MLB Player News

Fried (3-1) earned the win over the Mets on Saturday, allowing three walks while striking out five batters over seven scoreless and hitless innings.

Fried threw 109 pitches during his seven frames, so manager Brian Snitker didn't allow him to push any further for an individual no-hitter. Atlanta's bullpen carried the no-no into the ninth inning before J.D. Martinez ended the combined bid with a two-out solo homer off Raisel Iglesias. Though he didn't etch his name in the record books, Fried bounced back very nicely after giving up four runs over seven frames and picking up his first loss in his previous outing. He's now notched four quality starts on the campaign.

Taillon (back) won't start Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Taillon was scratched from a scheduled start Friday due to back stiffness. He had hoped to take the ball Sunday after throwing off a mound Saturday, but he's not quite ready to go, even though the mound session reportedly went well. It's unclear at this point when Taillon might be ready to make his next start, but the Cubs seems to be optimistic that he'll avoid the 15-day injured list.

Hendricks (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hendricks had been slated to make one more rehab start, but Jameson Taillon (back) isn't quite ready to start Sunday, so Hendricks will take the ball that day for the big club instead. The veteran hurler has been sidelined for the last three weeks with a lower-back strain but pitched well in two rehab outings, allowing three runs with a 13:3 K:BB in 9.1 frames. Hendricks held a woeful 12.00 ERA in five starts before getting injured, so fantasy mangers certainly need to see something positive before putting their trust in the right-hander.

Littell (2-2) got the victory Saturday versus the Yankees, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He notched three strikeouts.

Littell came into this outing with zero walks over his last four starts and at least six strikeouts in all of those outings. While he went the other direction in both areas during Saturday's start, it was an effective outing nonetheless. Littell is sitting on a 3.02 ERA, but this was his first win since March 30. His next outing projects to come in Boston.

Cortes (1-4) took the loss Saturday in Tampa Bay, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

Cortes had just eight walks all season coming into this outing and half of those came in his first two starts. He issued a season-high three free passes in this one, the first time since April 14 that he didn't go at least six frames. Cortes will try to bounce back his next time out in a favorable projected matchup at home against the White Sox.

Luzardo (0-3) took the loss Saturday versus the Phillies, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He recorded eight strikeouts.

Luzardo looked sharp in his return from the injured list, striking out eight while picking up an impressive 18 swinging strikes on just 79 pitches. He might have tired a bit in the sixth, as he gave up a double and a game-tying RBI single before being lifted with two outs and a runner on. That runner came around to score, adding another run to his ledger. While the ending of his night wasn't ideal, it was an encouraging performance from Luzardo against a tough lineup. His next start will come at home versus the Mets.

Walker (3-0) earned the win Saturday against the Marlins, yielding just one run on eight hits and one walk over six frames. He struck out four.

Walker went at least six innings for the third time in three starts since he returned from the injured list, and he's picked up the victory in all three of those outings. The backing of the Phillies' offense has helped, of course, as Walker is sporting a 4.82 ERA. Regardless he's trending in the right direction with back-to-back quality starts. He'll attempt to move his record to 4-0 next week against either the Mets or Nationals at home.

Criswell did not factor into the decision Saturday versus the Nationals, permitting two runs on three hits and a walk over five frames. He struck out nine.

Criswell was dinged by a couple solo home runs; one in the second inning by Joey Meneses and another in the fourth hit by Eddie Rosario. Aside from that, Criswell yielded only one other hit, and his nine punchouts were a career high. Criswell was pulled after five with his pitch count at just 79, as the Red Sox are continuing to keep a close eye on his workload as he transitions from the bullpen (he hasn't thrown more than 83 pitches in a start and has yet to record an out beyond the fifth inning). He's been awfully effective when on the bump, though, with his ERA actually going up to 2.10 after Saturday's outing. Criswell is slated to face his former club, the Rays, his next time out.

Irvin did not factor into the decision Saturday in Boston, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks over seven innings. He struck out six.

It marks the first time in 32 career starts at the big-league level that Irvin completed seven innings. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to pick up a win for his efforts, as the right-hander departed with the game tied and then watched reliever Robert Garcia cough up a couple runs in the eighth inning. Irvin has permitted two or fewer runs in five of his last six outings, lowering his ERA to a season-low 3.55. His next projected start is a difficult one on the road versus the Phillies.

The Tigers will promote Manning from Triple-A Toledo to start Monday against the Marlins in Detroit, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Manning is set to rejoin the big club after Kenta Maeda was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a viral illness. The 26-year-old right-hander holds a 0-1 record over three major-league starts this season and sports a 4.24 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 17 innings.