MLB Player News

Houck did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Astros, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with one strikeout over six innings.

Houck allowed a run in the first inning but rebounded for five scoreless frames before departing with a 3-1 lead that the bullpen couldn't preserve. He generated only two swinging strikes on 82 pitches but also limited the Astros to four hard-hit balls. The 28-year-old's command remains worth monitoring, as he has posted a 19:19 K:BB in six starts between July and August. On the year, he owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 124:38 K:BB across 140 innings and lines up to face the Orioles next week.

Blanco did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

Blanco surrendered a two-run double in the second inning and allowed another run to score on an errant pickoff attempt in the fourth. He was pulled at 88 pitches in his shortest appearance since being ejected after three innings May 14. The 30-year-old is winless in four outings since the All-Star break, yielding 12 earned runs across 19 innings while failing to log a quality start. On the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 126:51 K:BB across 128 innings and will try to get back on track in a matchup with the Rays next week.

Soriano didn't factor into the decision Friday against Washington, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven.

After allowing a run on a pair of hits and a walk in the first inning, Soriano proceeded to blank the Nationals over his final five frames, allowing just two additional hits. The 25-year-old has held opponents to one run or fewer in four of his last five outings. His ERA is down to 3.36 on the season with a 1.19 WHIP and 92:42 K:BB across 109.2 innings. Soriano's currently in line for a home matchup with Atlanta in his next outing.

Spence (7-8) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs on eight hits and no walks with two strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Spence surrendered a leadoff homer to George Springer and was pulled an out shy of a quality start after allowing three hits and a run in the sixth. The rookie has pitched well since the All-Star break, yielding two earned runs or fewer and working into the sixth frame in each of his four outings. On the season, he owns a 4.33 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 86:31 K:BB across 106 innings and lines up to face the Mets on the road next week.

Parker didn't factor into the decision in Friday's extra-inning win over the Angels, allowing two unearned runs on eight hits over 6,1 innings. He struck out five.

Both of Anaheim's runs came on a Jo Adell homer in the second inning following an errant pickoff throw that extended the frame. Parker's now gone at least six innings without allowing an earned run in back-to-back starts. The left-hander's ERA is down to 3.83 with a 1.20 WHIP and 92:29 K:BB across 112.2 innings in his rookie season. Parker's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Phillies in his next outing.

The Pirates selected German's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

German hasn't had much success in Triple-A this season, posting a 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP through 68 innings across 13 starts. He'll join the big-league pitching staff nonetheless and will presumably work out of the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. Hunter Stratton was optioned to Indianapolis to create space on the active roster, and Josh Walker was DFA'd to open a 40-man roster spot.

Littell (5-8) took the loss Friday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.

After surrendering a home run to Colton Cowser to lead off the game, Littell managed to settle in and keep Baltimore off the board until the fifth, when Ryan O'Hearn drove in two more runs with a two-out single. The 28-year-old Littell had won back-to-back starts prior to Friday, allowing just one run in 12.2 innings. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.11 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 113:24 K:BB across 124.2 innings this season. Littell's currently slated for a home matchup with the Astros in his next outing.

Berrios (10-9) earned the win against the Athletics on Friday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over seven innings.

Berrios allowed a solo home run in the third inning but was otherwise fantastic, limiting hard contact and generating 12 swinging strikes on 103 pitches. He has been inconsistent since the All-Star break, posting two seven-inning victories but also yielding eight earned runs across 9.2 frames in his other two outings. On the season, the 30-year-old owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 111:43 K:BB across 142.2 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Angels next week.

Eflin (8-7) earned the win Friday over the Rays, allowing four hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

It was a dominant performance from Eflin against the club that shipped him north just before the trade deadline. The right-hander has won all three of his outings with Baltimore with three quality starts, allowing just five runs in 19.1 innings in that span. Eflin's ERA is down to 3.83 with a 1.15 WHIP and 104:15 K:BB in 22 starts (129.1 innings) between the Orioles and Rays. He's lined up for a home matchup with the Red Sox his next time out.

Walker (finger) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Walker hasn't pitched for the Phillies since June 23 due to inflammation in his right index finger but is slated to return to the rotation after completing a pair of rehab starts. The 31-year-old struggled in his first rehab outing July 31 with Double-A Reading, allowing three runs (two earned) in 2.2 innings. He bounced back nicely in his second outing Wednesday with Reading, however, yielding one run on two hits across five innings and 60 pitches. Walker will head into his start Tuesday having logged a 5.60 ERA across 53 innings with the Phillies in 2024.