MLB Player News

Littell (8-9) earned the win over Boston on Thursday, allowing one hit and recording seven strikeouts without issuing a walk over seven scoreless innings.

LIttell allowed just one baserunner in the outing (on a third-inning single). The right-hander retired the final 13 batters he faced and was ultra efficient, needing only 75 pitches to complete seven frames. LIttell has held his opponent scoreless in three straight starts, compiling a total of 18 scoreless innings while posting a 16:1 K:BB during that span. The outstanding stretch has lowered his season ERA to 3.56.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and a walk across 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

Woods Richardson pitched respectably Thursday, holding Cleveland to a lone run on Kyle Manzardo's solo homer in the first inning. However, the right-hander ultimately failed to make it through five innings for a fifth consecutive start. Overall, Woods Richardson is 5-5 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 115:47 K:BB across 132.2 innings this year. He'll likely make one more regular-season start, tentatively scheduled for next week at home versus the Marlins.

Cantillo didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Minnesota, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

Cantillo pitched well for the most part Thursday, though he struggled with command at times and ultimately was forced out of the game midway through the fifth inning after throwing 86 pitches. The 24-year-old Cantillo has allowed just two earned runs across 18 innings in his last four outings, lowering his ERA to 4.63 with a 1.20 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB through his first 35 major-league innings. The left-hander is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Reds next week in what could be his final regular-season start.

Gausman said after Thursday's game versus Texas that he isn't too concerned about his lower-back issue and expects to make his next scheduled start, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Gausman added that he first felt his back tighten up on him while throwing warm-up pitches, and his lack of concern suggests that his removal after five hitless innings was likely a precautionary decision. He'll carry a 3.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP into his start against the Red Sox next week, which will most likely be his final appearance of 2024.

Eflin allowed two runs on six hits and a walk across six innings in a no-decision Thursday against San Francisco. He struck out five.

A Michael Conforto two-run homer in the fourth inning accounted for the only runs against Eflin as the right-hander earned a seventh quality start in eight outings with the Orioles -- he's posted a 2.31 ERA in that span. Overall, the 30-year-old Eflin is 10-9 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 133:19 K:BB across 160.2 innings this year between Baltimore and Tampa Bay. He's currently in line for a pivotal road matchup with the Yankees early next week in what's likely to be Eflin's final regular-season start.

Gausman was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers due to lower-back tightness.

Gausman was able to get through five shutout innings on just 58 pitches while striking out six batters and walking one before his back forced him to make an early departure. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but the Jays will certainly keep a close eye on him leading up to his next start -- tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Miller did not factor into the decision in an extra-inning loss to the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out eight.

The Yankees got to Miller for one run in the second after the right-hander allowed a one-out walk, followed by an RBI single off the bat of Anthony Rizzo. However, the 26-year-old would recover nicely, hurling four scoreless frames before being relieved by Troy Taylor to open the seventh. Miller was unable to come away with the win, but he was able to log his third consecutive quality start while striking out at least seven batters for the third time in his last five outings. He now carries a 1.99 ERA in September (four starts) to go along with a 23:10 K:BB.

Cortes did not factor into the decision in an extra-inning win over the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing four hits and three walks over six scoreless innings while striking out six.

Cortes allowed two men to reach in three of his six innings of work but managed to escape each jam without sustaining any damage. The southpaw would go on to complete six scoreless innings for the sixth time this season, but he was unable to come away with his 10th win due to a lack of run support. Cortes now carries a 2.79 ERA through three starts and one relief appearance in September while also logging six or more strikeouts in each of his last two outings. He's also issued three walks in each of his last two starts.

Bradford (6-3) picked up the win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five hits and no walks over seven scoreless frames while striking out six.

Bradford had a no-hitter going through the first four innings before Alejandro Kirk tagged him for a single to lead off the fifth. The southpaw would get through the frame unscathed, however, and allowed just two batters to reach second base during his seven innings on the mound. It marked Bradford's second time this season in which he held the opposing team scoreless through six or more frames, and he's now posted quality starts in six of his last seven outings. He's 2-1 through three starts in September with a 4.86 ERA to go along with a 14:2 K:BB.

Pepiot allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out 12 batters over six innings in a no-decision against Boston on Wednesday.

Pepiot lasted just two frames in his previous start, but he had a longer leash -- and pitched much better -- Wednesday. The right-hander needed just 76 pitches to notch a quality start and record a career-high 12 punchouts, though he had to settle for a no-decision in a game during which the Rays' offense managed just one run. Pepiot may be held to less than a full workload moving forward, though he showed Wednesday that he can still be effective even when not accumulating a typical starter's pitch count.