MLB Player News

Means (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings against St. Louis. He struck out one without issuing any walks.

Following a 517-day absence due to elbow and back injuries, Means threw 75 pitches (55 strikes), surrendering two solo home runs and a sacrifice fly. Unfortunately, the Orioles' offense wasn't up for the occasion, and the 30-year-old was charged with the loss in his season debut. It was an encouraging outing, given the circumstances, but Means was only able to generate eight swinging strikes and record one strikeout Tuesday. An All-Star who finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting to Yordan Alvarez in 2019, Means was chosen as Baltimore's Opening Day starter in 2021 and 2022 before multiple injuries caused a lengthy sabbatical for the southpaw. If he's able to regain some of his past form, Means could prove to be a valuable fantasy asset down the stretch. Baltimore's current six-man rotation means his next start is likely to come early next week in Houston.

Scherzer (triceps) will undergo an MRI on Wednesday, Julia Kreuz of MLB.com reports.

Scherzer was forced to leave Tuesday's game after 73 pitches due to the sensation he felt in his right shoulder and upper arm. The triceps issue is different from the right forearm tightness Scherzer experienced recently, but the right-hander postulated there could be a connection. More will be learned following Wednesday's MRI.

Abbott's next start will come during the series against the Mets that opens Friday in New York, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Reds manager David Bell said that Abbott will start Friday or Saturday.

Bell is trying to manage Abbott's workload. The rookie left-hander blew past his previous career high in innings (118.0) in early August and is up to 153 in 2023. The workload appears to be affecting Abbott's performance, as the 24-year-old has a 6.51 ERA with 42 hits and 20 walks allowed over his last 37.1 innings.

Rodon (3-5) picked up the win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out nine.

The nine strikeouts were a season high for the veteran southpaw, who generated 16 swinging strikes among his 93 pitches. Rodon also walked more than two batters for the first time since Aug. 1 though, and he served up at least one homer for the seventh straight outing, in this case the first career long ball for rookie Ceddanne Rafaela. Since returning to the rotation in late August after recovering from a hamstring issue, Rodon has a 4.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 24.1 innings, numbers which represent a marginal improvement on his performance through his first six starts as a Yankee. He'll try to build on this performance when he next takes the mound, which is likely to happen this weekend in Pittsburgh.

Brito (7-7) picked up the win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, allowing three hits and a walk over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.

Randy Vasquez got the start and looked good through three innings, but when he began to fade in the fourth, Brito stepped in and was even more effective, firing 29 of 38 pitches for strikes. The two rookie right-handers combined for what would have qualified as a quality start from a single pitcher -- two earned runs over six frames -- and the Yankees may consider keeping them together in a tandem arrangement to fill their fifth starter spot over the final weeks of the season. Brito is thriving in his current long-relief role, grabbing three wins in his last five appearances while posting a 1.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB through 14 innings.

Vasquez did not factor into the decision in a Yankees win during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.

The 24-year-old blanked Boston for three innings before fading in the fourth, exiting after 60 pitches (40 strikes). Vasquez was working in a tandem with Jhony Brito, who wound up getting the win, and the two rookie right-handers combined for what was effectively a quality start -- two earned runs over six innings between them. The duo's effectiveness could encourage the Yankees to keep them together in a rotation slot, though neither one might be available when New York next needs a starter Saturday in Pittsburgh. Vasquez has a 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 25:14 K:BB through his first 30.1 big-league innings.

Wacha (11-4) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Dodgers.

Wacha matched his season low in innings while also equaling his season high in runs allowed. He also gave up multiple home runs for just the third time in 21 starts. The poor outing accounted for his second loss in a row, and he's allowed 10 runs over eight innings in that shaky span. For the year, he's at a 3.43 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 105:41 K:BB over 115.1 innings. Considering he's gone five years without tossing more than 130 innings, he may be wearing down as the campaign winds to a close. Wacha is projected for a home start versus the Rockies next week.

Flexen did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.

Though he pitched to plenty of contact, Flexen managed to limit the damage while recording his third start of the season without a home run allowed. Since joining Colorado (44 innings), Flexen owns an unsightly 6.76 ERA alongside a 36:15 K:BB. He'll close out his two-start week Sunday at home against the Giants.

Lynn (11-11) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over seven innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Padres.

Lynn threw 111 pitches (64 strikes) in a strong start, bouncing back from allowing 15 runs over nine innings across his previous two outings. He still gave up one home run, a solo shot to Fernando Tatis in the fifth inning, but the Dodgers were already firmly in control of the game. Lynn's allowed 41 homers this season, the most in the majors. He's at a 5.94 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 175:58 K:BB through 166.2 innings over 29 starts, though he's been marginally better with a 4.60 ERA over eight outings with the Dodgers. The veteran is projected for a favorable home start versus the Tigers early next week.

Woo (3-4) allowed four hits and struck out eight without walking a batter over 5.2 shutout innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Angels.

Woo received some extra rest between starts, and it seems that paid off for the Mariners. He threw 67 of 83 pitches for strikes, and just one of the four hits he allowed went for extra bases. The rookie right-hander has won two of his last three outings, allowing five runs over 16.2 innings in that span. He's at a 4.16 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 76:22 K:BB through 75.2 innings over 15 starts. Woo's tentatively projected for a favorable road start in Oakland next week, though it's unclear if the Mariners will build in any additional time off for him as they remain in pursuit of a playoff spot.