MLB Player News

Mahle (3-7) took the loss Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over five innings against Atlanta. He struck out five.

With that, Mahle is now 0-5 at Great American Ball Park this season compared to 3-2 on the road. While Saturday's outing wasn't horrible, he did himself no favors with the four walks. Mahle entered Saturday's game with a 2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over his previous six starts, so he's been pitching well overall, but he's difficult to trust at home against the game's better lineups.

Strider (4-2) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over six innings against the Reds. He struck out 11.

Strider's rookie breakout continued with his second double-digit strikeout game of the season and arguably his best overall performance to date in the big leagues. He induced a whopping 24 swinging strikes on 93 pitches, and Cincinnati was only able to scratch a run across after a hit-by-pitch, a wild pitch and a single. Strider had a recent bump in the road against San Francisco (six earned runs in 3.2 innings), but he's flashing frontline starter potential.

Rasmussen (hamstring) did not factor into the decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

In his return from the injured list, Rasmussen did fairly well to keep the Blue Jays' high-powered offense at bay. However, he issued two walks in the fifth inning and manager Kevin Cash would not let Rasmussen face Bo Bichette a third time. With that, Rasmussen fell short of qualifying for the win, but he should be available to add to his workload gradually in his subsequent starts after throwing 68 pitches (41 strikes) Saturday.

Civale (2-5) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six-plus innings, taking the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Yankees.

Civale received one run of support in the first inning. The Yankees covered that when Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton went back-to-back in the fourth, and they added some more production in the seventh after Civale put two on with no outs. Enyel De Los Santos couldn't stop the rally, taking away Civale's chance at a quality start. The 27-year-old has struggled mightily this year with a 7.04 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 45:15 K:BB through 46 innings across 10 starts. He's given up home runs at a 1.6 per nine innings rate, while his velocity is down just a bit at 90.8 mph. He lines up for a road start in Kansas City next week.

Cortes (7-3) allowed a run on three hits and no walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Guardians.

Cortes gave up a solo home run to Amed Rosario in the first inning and just a pair of singles in his last five frames. This was the first time in a month that Cortes has completed six innings after a shaky June saw him post a 4.15 ERA in 26 innings across five starts. The southpaw has a 2.44 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 91:19 K:BB in 85 innings through 15 starts overall, and he's projected for a road start in Boston next week.

Webb (7-3) took the loss during Saturday's 5-3 defeat at the hands of the White Sox, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

Webb began Saturday's start with three perfect innings but encountered trouble in the fourth and sixth, when he surrendered all but one of his baserunners and all five runs scored with the help of two errors. The 25-year-old fired 67 of 101 pitches for strikes with 14 of the swinging variety and is averaging over 103 pitches with 8.5 K/9 across his last five starts compared to just over 90 pitches and 7.6 K/9 in his first 11 turns. Webb is set to face off against San Diego in his next start, projected for midweek.

Cease (7-3) registered the win during Saturday's 5-3 victory over San Francisco, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings.

Cease's lone run surrendered came on his second pitch as LaMonte Wade took him 424-feet deep to right center, but he proceeded to navigate five scoreless frames thereafter despite traffic on the bases in every inning. The 26-year-old induced a whopping 19 swinging strikes on 104 pitches, but tied his second lowest total of the season with only four strikeouts and still ranks second in the league with 125. On the other hand, the three free passes added to his league-leading total of 40 through 86 innings. Cease has allowed just two earned runs (and 10 more unearned runs) over 39.1 innings across his last seven starts and will look to keep things rolling against Detroit midweek.

Bubic registered a no-decision during Saturday's 4-3 loss to Detroit, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Bubic started slowly with one run permitted on three baserunners in the first inning but rebounded well to get through the next three frames relatively easily. He then surrendered another run on three baserunners in the fifth and departed with two runners on that were neutralized when reliever Jose Cuas retired Willi Castro to end the inning. The 24-year-old has now pitched fewer than five innings in seven of 11 starts and is averaging under four innings per start. Bubic's 5.56 FIP and 4.81 xFIP suggest his 7.06 ERA stands to improve, though his 1.87 WHIP ranks fourth worst among the 248 pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings. He's currently scheduled to oppose Houston midweek for his next start.

Cole (7-2) earned the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over six innings against the Guardians. He struck out six.

All of the damage against Cole came in the second inning when Josh Naylor and Franmil Reyes went back-to-back. Cole was excellent otherwise, and he now has his ERA back below 3.00 for the season (2.99). The right-hander has 11 quality starts in his last 13 turns, and around the June 9 hiccup when he allowed five homers, Cole has pitched like a fantasy ace.

May (elbow) is close to going on a rehab assignment, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, May has thrown "three or four" live batting-practice sessions and is "really close" to starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last May, so he's within the range of a typical return timeframe following the procedure. Roberts suggested that May would need multiple weeks to build back up once he begins the rehab assignment.