MLB Player News

Mahle allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 4.1 innings, taking a no-decision in Saturday's 8-6 loss to the Pirates.

Mahle's breakout season ended on a sour note Saturday, as the 27-year-old coughed up six earned runs to the lowly Pirates. Still, 2021 has been a raging success for the right-hander. Mahle went from a 3-12 record with a 5.14 ERA in his last full season (2019) to an 13-6 mark and 3.75 ERA this season. He is arbitration eligible this winter, but provided all of that goes well, Mahle figures to be a central piece of the Reds' rotation as they eye up a return to the postseason in 2022.

Manoah (9-2) picked up the win in Saturday's 10-1 rout of the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over seven innings. He struck out 10.

The rookie was dominant in his final start of the regular season, firing 60 of 89 pitches for strikes en route to his fourth straight win, and his performance down the stretch has been a big reason why the Jays will head into the season's final day still alive in the wild-card hunt. Manoah has a 3.22 ERA and 127:40 K:BB through 111.2 innings in his first taste of the majors.

Lyles (10-13) allowed one run on two hits and one walk with eight strikeouts through seven innings, picking up the win in Saturday's 7-2 victory over Cleveland.

Entering play, Lyles led the American League in hits and earned runs allowed while also leading all of baseball in home runs conceded. For seven innings you forgot about all of that, as the right-hander carved up Cleveland. Although he does have some unsightly numbers attached to his name, this season was pretty solid for the journeyman. He ate up 180 innings for a rebuilding Texas team and emerged healthy. He might not be flashy, but he figures to have a market when he hits free agency this offseason.

Luzardo (6-9) yielded one run on six hits with 11 strikeouts over 5.1 innings to earn the win Saturday against Philadelphia.

The 24-year-old enjoyed the first double-digit strikeout performance of his career, limiting the Phillies to a Matt Vierling RBI single in the fifth inning. Luzardo had a rocky 2021 campaign, putting up a 6.61 ERA and 58:32 K:BB in 57.1 innings, but his season-ending effort showcased the high-end ability that has made him one of the game's top pitching prospects.

McKenzie (5-9) allowed four runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts through four innings, taking the loss in Saturday's 7-2 defeat to the Rangers.

McKenzie battled his command Saturday, issuing the most walks he's allowed since June 12 and finding the zone with just 54 percent of his pitches. All of his runs came via the long ball too, with Willie Calhoun going yard for a solo shot in the first before Jonah Heim smacked a three-run shot in the fourth. McKenzie showed a ton of growth this season, but simply ran out of gas down the stretch. After being virtually unhittable through August and into September (1.76 ERA, 48:5 K:BB through seven starts), the lanky right-hander had a brutal 11.81 ERA and 9:8 K:BB in his last three outings. Still, at just 24 years old, McKenzie has oodles of upside and projects to grow into a more-than-serviceable rotation piece for Cleveland over the next few seasons.

Means (6-9) took the loss Saturday, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on seven hits -- including three home runs -- over three innings in a 10-1 rout at the hands of the Blue Jays. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The southpaw wasn't fooling many hitters, as Means served up homers to Vladimir Guerrero and Teoscar Hernandez in the first inning before George Springer took him deep in the second, and two of the other hits off him were doubles. Means will wrap up the regular season with a 3.62 ERA and 134:26 K:BB through 146.2 innings.

Montgomery (6-7) took the loss Saturday as the Yankees were routed 12-2 by the Rays, coughing up seven runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out three.

The lefty served up a three-run shot to Brandon Lowe in the top of the first inning, and it was all downhill from there for both Montgomery and the Yankees. He got the hook after 71 pitches (44 strikes) as New York failed once again to lock up a wild-card spot, and he wraps up the regular season with a 3.83 ERA and 162:51 K:BB through 157.1 innings.

Gausman allowed one run on six hits and one walk over seven innings Saturday in a no-decision against San Diego. He reorded five strikeouts.

The right-hander put together his second straight quality start, holding the Padres to a Manny Machado RBI single in the sixth inning. Gausman will go into the postseason having allowed just two runs in 13 innings over his last two starts while striking out 16 against just one walk.

Musgrove limited the Giants to one run on three hits with four strikeouts over five innings Saturday. He did not factor in the decision.

After a wobbly September (5.14 ERA in five starts), Musgrove closed out his 2021 season with a terrific showing by limiting San Francisco to a Kris Bryant RBI single in the second inning. He also put up a zero in the walk column for the first time since May 30. Musgrove went 11-9 in his first season in San Diego and established personal bests in ERA (3.18), innings pitched (181.1), strikeouts (203), WHIP (1.08) and opponents' batting average (.213). He also threw a pair of shutouts, the first of his career.

Baz didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 12-2 rout of the Yankees, giving up one run on one hit and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out four.

With the Rays already having the best record in the American League locked up, the team elected to give Baz some extra rest ahead of the playoffs -- a strong sign that he'll have a big part to play in Tampa Bay's postseason pitching plans. The young right-hander threw 51 pitches (28 strikes) before exiting, and he wraps up the regular season with a 2.03 ERA and 18:3 K:BB through 13.1 innings in his first taste of the majors.