MLB Player News

Morton (7-3) allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits, five walks and a hit batsman while striking out 10 over five innings in Friday's 10-5 win over the Twins.

Morton wasn't at his best Friday, requiring a season-high 108 pitches to record 15 outs, but Houston's offense, which currently ranks among the best in MLB history, gave him ample run support via an eight-run second inning. The Astros have supported Morton all season, giving him 6.33 runs per game over his 12 starts. Support like that will lead to a significant amount of wins for Morton, who has recorded double-digit wins (10) just once during his nine previous seasons.

Paxton (8-3) gave up two runs on five hits over six innings while striking out nine in Friday's 4-2 win over the White Sox.

The lefty fired 72 of 103 pitches for strikes while winning his third straight game and delivering his fourth straight quality start. Paxton has a 2.73 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP and a dominant 30:8 K:BB in 26.1 innings over that four-game stretch, but he'll face a tough test Wednesday on the road against the Astros.

Berrios gave up seven runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with one strikeout over 1.2 innings in Friday's loss to Houston.

Berrios wasn't helped by his defense as shortstop Jorge Polanco made an error in the second inning that may have been a double play. Over his last four starts, he has a 6.63 ERA with a troubling 2.4 HR/9 and 3.3 BB/9.

Nolasco gave up just one run on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision Friday against the Rays.

Three of Nolasco's last four starts have been excellent, but the other one, last time out against Texas, saw him allow eight runs in just 1.2 innings. That's the kind of maddening inconsistency that has defined Nolasco's season -- and career -- thus far, and it's a big reason why fantasy owners have a hard time trusting him despite some of the brilliance he's shown lately.

Carrasco (10-4) struck out 10 over 6.1 innings but allowed five runs on six hits and two walks in a loss Friday against the Athletics.

Carrasco has now reached double digits in strikeouts in three of his past six starts and has 21 strikeouts over his past two starts. Unfortunately, his mistakes were punished hard Friday night, as he gave up a pair of home runs and a pair of doubles among the six Athletics hits off him. Carrasco is about as nasty as it gets, but his propensity for allowing extra-base hits is a major weakness -- he has now given up 14 home runs in just 18 starts.

Gray (5-4) tossed six shutout innings and allowed just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts in a win Friday over Cleveland.

Gray has now fired four consecutive quality starts and has lowered his ERA to 3.72 in the process. Impeccable control has fueled Gray's hot streak. He has walked just five batters over those four starts while striking out a respectable 21 in 27 innings. Gray continues to look like one of the best available starting pitchers on this year's trade market.

Perez (5-6) held the Royals to three runs on eight hits and a walk with one strikeout over seven innings in a win Friday night.

Perez was on 10 days of rest thanks to the All-Star break, but it doesn't look like the extended layoff bothered him at all. He executed his pitch-to-contact game plan perfectly, with his one major mistake coming in the form of a second inning home run by Alcides Escobar. Perez will be asked to eat innings down the stretch, and the fact that he only needed 89 pitches to complete seven innings on Friday shows why he's well suited to the role.

Hammel allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Friday against the Rangers.

Hammel was sharp, as he induced 18 swinging strikes, but he struggled to close out counts when he needed to. As a result, it took 108 pitches for him to record 17 outs, and he seemed to be tiring by the sixth inning when Adrian Beltre tagged him for a three-run home run to blow up what had been a shutout through the first five. Hammel's ERA sits at 5.02.

Gausman (5-7) was lit up over three innings in Friday's no-decision against the Cubs, allowing eight runs on seven hits (four home runs) and a walk while notching five strikeouts.

Just when it seemed like things couldn't get much worse following Gausman's awful pre-All-Star effort, he gets pounded right out of the gate to open the second half. He surrendered back-to-back homers in the first inning Friday, and served up another in each of his next two frames. Luckily for him, the O's staged a seven-run comeback to take the 26-year-old off the hook for another loss. Through 20 starts, now Gausman owns a hideous 6.39 ERA and although his BABIP is high, the right-hander has shown nothing to justify clogging a fantasy roster spot with him.

Verlander (5-7) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings to take the loss Friday against the Blue Jays.

Verlander started out strong, as he fired four shutout innings before struggling in his final two innings of work. He's allowed at least three earned runs in four of his last five outings, and his 4.66 ERA makes him a shaky fantasy option. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Royals.