MLB Player News
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Start pushed back
Strider isn't starting Sunday's game against the Mariners and will instead take the mound Tuesday against the Cubs, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Atlanta indicated that the decision isn't injury-related, so the organization is seemingly just looking to get Strider some extra rest during the final stretch of the season. It's been an underwhelming campaign for the right-hander, who missed a month early in the season due to a hamstring injury and has a 4.97 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 106:41 K:BB across 101.1 innings. Joey Wentz is moving up in the rotation to start Sunday's series finale versus Seattle.
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Andrew Alvarez P | WAS
Nationals' Andrew Alvarez: Making second start Sunday
Alvarez is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
As anticipated, Alvarez will stick around in the Washington rotation after delivering a sterling performance in his MLB debut this past Monday against the Marlins. The 26-year-old lefty had a no-hitter going through the first four innings and ultimately allowed just three baserunners while striking out four batters across five frames, earning the win and helping the Nationals halt an eight-game losing streak. Alvarez will get a stiffer test for his second MLB start as he matches up against a Cubs offense that ranks fifth in baseball with a 109 wRC+ on the season, though Chicago could be without two of its key batters in Kyle Tucker (calf) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (knee).
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Mitch Farris RP | LAA
Angels' Mitch Farris: Making another start
Farris is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Athletics in Anaheim.
Unsurprisingly, Farris has earned another turn through the Angels rotation after picking up a win in his MLB debut Tuesday. Despite having never pitched above the Double-A level, Farris was composed in his road start against the Royals, limiting them to one earned run on three hits and two walks while recording three punchouts. The 24-year-old lefty should have a good chance at sticking around in the big-league rotation through the end of the season.
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Dustin May SP | STL
Red Sox's Dustin May: Back in starting role Tuesday
May is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Athletics in Sacramento.
Just as manager Alex Cora suggested would be the case, May is set to return to a starting role this week after the right-hander was deployed on three days' rest as a reliever in his most recent outing this past Wednesday against the Guardians. While working behind opener Brennan Bernardino, May limited Cleveland to one earned run on three hits and two walks. Since being acquired from the Dodgers on July 31, May owns a 5.40 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB over 28.1 innings through his first six outings with the Red Sox.
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Sean Manaea RP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Slated to start Tuesday
Manaea is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Though manager Carlos Mendoza had previously said that Manaea would make his 10th start of the season in Monday's series opener, rookie Nolan McLean will instead get the ball for that game. Manaea will be pushed back an additional day as a result, with the change taking the left-hander out of the running for a two-start week, assuming the Mets keep their six-man rotation in place. Manaea owns an excellent 37:5 K:BB in 27.2 innings over his last six starts, but since he's allowed six home runs and a .390 BABIP over that stretch, he's inflicted heavy damage on his fantasy managers' ratios with a 7.81 ERA and 1.48 WHIP.
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Andre Pallante RP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Delivers quality start Saturday
Pallante didn't factor into the decision against the Giants on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over six innings.
Pallante turned in his first quality start since July 28, keeping San Francisco in check outside of a pair of runs in the fourth inning. The right-hander has struggled with consistency in the second half, including a 9.82 ERA and 2.14 WHIP over five starts in August, but he showed improved command and efficiency Saturday by completing six innings for just the second time in his last eight outings. Pallante will take a 5.28 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 104:53 K:BB over 150 innings into Milwaukee for his next scheduled start.
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Justin Verlander SP | SF
Giants' Justin Verlander: Blanks Cardinals in no-decision
Verlander didn't factor into the decision against the Cardinals on Saturday, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six.
Verlander was far more efficient than his prior outing, when he needed 121 pitches to get through five frames. He required just 88 pitches to complete six shutout innings this time around, marking the second consecutive start in which the veteran righty allowed only three hits while blanking his opponent. Verlander's second half has been uneven -- 15 of his 18 earned runs have come in three of his 10 outings since the All-Star break -- but when he's on, he's been nearly untouchable. The 42-year-old will take a 4.09 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 120:43 K:BB into his next scheduled start against the star-studded Dodgers, perhaps ready to build on his recent dominance.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Out-dueled by Woodruff
Keller (6-14) took the loss Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits over 6.1 innings as the Pirates were downed 4-1 by the Brewers. He struck out four without walking a batter.
It was arguably Keller's best performance since the All-Star break, with a two-run homer by Jake Bauers in the fourth inning being the only blemish on his line, but the right-hander had no margin for error with Brandon Woodruff firing goose eggs over six innings for Milwaukee. The quality start was Keller's 17th of the season, one off his career high, but only two of them have come in seven outings since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB through 35.1 innings. He'll try to build on this effort in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Nationals.
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Brandon Woodruff SP | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Dominates Bucs for sixth win
Woodruff (6-2) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Pirates, scattering two hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.
The right-hander didn't let a Pittsburgh baserunner get into scoring position in a dominant performance that saw Woodruff fire 61 of 85 pitches for strikes en route to his sixth quality start in 11 outings this season. It was an impressive return to form after he'd been tagged for 16 runs (13 earned) in his last 14.1 innings to close out August. Woodruff will take a 3.32 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 74:14 K:BB through 59.2 frames into his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Cardinals.
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Hurston Waldrep SP | ATL
Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Battles control in no-decision
Waldrep didn't factor into the decision against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks while striking out five over five innings.
The right-hander battled command issues throughout the outing, issuing a season-high five free passes, but he managed to limit the damage to a Julio Rodriguez homer in the first inning. It marked the first time in seven MLB starts this season that Waldrep allowed more than one run, as he had previously been nearly untouchable since his call-up. While he has shown swing-and-miss stuff, the walks continue to be a concern and have capped his ability to work deeper into games. The 23-year-old will carry a 1.33 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB across 40.2 innings into his next scheduled start against the Astros.