MLB Player News

Sanchez took a no-decision Thursday against the Nationals, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out six.

Washington took it to Sanchez right away with four runs in the first inning, but the hurler settled in afterwards with four innings of one-run ball. The All-Star southpaw has now worked at least five frames in all 17 starts so far, and he's tied with Sandy Alcantara for the major-league lead with 110 innings on the year. Sanchez has been excellent otherwise in 2026, as he's set to carry a 2.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 127:21 K:BB into his next scheduled start at home versus an upstart Pirates lineup.

Cavalli took a no-decision Thursday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out seven.

The quality start was the first of the month for Cavalli, whose seven punchouts also marked his highest total in June so far. The 27-year-old right-hander was in line for the win, exiting the game with a 5-2 lead before the seventh inning, but Washington's much-maligned bullpen blew its 24th save of the season Thursday. Cavalli will take a pedestrian 4.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 89:29 K:BB over 83.1 innings into his next scheduled outing in Boston against a Red Sox team that's struggled mightily at home in 2026.

The Yankees optioned Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

With Escarra headed back to the minors, it means Ali Sanchez will likely be activated from the paternity list ahead of Friday's game against Boston. Escarra didn't see action in any of the three games after he was recalled Tuesday.

Latz secured the save Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out two.

Latz needed every bit of a 6-3 cushion Thursday, watching his scoreless streak of 12 frames come to an end. The 30-year-old left-hander should still be locked into the Rangers' closer job, as he's successfully nailing down 10 save opportunities in a row. Through 38 innings, Latz has a superb 1.89 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 40:8 K:BB while converting 15 of his 17 save chances.

Gore (5-6) earned the win Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out five.

Toronto did all of its of damage during a three-run fifth frame, but Gore kept the Blue Jays off balance otherwise. The 27-year-old southpaw induced 10 groundouts on the evening, and he's now logged four quality starts in his past seven outings after recording just one such effort in his first 10 appearances of 2026. Gore, who has a 4.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 97:38 K:BB over 91 innings, is next set to face a Guardians lineup that has an atrocious .453 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the beginning of June.

Gausman (4-6) took the loss Thursday against the Rangers, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out four.

After being torched for seven runs Friday against the Cubs, Gausman struggled on the hill once again Thursday while matching a season worst in hits allowed. The Rangers did most of their damage during a five-run third frame while taking Gausman deep three times on the evening. The 35-year-old right-hander will try to get back on track at home against the Mets next week, now holding a 4.36 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 93:22 K:BB over 95 innings.

De Los Santos secured the save Thursday against the Tigers, allowing one run on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning. He did not record a strikeout.

De Los Santos served up a solo home run to Dillon Dingler before letting the possible tying run get aboard, but Colt Keith grounded into a double play to end the game. Closer Josh Hader worked each of the past two days, so De Los Santos should revert back to a setup role going forward. The right-hander has a 4.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB over 35.2 innings while converting five of his seven save chances.

Melton (4-1) took the loss Thursday against the Astros, allowing one run on two hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out six.

That makes it back-to-back quality starts for Melton, who now has four such efforts over just six outings this year. The 25-year-old right-hander has been particularly hard to hit in 2026, giving up four hits or fewer on four occasions so far. Melton boasts a 2.39 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB across 37.2 innings, but his next matchup is an especially difficult draw in New York against the first-place Yankees.

Imai (5-3) notched the win Thursday against the Tigers, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 10.

Imai was brilliant on the mound Thursday, scattering two singles over six shutout innings. The 28-year-old right-hander has recorded double-digit strikeouts in back-to-back quality starts, a stretch which comes on the heels of his second-shortest outing of the season June 12 in Kansas City, where he surrendered five runs over two-thirds of an inning. Imai will try to further improve on his 5.36 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 58:25 K:BB in his next scheduled appearance at home versus the Twins.

Varland was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after Thursday's 10-5 loss to the Phillies.

Varland was tagged with the loss Thursday after he entered the contest with the score knotted up at 5-5 in the eighth inning, surrendering five runs on six hits while striking out two batters over two innings. The right-hander was able to blank the Phillies in the eighth inning before he came undone in the ninth, allowing five hits, including two homers. He has now given up 11 runs over seven frames in his last six appearances, watching his ERA balloon from 4.01 to 6.25 over 31.2 innings on the year. Varland was far from the only problem in the Nationals' bullpen recently, as the team combined to allow 15 ninth-inning runs over the final three contests of their four-game set with the Phillies.