MLB Player News

Kikuchi (7-7) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two over just 2.2 innings in a loss to the Astros on Friday.

Kikuchi was hammered early and often Friday, allowing multiple runs in all three innings he pitched in before being pulled. Five of the seven runs he gave up came on a trio of long balls, marking the first time he's let up more than two homers in an outing this year. The 30-year-old southpaw has had little success against the Astros this year. In four games against the division rivals, Kikuchi is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB. Fortunately, he projects to have a softer matchup next week against the Royals.

Wacha didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-5 extra-innings loss to the White Sox, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits over five innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The nine whiffs tied his season high. Wacha hasn't pitched more than five innings in any of his seven starts since the All-Star break, but the tight leash hasn't led to better results as he has a 7.64 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 35:8 K:BB and 2.5 HR/9 in 33 innings over that stretch.

McCullers (10-4) earned an easy victory over the Mariners on Friday after allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out eight over six innings.

McCullers was given an early cushion with the Astros surging to a 7-0 lead by the end of the third inning, and he did his job limiting the damage the rest of the way. The 27-year-old allowed a solo home run to Kyle Seager in the fourth and then was scored against once more on a base hit in the sixth. McCullers has punched out at least eight hitters in eight of his last nine starts and is on pace for his best K/9 since 2016. He now owns a 3.21 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 144:56 K:BB over 120.2 innings this year. He projects for a favorable matchup at home against the Royals next week.

Giolito didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-5 extra-innings win over the Rays, allowing two runs on three hits over seven innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander seemed headed for his 10th win of the season when he exited the game with a 4-2 lead, but Aaron Bummer coughed it up in the eighth inning. Giolito has fanned exactly eight batters in three straight games and has five quality starts in seven outings since the All-Star break, posting a 2.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 44:9 K:BB through 44 innings over that stretch.

Sale (2-0) allowed five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings Friday, earning the win over Texas.

While Texas was able to put runners on base, Sale made sure to keep the visitors off the board. He threw 49 of his 71 pitches for strikes, a lighter workload than the 89-pitch effort he recorded in his season debut last Saturday. Boston is likely to be cautious with its ace as he continues to build himself up in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. The southpaw is projected to make his next start versus Minnesota next week.

Dunning (5-8) allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out only one in 4.2 innings Friday, taking the loss versus Boston.

Dunning allowed runs to score in the first and second innings before settling down. He then ran into trouble again in the fifth, yielding a short solo shot to Xander Bogaerts and a two-run double to Alex Verdugo. Dunning sports a 4.31 ERA with a mediocre 1.42 WHIP and 98:36 K:BB across 104.1 innings this year. He's projected to make his next start at home versus Houston next weekend, which is a fairly unfavorable matchup.

Ray allowed a run on five hits and no walks while striking out 11 over eight innings in a no-decision versus Detroit on Friday.

The southpaw was excellent through seven innings Friday, but his offense didn't give him enough help. The only run scored on Ray's watch came on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. Despite allowing just five runs in his last 27 innings, he has not recorded a decision in his last four starts. The 29-year-old has a 2.79 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 178:36 K:BB across 145.1 innings this year. He'll try to get back in the win column in a tough home matchup versus the White Sox next week.

Cortes (2-1) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings Friday, earning the win over Minnesota.

The southpaw's only mistake was a two-run home run to Josh Donaldson in the sixth inning, but the Yankees were never in any real danger Friday. Cortes has turned in quality starts his last two times on the hill. He's at a 2.56 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB across 56.1 innings in 15 appearances (seven starts). It's unclear if Cortes has done enough to keep himself in the rotation, but if he takes another turn, it would likely be in Oakland during next weekend's four-game series.

Keller (8-12) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out eight in six innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Friday.

Keller had been charged with losses in each of his last three starts, but he had more success Friday. The Royals fell behind early after the right-hander gave up runs in the second and third innings, but the team's offense kicked into gear in the fourth. Across four starts in August, Keller has recorded a 4.79 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 20.2 innings. He tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Seattle on Thursday.

Blackburn will likely make another start for the Athletics, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Blackburn made his 2021 debut Wednesday against the White Sox, and he was charged with the loss after he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three in 5.1 innings. Although the right-hander didn't fare particularly well, manager Bob Melvin said Blackburn threw a bullpen Friday and will likely take at least one more turn through the rotation. The 27-year-old tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Mariners on Monday.