MLB Player News

Keller (5-12) took the loss Tuesday against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four in 3.1 innings.

Keller struggled out of the gates, allowing three runs in the opening frame while needing 33 pitches to complete the inning. George Springer then punished him in the second with a two-run blast to put the Pirates in a quick 5-0 hole. In six starts since the All-Star break, Keller owns an 8.31 ERA and 2.08 WHIP and has completed six frames only once. He lines up for a road start against the Cardinals to begin next week.

Scherzer (2-4) got the win Tuesday over the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four in six innings.

Scherzer's control was a little shaky, as he issued three walks for the second time in his past three outings, but he was able to limit the damage in crucial situations. Tuesday's outing was a fifth straight quality start for Scherzer, though he hasn't topped five strikeouts since he punched out 11 on July 27. During his streak of quality starts, Scherzer has posted a 2.25 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 28:7 K:BB in 32 innings. He lines up for a home start versus Minnesota to open up next week.

Lowder (forearm/oblique) threw a side session earlier this week and is expected to do so again Friday in front of team staff when the Reds are in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

The report indicates Lowder's side session went well, which is encouraging news for the team's 2024 first-round draft pick. The right-hander is not expected to pitch for Cincinnati or any of its affiliates this season but is expected to have a normal offseason, which will include the Arizona Fall League.

Skubal didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 extra-inning win over the Astros. He struck out 10.

Matched up against fellow AL Cy Young contender Hunter Brown, Skubal made it clear he wasn't going to relinquish his crown without a fight. The quality start was the 16th of the season for the southpaw, and Skubal racked up a massive 25 swinging strikes on 95 pitches (68 total strikes) as he fanned double-digit batters for the ninth time. He has only one win in eight outings since the beginning of July, but that's due to a lack of run support from the Tigers' offense -- he's delivered a 2.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 62:11 K:BB in 50.1 innings during that span. Skubal will look to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come on the road early next week against the A's.

Brown came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 1-0 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, allowing five hits and three walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out six.

Matched up against fellow AL Cy Young contender Tarik Skubal, Brown rose to the occasion as both aces posted goose eggs, with the game's only run crossing the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning. The right-hander produced his 16th quality start of the season on 101 pitches (61 strikes), and Brown has given up two runs or fewer in five straight trips to the mound, posting a 1.50 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB in 30 innings over that stretch. He'll look for more run support in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Rockies.

Taillon (8-6) picked up the win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Brewers, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out four.

Making his first start since July 29 after recovering from a calf strain, Taillon delivered his 11th quality start of the season on 92 pitches (56 strikes), with Milwaukee's only offense off him coming in the first inning thanks to two singles and a walk. The right-hander hadn't been able to complete five innings in any of his last three starts before landing on the IL, so the time off appears to have served him well. Taillon will take a 4.26 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 78:21 K:BB over 101.1 innings on the season into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend against the Angels.

Woodruff (4-1) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cubs, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

Despite getting an extra day's rest after his last start Aug. 13, Woodruff wasn't sharp in Tuesday's nightcap as he needed 94 pitches (62 strikes) to record 13 outs. That pitch count represented his biggest workload of the year, while the outing marked the first time since he made his early July return from shoulder surgery that he allowed more than two runs. Woodruff will take a 2.47 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 55:11 K:BB through 43.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Giants.

Elder didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the White Sox, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

While Elder did toss three clean innings during Tuesday's outing, the White Sox tagged the hurler for three runs in the third frame and five runs in the fifth. It was the third time this season that the right-hander yielded at least eight runs, and each of those instances have come in his last nine starts. Elder has a 7.45 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 57:30 K:BB over 67.2 innings since the beginning of June, so he doesn't project as the most enticing streaming option for next week's scheduled appearance in Miami.

Rodon (13-7) tallied the win Tuesday against Tampa Bay, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five.

Rodon ran into trouble in the second inning, giving up two runs during the frame, but it was a fine outing otherwise. The All-Star left-hander is now up to 25 outings of at least five innings on the year, and he's conceded greater than three runs on just six occasions in 2025. Through 152.2 innings, he owns a 3.24 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 169:60 K:BB. The Red Sox are lined up next for Rodon's next appearance this weekend, and Boston has an uninspiring .675 OPS against left-handed pitching since the All-Star break.

Smith allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings Tuesday against Atlanta. He did not factor into the decision.

Smith was burned by the long ball, allowing a pair of two-run home runs to account for all four of his earned runs. While that derailed his outing, he still managed to generate a solid 14 swinging strikes across 101 pitches. This also marked Smith's longest outing since June 10, a span of eight appearances.