MLB Player News

Johnson (3-8) took the loss against Pittsburgh on Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings.

Johnson gave up an RBI double to Jake Mangum in the second inning, but it was an otherwise strong performance from the right-hander, who logged his third quality start of the season and second in his last three outings. Unfortunately for Johnson, his Angels teammates couldn't get on the board, leaving the 24-year-old to take the loss. Johnson has allowed only two earned runs over his last three starts (spanning 18 innings), and he'll take a 5.17 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 78.1 frames into his next start, tentatively slated for next week against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Montgomery came away with the save in Friday's 1-0 win over the Angels, allowing one hit while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Friday's contest turned out to be a pitchers' duel between Jared Jones and Ryan Johnson, with Montgomery being called in for the ninth inning to protect Pittsburgh's one-run lead. He worked around a Mike Trout single to retire the side, finishing things off by getting Travis d'Arnaud to strike out looking. Montgomery has logged a save in back-to-back outings and is up to nine on the year with a 2.91 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 58.2 innings. He has not allowed an earned run since July 26.

Jones (3-6) earned the win against the Angels on Friday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out nine across six scoreless innings.

It was Jones' best start since July 8 against Atlanta, when he struck out eight batters while not allowing a run, hit or walk across six frames. He struck out four consecutive batters both from the second to third innings and between the fifth and sixth frames, en route to tying a season high in punchouts. His Pirates teammates put up only one run, but that turned out to be enough for Jones to come away with his first win since July 18 against the Guardians. He'll take a 4.46 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 78.2 innings into his next start, lined up for next week on the road against the White Sox.

Montes was removed from Friday's game against the Athletics in the fifth inning with an apparent injury, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Montes, playing in just his third MLB game, crashed hard into the outfield wall while trying to make a play on a Zack Gelof triple in the top of the fifth. While Montes got up and was walking around afterward, he was replaced in right field by Taylor Ward in between innings.

Taillon (elbow) will undergo an MRI on Friday night and will likely be placed on the injured list Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Taillon's return from the IL didn't last long, as the elbow injury -- described by Taillon as more of a nerve issue -- cut Friday's outing short after two innings and 29 pitches. The Blue Jays' hands are tied with the bullpen taxed in relief of Taillon, and their options to replace Taillon in the rotation are limited with Trey Yesavage (knee) still a little ways off.

Pasquantino went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Pasquantino hit a solo shot off Michael Lorenzen in the ninth inning. The first baseman has now homered four times in 16 games since returning from the injured list Aug. 17, and he owns an impressive .876 OPS in 25 contests since the All-Star break. For the year, he's slashing .241/.328/.382 with 10 long balls, 43 RBI, 42 runs scored and five steals across 405 plate appearances.

Baz (5-15) took the loss against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six across 6.1 innings.

A solo homer by Boston's Mickey Gasper in the first inning was the only run that the Red Sox scored off Baz and the Orioles. Unfortunately for Baz, his Orioles teammates couldn't get on the board themselves, resulting in the 10th loss this season that the right-hander has taken in starts in which he's allowed three earned runs or fewer. He has only five wins to his name this season despite posting a respectable 3.91 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 145:57 K:BB over 163.1 innings. Baz is lined up to face the Guardians at home next week, in what is shaping up to be a key series in the race for the AL Wild Card.

Witt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 9-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Witt got the Royals on the board with a 410-foot blast in the first inning. It ended a 12-game power drought for the shortstop, who hit just .234 with two extra-base hits during that span. For the season, he's slashing .283/.360/.452 with 17 homers, 51 RBI, 79 runs scored and 38 steals across 544 plate appearances.

Manager Kevin Cash said after Friday's win over the Rangers that Baker was removed from the game due to an illness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

"Nothing physical," Cash stressed, which is music to the ears of Baker's fantasy managers. Baker walked both batters he faced before being removed from a save situation Friday. He leads the majors in saves with 39 this season.

Chapman earned the save in Friday's 1-0 win over Baltimore, striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Friday's AL East clash was a low-scoring affair, and Chapman was brought out for a second consecutive night to secure the win for Boston. The veteran southpaw needed 11 pitches (six strikes) to get through the frame, striking out Gunnar Henderson in the process for his 32nd save of the season, matching his total from the 2025 regular season. Chapman has a 1.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB over 19 innings since the All-Star break, securing 13 saves in the process.