MLB Player News

Kikuchi came away with a no-decision Tuesday in the Blue Jays' 2-1 win over the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The southpaw delivered his fourth straight quality start on an efficient 84 pitches (58 strikes), but Zack Wheeler was just as sharp for Philadelphia, leaving the bullpens to decide things. Since the All-Star break, Kikuchi has a stellar 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 36:8 K:BB through 35 innings. He's next set to take the mound on the road early next week against the Orioles.

Wheeler came away with a no-decision Tuesday in the Phillies' 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over seven inning. He struck out five.

Despite setting a season high in free passes, Wheeler was rarely in much danger -- Toronto didn't even get a runner past second base until the sixth inning. The right-hander extended his quality start streak to seven outings, a stretch in which he's posted a 2.76 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 48:7 K:BB through 45.2 innings. Wheeler will look to make it eight in a row when he next makes the mound, which is likely to come at home early next week against the Giants.

Flaherty (8-8) allowed seven runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three over three innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Padres.

Most of the damage came in a five-run first inning, which was punctuated by a Gary Sanchez grand slam. Flaherty has shown little consistency over his three starts with the Orioles, allowing 11 runs over 14 innings while posting a 1-2 record for his new team. Overall, the right-hander is at a 4.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 125:62 K:BB through 123.2 innings between Baltimore and St. Louis. With two off days within the next week, Flaherty is expected to have a full week between starts before next taking the mound at home against the Blue Jays.

Hancock did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing five runs on nine hits over five innings against the Royals. He struck out one.

After holding the Padres to one run over five innings in his MLB debut, Hancock surrendered nine hits and five runs Tuesday. All of the runs came in the fifth, where Bobby Witt tagged him for a grand slam as part of a five-hit frame. After earning a 10.0 K/9 at Double-A Arkansas this season, Hancock has struggled to accumulate strikeouts at the MLB level, having fanned four batters across 10 innings thus far. The rookie shouldn't earn much streaming consideration for his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Astros on Sunday.

Lyles did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and one walk over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out three.

After going eight innings last time out against the Red Sox, Lyles went just five innings and threw 91 pitches Tuesday. However, his shortened outing didn't prevent him from serving up four home runs on the day, setting a single-game season-high in the category. Over his last five appearances (28.2 innings), Lyles owns a 7.22 ERA and an 18:5 K:BB. He's tentatively scheduled to face off against the Cubs this weekend.

Wacha (9-2) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five over five scoreless innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Orioles.

Wacha returned from a six-week absence due to shoulder inflammation. He drew a tough assignment and pitched well in his first game back, throwing 48 of 77 pitches for strikes. He's been one of the Padres' best starters when healthy, posting a 2.68 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 78:26 K:BB over 90.2 innings across 16 starts. Wacha is tentatively lined up for a home start versus the Diamondbacks over the weekend.

Houser (4-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and struck out six without walking a batter over 5.1 innings, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Dodgers.

The Brewers were economical with their limited offense against Bobby Miller and Ryan Yarbrough, but Houser's sixth-inning fade took them out of the game. Houser has allowed at least three runs in five of his last six outings, and he hasn't gone more than six innings in any of them. The 30-year-old right-hander is now at a 4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 68:26 K:BB through 83.1 innings over 17 appearances (15 starts) this season. He's lined up for a challenging road start at Texas this weekend.

Miller (7-2) allowed a run on a hit and a walk while striking out four over six innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Brewers.

Miller allowed the first two batters in the game to reach base and gave up a run on a fielder's choice, but he retired 18 straight after finding his way in the shaky opening frame. He's up to six quality starts in 14 outings this season, pitching to a solid 3.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 70:22 K:BB through 75.1 innings. Miller is projected to make his next start at home versus the Marlins this weekend.

Giolito (7-9) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings in a 7-3 loss against the Rangers. He struck out five.

Giolito surrendered four extra-base hits on the day, including a two-run home run to Corey Seager in the third inning as he took his third loss in his last four starts. Giolito's endured a rough start to his tenure in Los Angeles, owning an ugly 8.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP along with a 19:2 K:BB and 2.6 HR/9 through 21 innings. Though he's faced some of baseball's top offenses in Atlanta, Toronto and Texas since joining the Angels, Giolito's tentatively scheduled for another tough start against the Reds next week.

Montgomery (2-1) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits over six innings in a 7-3 win over the Angels. He struck out nine.

Montgomery delivered a fourth consecutive quality start Tuesday, allowing one run across six innings while tying his season high in strikeouts. The performance also snapped Montgomery's streak of four straight starts allowing a home run. In three starts since being acquired by the Rangers, Montgomery boasts a 2.50 ERA to go along with a 20:2 K:BB over 18 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to toe the rubber again during a two-game series at Arizona early next week.