MLB Player News

Lugo (5-6) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-0 victory over the Marlins, allowing three hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Only one Miami baserunner even reached scoring position while Lugo was on the mound. It's the right-hander's second straight quality start and fifth in his last seven outings, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 43:12 K:BB through 40.1 innings. Lugo will look to keep rolling in his next start, likely to come early next week in St. Louis.

Alcantara (6-11) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over 6.2 innings as the Marlins fell 4-0 to the Padres. He struck out three.

Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner didn't have his best stuff, managing only eight swinging strikes among his 105 pitches, but Alcantara was also backed by an offense that only managed four hits off San Diego pitching. Despite the stumble, the right-hander still sports a 3.02 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 50:11 K:BB through 56.2 innings since the All-Star break. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next start, likely to come at home next week against the Rays.

Abbott came away with a no-decision in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Angels, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks over four-plus innings. He struck out five.

The rookie southpaw stuck around long enough to see the Reds take the lead in the top of the fifth inning, but after he put the first two batters aboard in the bottom of the frame, Abbott got the hook and failed to qualify for the win in an eventual 9-4 victory. He's now failed to complete six innings in five straight starts, posting a 6.46 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB through 23.2 innings over that stretch. Abbott will try to get on track in his next outing, likely to come early next week in San Francisco.

Taillon allowed four runs on four hits across 5.2 innings and did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Tigers. He walked one and struck out six.

Taillon kept the Tigers off the board for five innings, but things came undone a bit in the sixth, as he allowed three singles followed by a grand slam to the red-hot Kerry Carpenter. That spoiled an otherwise good outing for the righty, who has been up and down this year with a 5.60 ERA. Taillon will look to avoid the big inning in his next start, which is tentatively set for Monday against the Brewers, which shapes up to be an important game as the teams fight for the NL Central title.

Ortiz (2-4) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and five walks over 3.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out five.

Ortiz struggled tremendously in his return to the Pirates' rotation, allowing back-to-back singles, followed by back-to-back walks in the first inning, which led to three runs coming across for St. Louis. Despite getting the leadoff man to go down on strikes in three of the four innings in which he appeared, the right-hander would still be tagged for five runs on the afternoon before being relieved by Yohan Ramirez. Ortiz has now allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts for Pittsburgh, lasting fewer than five frames on each occasion.

Skubal allowed four runs on six hits across six innings and did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Cubs. He walked one and struck out seven.

Skubal pitched decently against a hot Chicago lineup, but it wasn't enough for his fourth win of the season. The lefty did manage to complete six innings for the second straight start after not going six frames in any of his previous seven appearances. Skubal will look for win No. 4 the next time he takes the hill, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday against the struggling Yankees.

Lorenzen did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against San Francisco. He struck out four.

Lorenzen has struggled since throwing 124 pitches in his no-hitter against the Nationals, allowing 10 earned runs on 16 hits in his subsequent two starts (nine innings). Overall, he's 7-8 with a 3.69 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 98:36 K:BB across 22 starts (131.2 innings) this season. Lorenzen will look to get back in the win column in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week against the Angels.

Cobb did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings against the Phillies. He struck out four.

Cobb shut out the Phillies for five innings Wednesday before surrendering back-to-back home runs to Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to begin the sixth. Despite the rough finish, it was an encouraging outing from Cobb, who'd struggled to a 6.54 ERA over his previous six starts. Overall, the veteran right-hander is 6-5 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 117:34 K:BB across 24 starts (132.1 innings) this season. Cobb's currently in line for a home matchup with the Reds in his next outing.

Ragans (5-4) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits over six scoreless innings while striking out 11 in a 4-0 win over Oakland.

Ragans blanked the A's for six innings Wednesday, matching a season high with 11 strikeouts en route to his third win in his last five starts. The 25-year-old southpaw has been quietly excellent since he was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 2, pitching to a 1.93 ERA while recording 44 strikeouts in five starts (32.2 innings). Ragans' ERA is down to 3.66 with a 1.27 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 59 innings between Kansas City and Texas this season. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, tentatively lined up for next week against Pittsburgh.

Kirby did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings against the White Sox. He struck out nine.

Kirby's now gone four starts (27.2 innings) without issuing a walk. He held the White Sox to one run through his first five innings Wednesday, working his way through traffic thanks to his nine strikeouts. However, Trayce Thompson's two-run homer ended Kirby's outing with two outs in the sixth. The 25-year-old right-hander's allowed seven runs over his last two starts (11.2 innings), though he still sports a 2.89 ERA with 49:3 K:BB in his last seven outings. Overall, Kirby's 10-8 across 25 starts (156.1 innings) this season with a 3.28 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He's currently in line for a home matchup with the Athletics early next week.