday.

Irvin had a rough beginning to his outing, giving up three runs over the first three innings. However, he clamped down from there and held the Padres scoreless for the remainder of his time in the game. Irvin got very close to a quality start, retiring the first two batters he faced in the sixth before walking Xander Bogaerts, who turned out to be the final batter he faced. The right-hander recorded just nine whiffs among his 102 pitches and notched just three punchouts, but he did manage to give Washington a little more length after tossing fewer than five frames in each of his previous two outings. Irvin is scheduled to next take the mound at home versus the Angels.

Miller earned a save against the Nationals on Monday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over one scoreless inning.

Miller entered with a one-run lead in the ninth inning and put the tying run on base when Dylan Crews tagged him for a one-out single. However, the All-Star closer followed the hit by striking out CJ Abrams before getting Brady House to ground out. Miller finished August in uncharacteristic fashion by allowing three runs while serving up two homers across two innings over his final two appearances, but he's rebounded by beginning September with three scoreless appearances during which he's posted a 9:1 K:BB across four frames. Miller is up to 34 saves on the season, fourth most in the majors.

Pivetta (2-2) earned the win over Washington on Monday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over five scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.

Pivetta missed nearly five months of MLB action and logged just three minor-league rehab appearances after landing on the IL in mid-April due to a right flexor strain, so his workload was limited to 63 pitches in his return. Nonetheless, the veteran righty was able to go deep enough to notch a victory, as he allowed the Nationals to put only two runners on base. Pivetta ended the outing on a high note by retiring the final seven batters he faced, and about the only detail that wasn't positive from a fantasy perspective is that he notched only two punchouts (and just one whiff). The Padres are battling for a wild-card spot in the NL, so the team doesn't figure to hold Pivetta back too much, though it's likely he'll need a few more starts to ramp up to a full workload. He's next scheduled to take the mound this weekend in San Francisco.

Boyd (8-4) took the loss against Milwaukee on Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over seven-plus innings.

Boyd got through four scoreless frames before yielding a run in the fifth. The Cubs held a 2-1 lead going into the eighth, and manager Craig Counsell elected to keep Boyd on the mound. That move ended up backfiring, as the lefty hurler put the first two batters of the inning on base via a walk and a double. Boyd was subsequently pulled, but both runners came home to score following his departure, saddling him with the loss. Boyd has gone 0-3 over his past five starts, recording a 5.46 ERA over 29.2 innings during that span. He'll look to get back on the winning foot his next time out, which is lined up to be a home matchup against Pittsburgh.

Megill earned a save against the Cubs on Monday, allowing one run on one hit over one inning.

Megill had a two-run lead to work with when he entered in the ninth inning, which proved important when he served up a solo homer to Pete Crow-Armstrong with two outs. Megill managed to shrug that off and retire Seiya Suzuki to end the frame and collect his 27th save of the season. The right-hander did see the end of a 15-game stretch without allowing an earned run, but he has now logged 19 successful saves since his last blown save. Megill needs three more saves before the end of the campaign to tie the career-high mark of 30 he established last regular season.

Gasser allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Monday.

Gasser held Chicago scoreless through four frames before serving up a solo homer to Pedro Ramirez with two outs in the fifth. He then hit a batter and issued a walk before being given the hook by manager Pat Murphy. Gasser was at only 83 pitches at that point, but the Cubs had a pair of right-handed batters coming up, which may have influenced the decision to yank the lefty hurler. It was the fourth time over Gasser's past six starts that he failed to complete five frames, and he's pitched to a mediocre 4.40 ERA across 28.2 innings during that span. Gasser is slated for a home matchup against the Reds his next time out.