MLB Player News

Civale (1-3) yielded six runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings Friday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Twins.

Civale got off to a rough start, allowing a pair of solo home runs to Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco in the first inning. He managed to keep Minnesota scoreless for the next few innings before he and Bryan Shaw were tagged with eight combined runs in the fifth. Civale has now given up six runs in three of his last four starts, inflating his ERA to 9.84 through 24.2 frames. He's currently lined up face the Tigers at home next week.

Mahle (2-4) earned a win and a quality start Friday against the Pirates, striking out eight batters across six innings while allowing two runs on five hits and a walk.

It was a refreshingly strong performance from Mahle, who hadn't recorded a quality start in any of his first seven starts of the year. He allowed one run on a Ben Gamel solo shot in the first inning and another on a Ke'Bryan Hayes double in the third, but it was on the whole a very encouraging performance from the right-hander. That follows a start his last time out in which he allowed two runs on just one hit across five frames, though that outing also came against the Pirates. Whether or not he can keep that momentum going against a tougher opponent Wednesday in Cleveland remains to be seen.

Gray fell to 4-3 on the season Friday against the Astros, allowing six runs on six hits across six innings while striking out five batters and walking two.

Almost all the damage the Astros did came in the first inning, a frame in which they homered twice and crossed the plate five times. Gray was allowed to remain in the game and threw five good innings after that, allowing just one more run on a Yordan Alvarez homer. It's not an outing that will have helped out any fantasy teams, but the ability to rebound at least represents an encouraging sign for the 24-year-old righty. He'll look to pitch well from the start his next time out, which lines up to come Wednesday against the Marlins.

Valdez improved to 2-2 on the season Friday against the Nationals, allowing one run on seven hits across 7.2 innings while striking out six and walking a pair.

Valdez was handed a 5-0 lead before he stepped onto the mound and never looked likely to let Washington back in the game. He didn't allow a baserunner with less than two outs until the sixth inning, when a leadoff single from Juan Soto was quickly countered by a double play. He finally ran into trouble in the seventh inning, giving up a run on a fielder's choice after allowing the first two batters to reach base safely, but that wasn't enough to make it anything but a very strong outing for Valdez, who now owns a 2.93 ERA. He'll look to lower that mark Thursday against the Rangers.

Lopez did not factor into the decision Friday against the Brewers despite striking out 11 batters while allowing one run on three hits and no walks across seven innings.

Lopez gave up a leadoff homer to Kolten Wong to start the game before settling in for seven dominant frames. Unfortunately for him and the Marlins, Corbin Burnes was just as good for the visitors, allowing just one run in seven innings as well. While it wasn't good enough for a win, it was still another dominant showing from Lopez, who now owns a 1.05 ERA through seven starts. He'll look to keep the remarkable start going Wednesday against Washington.

Webb (5-1) allowed one run on three hits and three walks over six innings Friday, striking out one batter and picking up a win over the Cardinals.

Webb gave up an RBI groundout to Paul Goldschmidt in the first innings before shutting the Cardinals down for five straight frames. It was the second time this season that he struck out only one batter, with the last one happening on April 19 when he threw just 3.2 innings. Webb is now sporting a 3.48 ERA with a 28:11 K:BB through 41.1 frames. He's expected to face the Rockies on the road next week.

Burnes threw seven innings Friday against the Marlins, striking out seven and walking none while allowing on run on five hits. He did not factor into the decision.

Burnes did his part, but so did his counterpart Pablo Lopez, who also allowed just one run in seven frames. Both pitchers' only blemishes came on solo homers, with Jesus Aguilar besting Burnes in the bottom of the third inning to level the score. The Brewers would eventually score a run in the top of the ninth to emerge 2-1 victors. Burnes, who now owns a 1.77 ERA through seven starts, lines up to face Atlanta next Wednesday.

Dunning (1-2) allowed five runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings Friday, striking out six and taking a loss against the Red Sox.

Dunning looked solid through five innings of work, yielding just one run on an RBI single by Rafael Devers in the third. He then gave up four hits in the sixth inning, including RBI doubles via Alex Verdugo and Franchy Cordero, before he was pulled from the contest. The 27-year-old had allowed three or fewer runs in each of his six starts before Friday's poor outing. Dunning will carry a 4.06 ERA into his projected home outing against the Angels next week.

Kershaw (pelvis) underwent an MRI on Friday which revealed no structural damage, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw landed on the injured list with right SI joint inflammation Friday, but initial reports indicate that the team believes he'll need a minimum-length absence. Tests back that up as well, so it looks as though he'll have a good chance to return before the end of the month.

Steele (thumb) felt good after throwing a bullpen session Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Steele exited his start last Sunday against the Dodgers with a sore left thumb. He felt the discomfort specifically while throwing his slider, but he was able to throw that pitch without issues Friday. The Cubs have yet to announce their starter for Sunday's series finale in Arizona, a job which could go to Steele if he's cleared to pitch.