MLB Player News

Verlander (4-5) picked up the win Wednesday in a 5-1 victory over the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over eight innings. He struck out seven.

It was a vintage performance for the 40-year-old, as Verlander generated 17 swinging strikes among his 100 pitches while completing eight innings for only the second time this season. The three-time Cy Young Award winner may have turned a corner on what has been a rough campaign to date -- over his last five starts, he's put together a 1.74 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 31 innings, although his 26:13 K:BB remains well below his usual standards. Verlander is next set to take the mound on the road early next week against the Yankees.

Darvish (7-6) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing four hits and three walks over six scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over Toronto. He struck out seven.

The veteran right-hander was brilliant, generating 31 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches as he delivered his second straight quality start and seventh of the season. Darvish has had trouble maintaining any success in 2023 -- the quality start streak of two is the longest he's managed -- and since the beginning of June he sports a 4.02 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 46:16 K:BB through 40.1 innings. He'll try to keep rolling in his next outing, likely to come at home early next week against the Pirates.

Sanchez didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out three.

An Edmundo Sosa error in the second inning contributed to a three-run inning for Milwaukee, but Sanchez otherwise held the Brewers in check and saw his offense tie the game up before he left the mound. The southpaw has worked at least five innings and allowed three runs or fewer in five straight starts, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB through 27 innings over that stretch as he helps steady the back of the Phillies' rotation. Sanchez's next outing lines up at home early next week against the Orioles.

Urias (7-6) took the loss Wednesday, allowing eight runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings against the Orioles. He struck out two.

Urias struggled out of the gate Wednesday, issuing a walk to Anthony Santander with one out in the bottom of the first before surrendering three consecutive singles, which was followed by a two-run double from Ramon Urias. The lefty continued to struggle en route to allowing a career-high eight earned runs on the day. Urias has now given up at least five runs in three of his last five starts, producing two or fewer strikeouts while taking the loss in those three games.

Rea didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits over five innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The right-hander pounded the strike zone, tossing 54 of 74 pitches for strikes before exiting as he made his first start since July 8. Rea could get bumped to the bullpen if the NL Central-leading Brewers get aggressive at the trade deadline, but he's been a stabilizing force at the back of the rotation -- over his last 10 starts, he's gone 5-1 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 45:13 K:BB through 54.1 innings. Rea is next set to take the mound at home early next week against the Reds.

Hill did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against Cleveland while striking out one.

Hill cruised through the first three innings before allowing three consecutive singles with one out in the fourth, which led to the first run of the game coming across for Cleveland. The veteran righty again found himself in trouble in the fifth after giving up a leadoff single to Myles Straw to open the frame. He would go on to allow three runs in the inning as the Pirates fell behind 4-2. Hill has allowed at least three runs in each of his last seven starts and now holds a 6.53 ERA in July after maintaining a 3.86 ERA during June. He's also lost four of his last five decisions.

Morton (10-7) took the loss against Arizona on Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.

Morton had notched a victory in each of his previous five appearances coming into Wednesday, but that streak came to an end again Arizona. The veteran hurler surrendered his most runs since the Mets tagged him for four nearly six weeks ago, though he did manage to keep the ball in the park for the fourth time in his past five outings. Morton's season 1.37 WHIP is in line to be his worst over a full season since 2015, but he's still managed to put together a strong campaign with a 3.36 ERA and 119:46 K:BB over 109.2 frames through 19 starts.

Nelson (6-5) earned the win over Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters over seven innings.

Nelson didn't overpower the intimidating Atlanta offense, as he tallied just seven whiffs and five punchouts. However, the right-hander was efficient and effective during his seven frames, throwing 52 of 84 pitches for a strike and issuing just one walk. Two of the three hits against him left the park, but each was a solo shot, allowing Nelson to minimize the damage. He's gone seven or more innings in three of his past five outings, notching a quality start and a win in each of the three lengthy appearances. Nelson's 4.82 ERA on the campaign is far from spectacular, but it's partly the result of a handful of blow-ups, and he's given up two or fewer earned runs in nine of his 20 outings overall.

Stripling (0-3) took the loss against Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Stripling served up a three-run homer to Will Benson in the third inning that accounted for all of the runs against him. Though that was enough for Stripling to be tagged with the loss, this was mostly a positive outing for the veteran hurler. He tallied a season-high innings total -- prior to Wednesday, he hadn't gone more than five frames in any outing -- and worked up to 76 pitches, his most since May 7. Stripling has been eased back into action after missing over a month between late May and late June with a back injury, but he's been mostly effective despite the limitations since his return, posting a 3.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB over 19.1 frames covering five appearances.

Ashcraft (5-7) earned the win over San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over six-plus innings.

Ashcraft made it through four scoreless frames before the Giants tagged him for a run in the fifth. The right-hander tossed a 1-2-3 sixth but surrendered a solo homer to Blake Sabol leading off the seventh, which led to his removal. Though his outing ended on that sour note, it was another strong performance overall by Ashcraft, as he notched his fourth straight quality start. Over that span, he's recorded a standout 1.82 ERA over 24.2 frames, though his mediocre 14:9 K:BB across the quality-start streak is fair reason to question whether it is sustainable.