MLB Player News

Oviedo (3-10) took the loss Thursday versus the Dodgers, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 6.2 innings.

Oviedo gave up a two-run home run to Freddie Freeman in the first inning, but he then retired 15 of the next 17 batters. In the sixth, Oviedo ran into more trouble with Max Muncy taking him deep for another two-run blast that decided the game. With five homers allowed over his last four starts, Oviedo's had some issues keeping the ball down. He's also lost six straight outings, though some of them were of the hard-luck variety. He's at a 4.75 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 87:40 K:BB through 100.1 innings over 18 starts this season.

Carrasco (3-3) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out four over eight shutout innings to earn the win Thursday over the Diamondbacks.

Carrasco had pitched into the seventh inning just once prior to Thursday's start, which was easily his best of the campaign. He ended a five-start winless skid with the gem against the NL West leaders. Even after the strong outing, the veteran right-hander has a 5.16 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 43:27 K:BB through 61 innings across 12 starts on the year.

Nelson (5-5) allowed seven runs on nine hits and struck out just one over three innings to take the loss Thursday against the Mets.

Nelson gave up two-run home runs to Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez in the short start. Prior to Thursday, Nelson had allowed a combined 10 runs over his last four starts, spanning 23.1 innings. The poor outing vaulted his ERA to 5.19 with a 1.43 WHIP and 65:29 K:BB through 93.2 innings to close out the first half. The Diamondbacks will be on the road for their first two series out of the All-Star break, so Nelson's next start is likely to be either in Toronto or Atlanta.

Bradish (5-4) earned the win Thursday, allowing three hits and two walks over six scoreless innings in a 14-1 victory over the Yankees. He struck out five.

Bradish turned in his second scoreless outing of the campaign Thursday, giving up three hits across six frames to mark his fourth quality start in his last five appearances. The 26-year-old has been a steady presence in the Orioles' rotation, allowing fewer than four earned runs in 14 of his 16 starts this season. He's been especially impressive since the start of June, boasting a 2.70 ERA and a 43:9 K:BB across seven appearances (40 innings). He's tentatively scheduled to take on the Dodgers at Camden Yards for his next start.

Severino (1-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and one walk over 2.2 innings against the Orioles. He struck out three.

Thursday's outing was one to forget for Severino, who failed to get out of the third inning for the first time all year and tied his season high in earned runs. After surrendering a leadoff homer to Gunnar Henderson in the first, Severino held the Orioles scoreless until a disastrous third inning where he allowed three doubles before being pulled. Severino has now posted back-to-back nightmare starts in which he's allowed 16 runs over 6.2 innings. Through nine starts (42.2 innings) this season, Severino owns career worsts in ERA (7.38), HR/9 (2.3) and K/9 (7.8).

Sanchez did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on four hits over six innings against the Rays. He struck out two.

Sanchez's lone blemish came in the fifth inning, when he served up a leadoff home run to Isaac Paredes that tied the game. Outside of the long ball, Sanchez didn't have many issues with the second-best team in baseball, holding the Rays to just four total hits across six innings to log his second consecutive quality start. Since being called up for his second MLB stint of 2023 in mid-June, Sanchez owns a 2.14 ERA and a 17:2 K:BB across four starts (21 innings). He heads into the All-Star break with a fairly secure spot at the back end of Philadelphia's rotation given his recent form.

Kirby (8-7) allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out three over 6.2 innings to earn the win Thursday over the Astros.

Kirby limited the damage to a Corey Julks' RBI double in the seventh inning. It was a fifth straight quality start for Kirby, who has been a bit unlucky to pick up only three wins in that span while allowing just 10 runs (eight earned) over 33 innings. The All-Star right-hander trimmed his ERA to 3.09 with a 1.04 WHIP and 89:10 K:BB over 107.2 innings through 17 starts this season.

Flaherty (6-5) earned the win Thursday, allowing nine hits and two walks over 6.2 scoreless innings against the Marlins. He struck out five.

Flaherty did an incredible job limiting damage Thursday, keeping the Marlins off the scoreboard despite giving up nine hits. The outing marked Flaherty's second consecutive scoreless appearance, showcasing that he's fully recovered from a hip injury that forced him to miss a turn in the rotation in late June. Though the 27-year-old owns a 4.27 ERA on the season (17 starts), the statistic has been inflated by three poor outings in which he's given up 10 runs once and six runs twice. Not including that trio of starts, Flaherty has a strong 2.71 ERA. He's likely to next take the mound during the first series after the All-Star break versus the Nationals.

Perez (5-3) took the loss Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Cardinals. He struck out seven.

After retiring only one batter in his last start while giving up six runs, Perez rebounded with six innings of one-run ball. Thursday's outing should allow fantasy managers to breathe a sigh of relief and rest assured that Perez's nightmare start was nothing more than a fluke. Outside of his horrific performance against Atlanta, he's given up less than two runs in every appearance since May 28 (seven starts) and has struck out six or more batters five times across that stretch. Perez will have over a week to rest before his next start, which is projected to come during a rematch with the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Lorenzen (3-6) tossed five scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Athletics. He allowed three hits and struck out four.

Lorenzen powered through a subpar Oakland lineup and got plenty of support in the 9-0 win. The righty's next appearance is set for Tuesday's All-Star Game, which will be his first time in the Midsummer Classic. Lorenzen finishes the first half with a 4.03 ERA and 66 strikeouts across 87 innings (15 starts). Those numbers don't jump off the page, but they've been much needed on a Detroit pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries.