MLB Player News

Quintana (3-6) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs (five earned) on eight hits as the Mets fell 7-5 to the Phillies. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.

The veteran southpaw generated 33 called or swinging strikes among his 103 pitches as he struck out double-digit batters for the first time since August 2019, but Quintana got hit hard when the Phillies did make contact and also served up multiple homers for the first time this season. In 12 starts since making his belated season debut after the All-Star break, Quintana has a 3.39 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 55:24 K:BB through 71.2 innings, numbers right in line with his 2022 resurgence. He'll take the mound one more time in 2023, at home next weekend in a rematch with the Phillies.

Phillips allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Phillips was staked to a 9-0 lead through three innings, and he looked to be in line for a relatively easy win when he left the game with an eight-run lead after giving up consecutive singles to begin the sixth. However, the Reds' bullpen allowed both of those baserunners to score and surrendered three additional runs in the frame, and the Pirates attacked for seven more runs over the seventh and eighth innings to storm back for the win. Despite that outcome, Phillips made a positive overall impression in the outing, racking up 13 whiffs and a career-high nine punchouts. He's posted a solid 26:10 K:BB over 20.2 innings on the campaign and lines up for one more regular-season start, which is tentatively slated to come in St. Louis next weekend.

Falter allowed eight runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out one batter over two innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Saturday.

Falter logged just one inning as an opener in his previous outing, but it's unclear if he was slated to return to more of a traditional starting role Saturday. The lefty hurler didn't earn a chance to go very deep as he was pummeled for eight runs in just two frames. The Reds knocked three homers against Falter, including two in the first inning. Perhaps the only positive part of the pitcher's outing was that Pittsburgh was able to overcome a 9-0 deficit to pick up a victory and protect him from taking the loss. Despite the short outing, Falter tossed 57 pitches, so he presumably will have just one more chance to take the mound before the end of the campaign.

Stripling allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Dodgers. He did not factor in the decision.

The Giants were already down 3-0 by the time Stripling entered the game. He didn't do anything to keep it close, allowing a pair of runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. This was Stripling's second appearance since he returned from a back injury, and he's yielded seven runs over 7.1 innings in those games. He's at a 5.57 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 68:16 K:BB through 85.2 innings over 21 outings (11 starts) this season.

Grove allowed a walk and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Giants.

Grove worked the seventh and eighth innings and helped preserve the Dodgers' shutout. This was his fourth relief appearance in 16 outings this year, and it's likely he'll work out of the bullpen for the rest of the regular season as well as the postseason, assuming he is on the playoff roster. Grove has a 6.41 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB through 66 innings this season.

Kershaw (13-4) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five over five shutout innings to earn the win over the Giants on Saturday.

Kershaw didn't have to do much, as J.D. Martinez provided the Dodgers with three RBI over the first three innings. Since returning from the injured list in mid-August, Kershaw has given up just seven runs over 31 innings across seven appearances. The southpaw is now at a 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 132:38 K:BB through 126.1 innings over 23 starts. His 13 wins are his most in four years, while his innings count is the same as it was in 2022. Kershaw is expected to start once more in the regular season next weekend in a rematch with the Giants at Oracle Park.

Alcantara (elbow/forearm) acknowledged Saturday that he will not pitch again this year, Jordan McPherson and Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald report.

Alcantara threw four scoreless innings in a promising rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, but his elbow and forearm were barking again in the aftermath and he's now officially been shut down with what's being called a right UCL sprain. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner said it has yet to be determined whether the injury will require a surgical repair. He finishes 2023 with a 7-12 record, 4.14 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 151:48 K:BB in 28 starts covering 184.2 innings.

Flexen did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out one.

After surrendering a run-scoring double to Ian Happ in the first frame, Flexen settled in and held the Cubs scoreless until a fifth-inning sacrifice fly accounted for his only other blemish. Unfortunately, Chicago's late rally disqualified the 29-year-old righty from earning his second win of the campaign. Saturday was the first time in Flexen's five September starts that he was able to limit the opposition to less than three runs, accumulating a 7.23 ERA and 1.56 WHIP acorss 23.2 frames. He currently lines up to face the Dodgers at Coors Field in his final regular-season start next week.

Stroman did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over three innings against Colorado. He struck out two.

Stroman wasn't particularly sharp in his first start -- his first two appearances came out of the bullpen -- since landing on the injured list Aug. 2, needing 64 pitches (39 strikes) to make it through three frames. In the first half of the season, he posted a 2.96 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 112.2 innings, earning Stroman an All-Star nod for the second time in his nine-year MLB career. However, the second half hasn't been so kind to the veteran righty, as he endured a six-week stay on the injured list and has posted a 9.41 ERA with a 1.95 WHIP across 22 innings since the All-Star break. He lines up for his final start of the regular season Thursday in Atlanta.

The Dodgers reinstated Grove (lat) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old has been on the shelf since early August due to tightness in his right lat, and his return will force Gavin Stone off the major-league roster. Grove has pitched to a 6.61 ERA through 64 innings on the year, but manager Dave Roberts said the right-hander would be given "every opportunity" to compete for a spot on the Dodgers' playoff roster.