MLB Player News

Darvish (8-4) earned the win Friday over the Diamondbacks. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings.

All three runs against Darvish came via the home run, as Ketel Marte tagged him for a first-inning solo shot and Christian Walker added a two-run blast in the fourth. After allowing six homers through his first 14 starts this year, Darvish has given up five long balls in his last three outings. The right-hander still turned in his 13th quality start of the campaign, and he has a 3.41 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 100:22 K:BB through 108.1 innings overall.

Sandoval (3-5) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings, taking the loss versus the Dodgers on Friday.

Sandoval wasn't all that sharp in the contest, but that likely didn't make much of a difference Friday. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game through seven innings, giving the Angels' offense nothing to work with, which left Sandoval had no support in his third consecutive loss. The 25-year-old southpaw now has a 3.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 87:37 K:BB through 81 innings in 15 starts overall. He's given up 10 runs (eight earned) in 16 innings in July.

Kershaw (7-2) allowed one hit and struck out six across eight shutout innings, earning the win Friday over the Angels.

The All-Star southpaw showed exactly why he was named to this year's Midsummer Classic with a masterful performance Friday. He carried a perfect game through seven innings before Luis Rengifo led off the eighth with a double, which was the only hit Kershaw allowed in this start. He's been particularly strong in July, allowing just two runs (one earned) in 22.2 innings while racking up 24 strikeouts in his last three starts. Kershaw trimmed his ERA to 2.13 and his WHIP to 0.91 after Friday's start, and he's added a 75:12 K:BB in 71.2 innings across 12 games overall.

Ray (8-6) allowed three runs on six hits over 6.2 frames Friday, striking out 12 and earning a win over Texas.

Ray cruised through five shutout innings before coughing up a solo home run to Corey Seager in the sixth and a two-run shot to Leody Taveras in the seventh. His 12 punchouts tied a season best and it was his fifth time recording at least 10. Since his last loss June 1, Ray is 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA over his eight starts. On the year, his ERA has dropped to 3.54 alongside a stellar 135:38 K:BB through 116 frames.

Kopech (3-6) earned the win during Friday's 6-2 victory over Minnesota, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts in five innings.

Kopech surrendered both runs on his ledger on three baserunners in the first inning, but he settled down from there to keep Minnesota off the board despite traffic on the bases. The 26-year-old has noticeably slowed since posting a 1.92 ERA in 11 games through June 12, posting a 5.74 ERA through 31.1 innings in six turns since. Combined, Kopech owns a 3.36 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 74 strikeouts in 83 innings across 17 starts at the first half's conclusion.

Marquez (6-7) earned the win Friday over the Pirates. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out four in 6.2 innings.

The Pirates had three doubles among their six hits against Marquez, but the right-hander was able to limit the damage well. The Rockies' offense took care of the rest, allowing Marquez to exit with a 7-2 lead that only grew from there. This was his third quality start in his last five outings, and the two that weren't came against the division-leading Dodgers. He's pitched to a 5.47 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 85:37 K:BB across 103.2 innings in 18 starts this season.

Quintana (2-5) took the loss Friday versus the Rockies. He allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings.

Quintana struggled for a second straight start, with the seven hits he allowed matching a season high. The six runs against him were also a season high, though he was able to avoid giving up a home run for the fifth consecutive start. The southpaw now has a 3.99 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 81:29 K:BB through 90.1 innings across 18 starts.

Urquidy (8-4) took the loss during Friday's 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Athletics, allowing three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in six-plus innings.

Urquidy cruised through six innings before encountering trouble in the seventh, surrendering three straight hits that prompted his removal. All three runners crossed the plate, putting the 27-year-old in line for the loss as Houston was only able to muster a single run. Despite the defeat, Urquidy has surrendered three runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings in six straight starts. He concludes the first half with a 4.09 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 94.2 innings across 17 starts.

Irvin (4-7) earned the win during Friday's 5-1 victory over Houston, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.

The lefty was locked in a pitcher's duel with Jose Urquidy until Irvin surrendered a run in the fifth inning following a leadoff Chas McCormick double. Oakland eventually rallied to give the 28-year-old his second win in three starts, during which he's pitched to a 1.80 ERA across 20 innings. Irvin concludes the first half on a high note and possesses a 3.21 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 62 strikeouts in 95.1 innings across 16 starts.

Wells (7-5) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 frames Friday, striking out six and taking a loss against the Rays.

Wells turned in three scoreless innings to begin the contest before Yu Chang hit his first of two RBI doubles in the fourth. The 6-foot-8 righty has allowed three runs in each of his last two outings after yielding a combined three runs over his previous four. He's now sporting a 3.38 ERA with a 59:21 K:BB through 85.1 frames.