MLB Player News

Ryan (4-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing two hits and a walk over six scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Brewers. He struck out nine.

Milwaukee got a runner to third base in the first inning on a Brice Turang single and a couple stolen bases, but it was as close as the home side would come to getting a run on the board off Ryan. The right-hander fired 64 of 99 pitches for strikes en route to his fourth straight quality start, and he'll take a 2.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 63:6 K:BB through 52 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Guardians.

Smith (1-3) was saddled with the loss in Friday's 13-3 defeat at the hands of the Cubs, allowing six runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk while punching out five batters in five innings.

An error from catcher Matt Thaiss on a play at the plate in the second inning ensured that Pete Crow-Armstrong's three-run homer and Seiya Suzuki's RBI double later in the inning wouldn't count against Smith's line, so the 25-year-old righty still owns a 2.05 ERA despite allowing six runs to cross the plate Friday. He'll look to bounce back next week against a Mariners offense that owns a .677 OPS since the start of May.

Eovaldi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Astros, allowing two hits and three walks over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out five.

The veteran righty left the mound after 93 pitches (56 strikes), including 32 called or swinging strikes, just short of his sixth straight quality start, and Eovaldi then saw his fifth win of the year slip away when the Texas bullpen melted down in the seventh inning. Eovaldi will take a 1.61 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 65:8 K:BB through 61.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Yankees.

McCullers came away with a no-decision in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rangers, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander also plunked Marcus Semien and uncorked a wild pitch, and McCullers left the mound in the line for the loss after 83 pitches (53 strikes). A six-run rally in the seventh by the Astros got him off the hook, however. The four frames still represented McCullers' longest outing since coming off the IL at the beginning of May, and his inability to go deep into games yet is understandable considering his two-year layoff due to injuries. He'll try to improve his efficiency in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mariners.

Sears (4-3) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two over four innings to take the loss Friday versus the Giants.

Sears was fine through two innings, but he ran into trouble in the third. Wilmer Flores took him deep for a grand slam in that frame to finish a 10-pitch at-bat. The four runs allowed were a season high for Sears, and he's given up six homers over nine starts. The southpaw still has a respectable 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB across 49 innings despite this inefficient start. He's projected for a home start versus the Angels his next time out.

Kochanowicz (3-5) allowed a run on five hits and four walks while striking out five over 6.2 innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Friday.

Kochanowicz was a little generous in allowing baserunners again -- this was the third time in four starts he's walked a season-high four batters. Despite that, the only run he allowed was on a Max Muncy double in the fourth inning. Kochanowicz was able to induce four double plays to offset the traffic on the bases. He's now at a 4.71 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 29:22 K:BB across 49.2 innings over nine starts. He's allowed just two runs over his last 12.1 innings, but he'll need to trim the walk rate to make that short-term success more sustainable. The 24-year-old is projected to start on the road versus the Athletics in his next outing.

Povich did not factor into the decision against the Nationals on Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out nine across 5.2 innings.

Povich had extra rest entering Friday's game after his original start Tuesday against the Twins was postponed due to rain. The time off appeared to help the 25-year-old southpaw, as he registered a season-high nine strikeouts and was one out shy from logging his third quality start of the season. Povich has a 5.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB across 41.1 innings, and he is lined up to face the Brewers on the road next week.

Francis (2-6) took the loss against the Tigers on Friday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six across 4.2 innings.

Francis gave up solo home runs to Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry in the second and fourth innings, respectively. Francis has given up a league-worst 14 home runs through nine starts this season and has a 5.63 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB across 46.1 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next week at home against the Padres.

Flaherty (2-5) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six across 5.2 innings.

Flaherty had a 6.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over his last five starts (all losses), but he was much better in Friday's outing. He kept the Blue Jays off the board through the first five innings and struck out the first two batters he faced in the sixth, but he yielded a two-run home run to Daulton Varsho and was one out shy from logging his second quality start of the season. Flaherty will look to make it two wins in a row in his next start, tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Cardinals.

Ragans exited Friday's game against St. Louis due to left groin tightness.

Ragans gave up four runs in five-plus innings before an athletic trainer took him out of the game. The left-hander is tentatively scheduled to make his next start Wednesday in San Francisco, though it's unclear if he'll be able to do so.