MLB Player News

Cole (10-6) allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 7.1 innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.

Cole notched his seventh game of double-digit strikeouts this year. His punchout of Cal Stevenson in the seventh inning secured Cole's fifth career 200-strikeout season. He's the first in the majors to reach that milestone in 2022. The right-hander has gone at least six innings in 14 straight starts, pitching to a 3.08 ERA in that span. For the season, he owns a 3.31 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 200:39 K:BB through 157.2 innings across 26 starts. He's projected for a road start versus the Angels next week.

Quintana (4-6) took the loss Friday versus Atlanta, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings.

Quintana's decent pitching was nullified by an error that allowed Atlanta to scrape together two runs in the fourth inning. It's the second start in a row that the Cardinals' defense has made the southpaw's job harder. He's allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his five starts since joining St. Louis from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Overall, Quintana has a 3.45 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 108:42 K:BB through 127.2 innings across 25 starts.

Wacha (9-1) yielded four runs on five hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out six and earning a win over the Rays.

Wacha served up a homer to Yandy Diaz on the first pitch of the game before Ji-Man Choi took him deep in the second inning. Before Friday's lackluster outing, the veteran righty had tossed 12.2 scoreless frames since returning from the injured list earlier this month. However, he still picked up his ninth win of the year, and he's posted a 2.61 ERA through eight starts since his last loss May 31. Wacha will carry a 2.53 ERA into his projected start in Minnesota next week.

Strider (8-4) earned the win Friday over the Cardinals, allowing one run on six hits, a walk and a hit batsman with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Strider threw 72 of 102 pitches for strikes in a sharp start. This was the fifth time in his last six outings he's limited opponents to one run. The right-hander trimmed his ERA to 2.87 with a 1.03 WHIP and 158:38 K:BB across 106.2 innings through 27 appearances (16 starts) this season. He'll look to keep this good stretch going in his next start, tentatively projected for next week at home versus Colorado.

Whitlock struck out one in a perfect inning and earned a save over Tampa Bay on Friday.

Whitlock needed just eight pitches to roll through the Rays. It was his sixth save of the year and third in his last four appearances. The 26-year-old now owns a 2.90 ERA with a 72:13 K:BB through 71.1 innings this season. Whitlock should continue seeing a large portion of Boston's save opportunities while Tanner Houck (back) is out.

Bassitt allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk over 7.1 innings against the Rockies on Friday. He struck out one and did not factor in the decision.

Bassitt tossed five scoreless frames before running into trouble in the sixth. He gave up three runs that inning and was later charged with one more in the eighth during the Mets' win. Bassitt has gone 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA and a 24:9 K:BB over his last six outings, lowering his season ERA to 3.34 through 24 starts. He's projected to face the Dodgers at home next week.

Falter (2-3) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings Friday, striking out six and earning a win over Pittsburgh.

Falter tossed three shutout frames before coughing up a two-run shot to Bryan Reynolds in the fourth inning, followed by a Rodolfo Castro solo homer in the fifth. The 25-year-old southpaw is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and nine strikeouts in two MLB starts this month, but Falter is sporting a 4.41 ERA through 51 innings on the season. He's currently projected to start in Arizona next week.

Steele was removed from Friday's game against the Brewers due to low back tightness, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Although Steele appeared to be reaching for his left leg prior to leaving Friday's matchup with a trainer, he was ultimately diagnosed with a back injury following his departure. It's not yet clear whether the issue will force him to spend time on the injured list. If the southpaw is cleared to make his next turn through the rotation, he projects to start on the road Wednesday in Toronto.

Steele was removed from Friday's game against the Brewers in the bottom of the sixth inning due to an apparent leg injury, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Steele was relatively effective to begin Friday's matchup, allowing a run on four hits and four walks while striking out six in 5.1 innings. However, he appeared to grab at the back of his left leg after giving up a flyout in the bottom of the sixth inning, and he exited the game following a visit from the trainer. The exact nature and severity of his injury aren't yet clear, but Steele tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Toronto on Wednesday if he's cleared to pitch.

Matz (knee) will likely focus on returning as a reliever, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Matz has been throwing low-intensity side sessions recently and is slated to throw a high-intensity bullpen Saturday. The Cardinals don't think that the southpaw will have enough time to get stretched out prior to the end of the regular season, but he'll likely be able to return sometime in September if he doesn't experience any issues preparing for a bullpen role.