MLB Player News

Ashcraft will undergo season-ending surgery on his right big toe Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft landed on the injured list earlier this month and hoped to pitch again, but surgery obviates a return in 2023. The Reds move forward with just one pitcher from the Opening Day rotation -- Hunter Greene -- and three rookies. Ben Lively, who battled through a pectoral injury and recently returned from the COVID-19-related injured list, is also projected to start games.

Megill (8-8) took the loss Saturday as the Mets fell 3-2 to the Reds, giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander came one out short of his fifth quality start of the season, tossing 56 of 97 pitches for strikes in a solid effort, but New York wasn't able to supply Megill with much run support. He's allowed three runs or less in six straight starts with a 3.13 ERA, but his 1.55 WHIP and 28:15 K:BB through 31.2 innings over that stretch suggest he still has some work to do to lock down a rotation spot for 2024. Megill's next outing lines up for a road series next weekend in Philadelphia.

Bassitt did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over seven innings against Boston. He struck out five.

Bassitt got off to a strong start, retiring the first 11 batters he faced, but the Blue Jays failed to back him with any run support. The only two runs against him came via the long ball off the bat of Rafael Devers in the top of the sixth after the right-hander issued a walk to Wilyer Abreu to open the frame. Bassitt has now gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts, posting an 18:7 K:BB over that stretch. However, he's also issued three walks in each of his last two outings.

Sale did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings against Toronto. He struck out 10.

Sale shut down the Blue Jays for most of the afternoon and didn't allow a run until Vladimir Guerrero took him deep for a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the seventh. It was the lefty's first start since May 20 in which he went at least six innings, and it marked his third time this season with 10 or more strikeouts. Sale has now given up two or fewer runs in eight of his last 11 starts and has surrendered only two hits in two of his last three. On the downside, he's also issued two walks in four consecutive outings.

Abbott came away with a no-decision Saturday in the Reds' 3-2 win over the Mets, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out five.

The rookie southpaw tossed an inefficient 91 pitches (54 strikes) before getting the hook after serving up a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fourth inning, missing out on his ninth win of the season in the process. Abbott has failed to complete more than four innings in four of his last five starts, stumbling to a 6.33 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB through 21.1 innings over that stretch, but the Reds don't have any better rotation options as they try to hang onto a wild-card spot in the NL. He lines up to take the mound next at home against the Pirates next weekend.

Toussaint (4-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 7-6 victory over the Twins, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight.

A leadoff double by Edouard Julien led to a 1-0 Minnesota lead in the top of the first inning, but Toussaint shook it off and dominated the rest of the way, generating a whopping 32 called or swinging strikes on only 74 pitches. The 27-year-old right-hander has given up three runs or less while lasting at least five innings in four of his last five starts, but a one-inning, eight-run collapse against the Royals in the fifth outing has kept his ratios inflated. Toussaint will carry a 5.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP into his next start, which is likely to come next weekend in Boston.

Lopez (10-8) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs on eight hits over five innings as the Twins fell 7-6 to the White Sox. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander nearly got chased early, serving up a two-run homer to Eloy Jimenez and a three-run shot to Gavin Sheets in the first inning, but Lopez survived the frame and settled down after that, although Minnesota was never able to erase the deficit. it's the second time in his last five starts he's been tagged for at least five runs including multiple home runs, but those outings account for five of the six long balls and 10 of the 14 earned runs he's allowed since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's posted a 2.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 61:10 K:BB through 55 innings. Lopez will look to get back on track in his next start, which is likely to come at home next weekend against the Angels.

Ragans came away with a no-decision Saturday, surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks over six-plus innings as the Royals downed the Astros 10-8. He struck out seven.

The southpaw blanked Houston for four innings before beginning to unravel, but after putting the first two batters aboard in the seventh, Ragans still left the mound in line for his seventh win before Collin Snider served up a game-tying homer to Jose Altuve. Ragans has been a revelation since being acquired from Texas in the Aroldis Chapman deal, delivering a 2.28 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 76:19 K:BB through 59.1 innings over his first 10 starts for Kansas City. He lines up for a rematch with the Astros back in Houston next weekend.

France escaped with a no-decision Saturday in the Astros' 10-8 loss to the Royals, coughing up five runs on five hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

Kansas City jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead in the wild affair, but France was able to avoid taking his sixth loss of the season when Houston tied things up at 6-6 in the top of the seventh. The right-hander has given up at least five runs in three of his last five starts, posting a brutal 8.87 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 16:15 K:BB through 23.1 innings over that stretch. With the Astros in a dogfight for the AL West title -- they're a half-game up on the Rangers and 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners after Saturday's action -- France could lose his rotation spot over the final weeks of the season, with Jose Urquidy the most likely replacement.

Mikolas (7-12) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing five runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Mikolas hung tough through four frames and trailed just 2-1 entering the fifth. However, Kyle Schwarber tagged him for a three-run blast in that inning to mar the veteran right-hander's final line. Mikolas rarely helps himself with punchouts -- he's notched exactly two in each of his past four starts -- so he largely has to rely on good control and keeping the ball in the park. The latter hasn't been a strong suit of his of late, as Mikolas has given up six homers over his past three starts -- one more than he had surrendered over his previous eight outings combined.