MLB Player News

Alcantara (10-5) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk over 7.2 innings against Philadelphia. He struck out four.

Alcantara cruised through seven innings, allowing two hits and one run on only 71 pitches. However, the Phillies figured something out in the eighth, erupting for six hits and three runs off the NL Cy Young candidate to turn a two-run deficit into a 4-3 advantage. Philadelphia went 6-for-7 off Alcantara in the frame with RBI knocks from Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto. Alcantara's eight hits allowed tied his season high, and it was just the fourth time this year he's allowed four or more runs. Regardless, Miami's ace still sports a 2.01 ERA across a league-leading 166.0 innings pitched.

Pepiot allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 4.1 innings against Minnesota on Wednesday. He did not factor in the decision.

Pepiot got through two scoreless innings before a three-run homer off the bat of Jorge Polanco in the third provided the big blow against him. Pepiot allowed another run on a Gary Sanchez solo shot in the fifth and was pulled soon thereafter. This was the worst of the rookie's five starts thus far, as he yielded the most hits and runs of any of his big-league appearances. Pepiot will likely get another start with Clayton Kershaw (back) not yet throwing, but Dustin May (elbow) is slated to return to action next weekend, which could push Pepiot back to the minors.

Keller (4-8) earned the win over Arizona on Wednesday, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

Keller couldn't extend his streak of five straight quality starts, but he did something he wasn't able to do in any of his past four outings -- pick up a victory. The Pirates gave him an unusually decent amount of run support, and Keller capitalized by holding the Diamondbacks without an extra-base hit. The right-hander owned a 5.21 ERA through 16 starts on July 6, but he's been able to lower that to a much more respectable 4.25 with his recent solid stretch. Keller may finally be living up to the potential that made him a second-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2014.

Freeland (7-8) took the loss against St. Louis on Wednesday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out one batter over 4.1 innings.

Freeland had been pitching well coming into the contest, picking up three straight wins and striking out 20 batters over his past 18.2 innings. He took a step back against the Cardinals, however, yielding 10 hits (five of which went for extra bases) and tying his worst mark of the season by yielding six earned runs -- five of which came in the first frame. Freeland struck out only one batter in the loss after punching out at least six in each of his previous three starts. He's had some strong stretches this season but is a volatile fantasy pitcher overall with a 4.84 ERA and 1.41 WHIP on the campaign.

Quintana (4-5) earned the win over Colorado on Wednesday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six batters.

Quintana wasn't as dominant as in his St. Louis debut last week, when he gave up only one hit over six innings against the Cubs. However, Wednesday's performance was impressive in its own right, especially considering that it came at Coors Field. Quintana notched his seventh quality start of the campaign and picked up his fourth win -- three of which have come in his past seven starts. The veteran southpaw should see more opportunities for victory now that he's with a first-place team, and he was allowed to throw 103 pitches Thursday, only the third time in 22 starts this season that he's reached 100 pitches.

Steele didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Nationals, giving up two runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The southpaw pitched well but was stuck with a 2-0 deficit as he left the game after 94 pitches (65 strikes). Fortunately for Steele and the Cubs, his offense erupted for all four of its runs in the seventh to take him off the hook for his eighth loss. He still delivered his sixth quality start of the season and first since the All-Star break, and Steele will take a 3.63 ERA and 106:43 K:BB through 101.2 innings into his next outing.

Gray didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Cubs, allowing two runs on seven hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander took a shutout into the seventh inning before fading, but the Nationals' bullpen simply made things worse after Gray exited the game. He had to settle for his seventh quality start of the season and first since July 6, but he still got taken deep once again -- his eighth straight outing in which he's served up at least one home run. Gray's 6.14 ERA over that stretch hides an otherwise impressive 54:14 K:BB through 44 innings, but until he learns to keep the ball in the yard, he'll be a volatile fantasy option.

May (elbow) will make one final rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday before entering the Dodgers' starting rotation, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

May logged his fifth rehab outing Tuesday and threw 68 pitches with eight strikeouts across five innings, and he'll continue building up his workload Sunday before returning to the major-league club. Assuming he avoids any setbacks, the 24-year-old lines up to make his season debut the following weekend against the Marlins.

Woodruff didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, giving up three runs on four hits over seven innings in a 4-3 extra-inning win over the Rays. He struck out five without walking a batter.

Homers by Yu Chang and Randy Arozarena left Woodruff headed for his fourth loss of the season, but the Brewers were able to tie things up in the ninth and walk it off in the 10th. The right-hander wasn't his usual dominant self, but he fired an efficient 85 pitches (58 strikes) and didn't issue a walk for the first time in six starts. Woodruff will carry a 3.52 ERA and 109:27 K:BB through 92 innings on the year into his next outing.

Walker (10-3) picked up the win in Wednesday's 10-2 rout of the Reds, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The Mets handed the right-hander a 6-0 lead before the Reds got to Walker for a couple runs in the fourth inning, but he recovered to deliver his 11th quality start of the season. It was a solid rebound performance after he got hammered by Atlanta in his last outing, and he'll take a 3.43 ERA and 85:31 K:BB through 110.1 innings on the year into his next one.