MLB Player News

Batista had a 1.04 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 29:6 K:BB in 26 innings over five starts with High-A Winston-Salem.

Acquired from the Dodgers in August 2023 in exchange for international slot money, Batista posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 87 strikeouts in 84.2 innings across 17 starts for Single-A Kannapolis before getting promoted to Winston-Salem on Aug. 6. Batista is a slender 6-foot-2 righty who operates with a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a pair of decent secondary offerings. He built up to a career-best 110.2 innings this year and should spend a good chunk of 2025 in the upper levels of the minors.

Suarez logged a 4.11 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 115:21 K:BB in 111.2 innings across 23 starts for Single-A Charleston.

Throw out Suarez's ERA, as his 3.51 FIP and 2.97 xFIP paint a more accurate picture of his performance. Suarez's 4.7 percent walk rate was the best mark among all qualified full-season pitchers who are 20 and under. His pinpoint control and ability to handle a starter's workload are encouraging traits, although Suarez's pure stuff is more in line with a future mid-rotation starter than a front-line starter. The Rays have several exciting pitching prospects coming off breakout seasons, but Suarez's floor (assuming reasonable health) is as high as any other arm in the system.

Raya threw five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks in his first start with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday. He was promoted for the final weekend of the season after posting a 4.06 ERA with a 9.4 K/9 at Double-A Wichita.

Raya wasn't overly impressive at Double-A with a 4.3 BB/9, as walks have been a concern the last two seasons (4.3 BB/9 at Double-A in 2023 as well). Raya also didn't go more than five innings in any outing after being limited to three-inning appearances most of 2023 as he worked his way back from shoulder issues. It's not clear if his future is as a reliever or starter, but he could contend for a major-league job next spring.

Bassitt (10-14) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and seven walks over 4.1 innings against the Red Sox. He struck out two.

Bassitt walked a career-high seven batters and failed to complete five innings for the second consecutive start, allowing single runs in the second, third and fourth innings prior to being pulled with one out and two men on in the fifth. The 35-year-old righty holds a 4.16 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, the first time his ERA has moved above four and his WHIP above 1.24 since 2016. Bassitt is in line to make one more start on the final day of the regular season against the Marlins.

Houck (9-10) earned the win Monday, allowing one hit and one walk across five scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. He did not record a strikeout.

Houck was efficient Monday, needing just 57 pitches to complete five frames while allowing only two Blue Jays to reach base. It was the first performance this season where Houck, who came into the game recording a career-low 8.0 K/9, did not record a strikeout. The Red Sox have been careful with Houck, who has been held to 60 and 57 pitches over his last two starts since missing two weeks with shoulder fatigue. The righty has performed as Boston's best starter this season, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154 strikeouts across 178.2 innings and 30 starts. He is in line to make one more turn in the rotation this season at home against Tampa, assuming the Red Sox don't elect to end his campaign a bit early.

Brown (11-9) allowed a run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings to take the loss versus the Mariners on Monday.

Brown has six quality starts over his last seven outings, and his eight strikeouts Monday are the most in any one start during that span. Despite his strong pitching over that stretch (2.11 ERA in 42.2 innings), he has a 1-2 record. Brown lowered his ERA for the year to 3.49 with a 1.27 WHIP and now has a career-high 179 strikeouts over 170 innings through 31 outings (30 starts). The right-hander is not projected to make another regular-season start since the Astros are currently using a six-man rotation and have just five games left on the schedule.

Miller (12-8) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five over seven scoreless innings to earn the win over the Astros on Monday.

While Miller walked multiple batters for the fifth time in his last seven starts, that was about the only complaint anyone could register with this performance. He's rattled off four straight quality starts, though a lack of run support has caused him to win just two of those games. Miller has kept runs off the board in nine of his 31 starts this season, pitching to a 2.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 171:45 K:BB through 180.1 innings. He's tentatively projected to make one more start at home versus the Athletics in the regular season, though it's possible the Mariners call up a spot starter if they are officially eliminated from playoff contention before Miller's turn comes up again.

Matthews didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Red Sox. He allowed a run on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 4.2 innings.

The right-hander kept Boston off the board through four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth. Matthews gave up a two-out double and was pulled at 87 pitches in favor of Cole Irvin, who issued a walk and served up a three-run homer. Matthews has allowed just four runs in his past three starts but has been unable to complete five frames in any of those outings. The 24-year-old is looking for his first win since his making his MLB debut Aug. 13, and his final chance before the end of the regular season will come this weekend versus Baltimore.

Crawford (9-15) earned the win in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Twins. He allowed three runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out seven over 7.2 innings.

Sunday's nightcap started out as a pitchers' duel, as the game remained scoreless until Crawford gave up a pair of runs during the top of the fifth inning. Minnesota's offense came alive in the bottom of the frame and helped the right-hander break a run of six consecutive losses. Crawford recorded an out in the eighth inning for the first time this season, though he was unable to complete the frame and was tagged for another run. The 28-year-old will carry a 4.17 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 169:47 K:BB across 179.1 innings into his final start of the regular season this weekend versus Tampa Bay.

Stripling (back) emerged from Saturday's bullpen session healthy and is slated to face live hitters Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander completed two bullpen sessions over a four-day span without any apparent setbacks, paving the way for the live batting practice Tuesday. If that step is similarly successful, Stripling is expected to be activated at some point before the beginning of the final series of the season Friday against the Mariners in Seattle.