MLB Player News

Houck (8-6) earned the win over the Athletics on Thursday, allowing two hits and issuing three walks while striking out six batters over six scoreless innings.

The A's managed just two hits (both singles) off Houck and didn't get a runner to second base until the sixth frame. Houck was pulled after that inning with 103 pitches and having recorded his 14th quality start of the campaign -- tied for fourth-most in the majors. The right-hander also ranks fifth among qualified pitchers with a 2.54 ERA and 13th with a 1.03 WHIP.

Cortes (4-8) took the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 4.1 innings.

A two-run homer by Randy Arozarena put Cortes behind in the first inning, but New York tied the score with solo homers in the second and third. However, the southpaw surrendered three runs in the bottom of the third frame, and the Yankees never managed to catch up. Cortes thus took his third loss across his past four outings, and he's already doubled his previous career-worst mark with eight defeats on the campaign. He hasn't been as bad as his record indicates, though, recording a 3.67 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 110:22 K:BB over 115.1 innings.

Baz allowed three runs six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Yankees on Thursday.

Baz allowed solo homers to Austin Wells and Juan Soto in the second and third innings, respectively, but entered the fifth holding a 5-2 lead. He didn't stick around long enough to qualify for the victory, however, since he was removed in that frame with two runners on base and one out. It's not necessarily surprising that Baz was pulled in that situation given that it was just his second big-league appearance since his 2022 Tommy John surgery, though he had thrown only 68 pitches and demonstrated good control with 48 strikes after tossing 92 pitches in a six-inning win during his season debut July 5. It's not yet clear if Baz will remain in the rotation when Jeffrey Springs (elbow) returns to action, which could happen shortly after the All-Star break.

Suarez (5-3) took the loss against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Suarez allowed just one run through four frames before letting three runners cross the plate in the fifth. That was more than enough to send him to his third loss, as Baltimore's offense was unable to muster any runs against Justin Steele and a pair of Cubs relievers. Suarez had won two straight starts coming into Thursday, and he still has a nice 2.82 ERA across 70.1 frames this season, so his spot in what has been an injury-plagued rotation is seemingly secure.

Steele (2-3) earned the win over Baltimore on Thursday, pitching seven scoreless innings during which he gave up three hits and issued no walks while striking out four batters.

Steele shut down a potent Orioles lineup, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and allowing just three baserunners (all on doubles) overall. The left-hander couldn't get into the win column over his first 12 starts but has now notched consecutive victories, allowing just one run over 16 innings while posting an 11:2 K:BB during that stretch. Steele's excellence extends further than that -- he's posted seven straight quality starts, registering a 1.65 ERA and 45:7 K:BB across 49 frames over that span.

Mercado could make a spot start Sunday against the Athletics, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Mercado was moved to the bullpen after being roughed up by Atlanta in his latest start, though the Phillies have since scratched Zack Wheeler (back) from Sunday's upcoming scheduled start. That could set Mercado up for a spot start heading into the All-Star break. It's also possible that Philadelphia opts for a bullpen game instead.

Gore (6-8) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks over 4.2 innings against the Mets. He struck out four.

Gore was embattled in a scoreless pitchers' duel with Mets starter David Peterson through four but fell apart in the fifth, loading the bases to set up a Brandon Nimmo's bases-clearing double that ended Gore's day. Nimmo later scored, saddling Gore with a fourth earned run on his line. Following a start to the season that saw Gore allow three or fewer earned runs in 14 of his first 15 starts, the lefty has now allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings. While his WHIP has risen just 0.05 points from 1.38 to 1.43 over that four-start stretch, his ERA has risen from 3.26 to 4.01.

Peterson (4-0) earned the win Thursday, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and three walks against the Nationals. He struck out five.

Peterson, who has now given up two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his eight starts, kept the Nationals off the board to mark his first scoreless outing of the season. Peterson lowered his ERA from 3.58 to 3.09 with the outing, though a less impressive 1.42 WHIP belies that ERA and portends more trouble in the future. Peterson will now receive extended time off as his next start is not scheduled to take place until following the All-Star break.

Nola (11-4) picked up the win Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks across six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out nine.

Nola had no issues with the top end of the Dodgers' lineup, holding Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman hitless with five strikeouts. The lone run against Nola came off the bat of Gavin Lux, who went yard to lead off the fifth inning. Nola has generated at least eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances and has posted a quality start in 10 of his last 11 outings. The 31-year-old owns the second most wins in baseball to go along with a 3.38 ERA across 119.2 innings. However, his 8.7 K/9 would be his worst tally since his rookie year in 2015.

Knack didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Philadelphia, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

The 26-year-old had started in each of his first seven appearances this season but followed an opener in Anthony Banda on Thursday. Knack took over in the second inning with the Dodgers trailing 1-0 and surrendered a solo home run to the first batter he faced in Brandon Marsh. Though Knack retired 10 straight batters following the second frame, he surrendered a pair of singles and a triple to consecutive batters with one out in the sixth and was subsequently removed. In eight appearances, Knack owns a 3.23 ERA and a 36:10 K:BB across 39.0 innings.