MLB Player News
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Christian Scott SP | NYM
Mets' Christian Scott: Strikes out six in return
Scott did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Phillies, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Scott took the mound for the first time since June 11 and generated a whopping 17 whiffs on 82 pitches, with a two-run homer by Bryce Harper serving as his only blemish. The 27-year-old righty handled a typical workload Saturday, as he's pitched beyond the fifth inning just twice in 10 outings this season. He'll carry a 3.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 53:21 K:BB across 45 innings into a road matchup with Atlanta next weekend.
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Working as traditional starter Sunday
Rocker will start Sunday's game against Toronto rather than follow an opener, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker worked behind an opener in his most recent appearance and pitched well, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out nine. Despite that success, the Rangers will go back to deploying Rocker as a traditional starter Sunday. Over 13 starts this season, Rocker has posted a 4.70 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 49:27 K:BB across 61.1 frames.
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Jared Jones SP | PIT
Pirates' Jared Jones: Exceeds 80 pitches in no-decision
Jones did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-7 loss to the Reds, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Jones allowed runs in three separate frames and posted his highest pitch count of the season, throwing 52 of 81 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs. Although none of his six outings have exceeded five innings, the 24-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer four times as he continues to get stretched out. He'll carry a 5.76 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 25:9 K across 25 frames into a road matchup with the Phillies next week.
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Jose Cabrera SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jose Cabrera: Chased in sixth inning
Cabrera (0-1) took the loss Saturday against the Rays, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out four.
Cabrera seemed to have settled in after giving up a run in the first inning, tossing three scoreless innings to follow, but Tampa Bay got to him for three more runs across the fifth and sixth frames. The rookie right-hander struggled a bit with hard contact as well, surrendering three extra-base hits (two home runs). Cabrera has now yielded four runs to go with a 7:2 K:BB across his first 10 major-league innings, and he'll be looking to rebound against the Brewers his next time out.
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Chase Burns SP | CIN
Reds' Chase Burns: Mixed results in no-decision
Burns did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-7 win over the Pirates, allowing five runs on nine hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts over six innings.
Burns tallied a season-high 10 strikeouts but also tied a season high with five earned runs allowed for just the second time in 16 outings. He generated a whopping 17 swinging strikes on 93 pitches and has now worked at least five innings in every start this season. The 23-year-old owns a 2.36 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 112:29 K across 91.2 frames this season and lines up for a road matchup with the Brewers next week.
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Michael Grove RP | TB
Rays' Michael Grove: Nearly flawless in season debut
Grove (1-0) earned the win Saturday against the Diamondbacks, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in three innings of relief. He struck out four.
Making his season debut for the Rays, Grove was almost perfect out of the bullpen as a bulk reliever Saturday. The 29-year-old right-hander had a delayed start to the year due to March 2025 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, but he looks primed to serve as Tampa Bay's primary long reliever while Steven Matz (ankle) and Jesse Scholtens (wrist) are on the injured list. Grove flooded the zone for 26 strikes (34 pitches), but he certainly doesn't appear to be fully stretched out yet.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Can't find plate in Saturday's loss
Cease (4-4) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on four hits and five walks over 4.2 innings as the Blue Jays fell 7-4 to the Rangers. He struck out 10.
While the right-hander did rack up his fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season, Cease struggled to find the plate consistently and issued a season-high five free passes. Walks have been an issue for Cease since he returned from a hamstring strain in early June, and over four starts this month he has a 36:14 K:BB in 21.1 innings along with a 2.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Seattle.
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Framber Valdez SP | DET
Tigers' Framber Valdez: Denied win Saturday
Valdez didn't factor into the decision Saturday, giving up four runs on eight hits over six innings as the Tigers were downed 8-6 by the Astros. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The veteran left-hander got tagged for runs in the second, third and fourth frames, but Valdez didn't issue a free pass for only the second time in 17 starts this season. He exited the mound after 88 pitches (59 strikes) in line for his fifth win before Will Vest melted down in the eighth. Through five outings and 28 innings in June, Valdez sports a 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound on the road next weekend against the Rangers.
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Grant Holmes SP | ATL
Braves' Grant Holmes: Available in relief, next start TBD
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Saturday that Holmes will be available out of the bullpen this weekend in San Francisco, but the righty hurler could still start next week if he isn't needed in relief versus the Giants, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Holmes has struggled of late, logging no more than 4.2 innings over his past three starts and pitching to a 6.10 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB over that span. His next start is projected to be Tuesday against St. Louis, but that outing may now hinge on whether Holmes is needed out of the bullpen this weekend in San Francisco. If Holmes does indeed appear in relief, Atlanta could opt to move Martin Perez up a day, since he'd be working on five days of rest after last appearing Wednesday against San Diego.
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Jake Bennett SP | BOS
Red Sox's Jake Bennett: Sharp in second win
Bennett (2-3) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6.1 innings in a 4-1 victory over the Yankees. He struck out three.
The rookie southpaw tossed 87 pitches (59 strikes) en route to his second straight quality start. Bennett, who was acquired from the Nationals over the winter, has proven to be find for the Red Sox, and through his first six big-league outings he's delivered a 3.27 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 33 innings. He'll try to stay sharp in his next start, which is set to come on the road next weekend against the Angels.