MLB Player News

Lopez (13-8) picked up the win Friday, allowing six hits over 7.2 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The right-hander extended his scoreless streak to 20.2 innings with another gem. Lopez has reeled off four straight quality starts, giving him 15 on the season, and since the All-Star break he's delivered a 1.92 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB over 51.2 innings. He'll look to give the Twins' playoff hopes another boost in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Tampa Bay.

Darvish (personal/elbow) threw 66 pitches over four innings Friday in a controlled game against Cincinnati minor leaguers, Bernie Wilson of the Associated Press reports.

Darvish continues to ramp up as he looks to return from an absence of over three months, initially due to an elbow injury and then because of a personal matter. The veteran right-hander threw on his own for a period while he was away from the team, and he's since tossed a bullpen and a sim game in addition to Friday's outing against minor leaguers, so he's not as far off as a starting pitcher might typically be after such a long absence. Per Wilson, Darvish felt fine following Friday's controlled game, but Darvish's next steps are yet to be determined.

Gausman (12-10) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays were downed 2-0 by the Twins, giving up two runs on four hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

The veteran righty fought his control at times, tossing only 58 of 103 pitches for strikes, and the inefficiency cost him his 14th quality start of the season. Despite the loss, Gausman turned things around in August, posting a 2.20 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB over his last five outings and 32.2 innings. He'll try to extend his hot streak in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Atlanta.

Cannon (2-9) took the loss Friday as the White Sox fell 5-1 to the Mets, giving up four runs on five hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The big blow was a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez in the third inning, but Cannon wasn't sharp as he got only 48 of his 92 pitches into the strike zone. The 24-year-old has lost four straight starts, and in five outings in August he stumbled to a 6.31 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB over 25.2 innings. Things don't get any easier for Cannon, as he lines up to make his next start on the road next week in Baltimore.

Megill (3-5) picked up the win in Friday's 5-1 win over the White Sox, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

Making his first big-league start since July 31, Megill got the softest possible opponent in the White Sox, but he took advantage to record his first MLB win since June 16. With Paul Blackburn (hand) sidelined into September and Christian Scott (elbow) just beginning to ramp back up, Megill figures to get at least one more start for the Mets as they try to stay in the wild-card race. The right-hander will take a 4.82 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 61:23 K:BB through 52.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Red Sox.

Valdez came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Royals, walking three batters over seven no-hit, scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

The southpaw closed the books on August the same way he started it, by teasing a no-hitter, but Valdez left the mound after 98 pitches (60 strikes) with Houston clinging to a 1-0 lead that Josh Hader eventually squandered. The quality start was Valdez's 14th of the year, and he didn't give up more than three runs in any of his five August outings, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB through 34 innings on the month. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Senzatela (elbow) completed four innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five in a rehab outing with Double-Hartford on Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Senzatela was hitting 94 mph with his fastball and generally came away feeling positive from the outing. He will take another turn through the Hartford rotation and has the potential to return to the Rockies' rotation this season.

Lugo came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Astros, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out nine.

The veteran right-hander delivered his 19th quality start of the season and produced his highest strikeout total since he fanned 10 Guardians on June 30, but Lugo was never in line for a win as Framber Valdez no-hit the Royals through seven innings. Despite Friday's performance, Lugo has faded in the second half under a career-high workload, posting a 4.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 39:14 K:BB in 52 innings since the All-Star break. He's scheduled to make his next start at home next week in a key clash with the Cleveland squad that Kansas City is trying to catch in the AL Central.

Spiers tossed two innings of relief and gave up three earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out three Friday in the Reds' 14-0 loss to the Brewers in the second game of a doubleheader.

Even though injuries have tested the Reds' starting depth of late, manager David Bell has seemingly pulled the plug on Spiers as a member of the rotation. Spiers has made three of his last four appearances out of the bullpen, and his outing came behind a traditional starter (Rhett Lowder) rather than an opener. The right-hander looks poised to operate as a multi-inning reliever moving forward, with most of his usage likely to come in lower-leverage spots.

The Brewers returned Hall to Triple-A Nashville after Friday's doubleheader versus the Reds, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hall turned in what was by far his best start of the season during the Brewers' 14-0 victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader, claiming the win while making it through seven innings without allowing a run and tallying five strikeouts. However, since he was designated as the 27th man for the twin bill, he'll have to at least temporarily head back to the minors. The 25-year-old southpaw could return to Milwaukee to boost its pitching depth once rosters expand Sunday.