MLB Player News
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Zebby Matthews P | MIN
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Punches out five in strong outing
Matthews didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five.
Matthews has now logged a quality start in consecutive outings for the first time all year. The three hits allowed fell one shy of matching his season low, and the 25-year-old right-hander tallied an impressive 14 swinging strikes on the evening. Matthews still has work to do in order to improve his 4.73 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, though he does have 75 punchouts over 64.2 innings. His strong 26.6 percent strikeout rate could help give him an edge for his next scheduled matchup against the Angels, who have the most strikeouts (1,365) in MLB as a team.
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George Kirby SP | SEA
Mariners' George Kirby: Overwhelmed by Rays in early exit
Kirby (8-7) was handed the loss against the Rays on Wednesday, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with one strikeout across two innings.
Kirby endured the roughest outing of his career, failing to work into the third frame for the first time in his 108 MLB starts. The appearance went down as the shortest of his four-year tenure and matched the second-highest run total he's ever allowed in a game. Kirby was peppered for 10 hits by the 17 batters he faced, consisting of eight singles and two doubles. It was an uncharacteristic barrage of hard contact for the typically steady starter, who will try to put this outing behind him as he heads into his next scheduled turn against St. Louis. Kirby has a 4.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 104:26 K:BB across 104.2 innings this season.
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Adrian Houser SP | SF
Rays' Adrian Houser: Fans season-high eight in win
Houser (8-4) earned the win over the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings.
Houser cruised through the first five frames and allowed just one baserunner, but things fell apart in the sixth inning, when he surrendered all four of his runs. Despite the stumble, Houser still logged a season-high eight strikeouts and was good enough to take home the win. Since being acquired by the Rays, however, he's allowed four or more runs in four of six starts, posting a 4.91 ERA and 27:10 K:BB across 33 innings during that stretch. The 32-year-old will look to replicate the strong early innings from Wednesday's outing in his next scheduled start against his former team, the White Sox.
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Jack Leiter P | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Quality start wasted Wednesday
Leiter (9-8) took the loss Wednesday as the Rangers were downed 2-0 by the Diamondbacks, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out eight.
The 25-year-old right-hander delivered his third straight quality start, and eighth of the season, on 99 pitches (64 strikes), but Leiter got no run support from the Texas offense. In nine outings since the All-Star break, Leiter has posted a 2.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 57:24 K:BB over 47.1 innings as he establishes himself as a key part of the team's rotation plans for the present and future. Leiter is scheduled to make his next start at home early next week against the Brewers.
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Casey Mize SP | DET
Tigers' Casey Mize: Sharp in 13th win
Mize (13-5) picked up the win over the Mets on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits over five innings in a 6-2 victory. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The right-hander was lifted after only 69 pitches (48 strikes), his lowest workload since Aug. 4 -- denying Mize a shot at his eighth quality start of the season. The Tigers' caution is understandable considering he stumbled to a 5.81 ERA across five starts in August, but his spot in the rotation for September is secure, and the team may be attempting to build in some rest for him ahead of the playoffs. Mize lines up to make his next start on the road next week against the Yankees.
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Seth Lugo SP | KC
Royals' Seth Lugo: Next start pushed back
Manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Lugo's next start will be delayed due to lower-back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lugo reported tightness in his back Monday, so the Royals will give him a few extra days to recover before sending him back to the mound. The 35-year-old was initially lined up to start Thursday's series finale against the Angels, but that game will now instead belong to Noah Cameron. No official starter has been named for Saturday's contest against the Twins, however, so Kansas City may look to get Lugo on the bump then if his back cooperates.
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Jonathan Cannon P | CHW
White Sox's Jonathan Cannon: Set for bulk relief Thursday
The White Sox will recall Cannon from Triple-A Charlotte to pitch in bulk relief during Thursday's game against the Twins, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Cannon owns a 5.34 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 96 innings in the majors, but he's set to make his return to Chicago and follow opener Fraser Ellard on Thursday. The right-hander will get to face a Twins offense that sports a .696 OPS since the beginning of August, but he shouldn't be viewed as a reliable fantasy option after giving up at least five earned runs in each of his last three big-league outings.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Shane Bieber: Grabs second win
Bieber (2-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Reds, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.
All of the damage against Bieber came in the second inning, when he allowed five runs on five hits. The right-hander settled in and held the Reds scoreless over his final four frames en route to an eventual 13-9 victory. Prior to Wednesday, Bieber had allowed just three runs over his first two starts (11.1 innings) following his return from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is currently scheduled to face the Astros at home his next time out.
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Cade Povich SP | BAL
Orioles' Cade Povich: Picks up third win
Povich (3-7) earned the win Wednesday over the Padres, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks across five innings. He struck out three.
Povich cruised through five innings, holding San Diego scoreless while allowing just four hits. It was a different story in the sixth, however, as Povich allowed the first four Padres to reach safely and was ultimately charged with four runs without recording an out. Still, the Padres were able to hang on for a 7-5 victory, giving the left-hander his first win since June 15. Overall, the 25-year-old Povich sports a 5.16 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP and 103:35 K:BB across 96 innings this year. He's currently lined up to face the Pirates at home his next time out.
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Spencer Arrighetti P | HOU
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Sent to injured list
The Astros placed Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right elbow inflammation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Arrighetti gave up just one run in 6.1 innings while punching out a season-high eight batters during his last start Saturday, but he reported pain in his elbow after a bullpen session Wednesday, per Rome. The Astros could revert to a five-man rotation until the 25-year-old righty returns; meanwhile, Jayden Murray will come up from Triple-A Sugar Land to provide Houston with extra bullpen depth.