MLB Player News

Fried allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out seven batters over 3.1 innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Thursday.

Fried was effective but not efficient at recording outs, as the Rockies managed only four baserunners against him (on one hit, two walks and an error). The left-hander racked up a strong 12 whiffs and seven punchouts, but that helped drive up his pitch count -- Fried needed 80 pitches to retire just 10 batters. The veteran hurler spent time on the IL due to an elbow injury in August and hasn't yet worked back up to a full workload, as he's thrown 63, 72 and 80 pitches, respectively, in his first three starts back. That's throttling his ability to go deep into games for now, but Fried may have a longer leash his next time out, which is slated to be a road game in Minnesota.

DeGrom allowed one hit and struck out 12 batters over six innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Thursday.

DeGrom was downright dominant from the outset, striking out eight of the first nine batters he faced. The veteran hurler racked up 20 whiffs and 12 punchouts overall on a modest 92 pitches. The Mariners put only one runner on base against him, and that came on an infield single in his sixth and final frame. When deGrom departed he was in line for the win, but the Rangers' bullpen let him down and couldn't hold a 3-0 lead. Still, this was a third straight impressive outing by the right-hander following an eight-run, 3.2-inning blowup against the White Sox on Aug. 25. During those subsequent three contests, deGrom has allowed only two runs across 19 frames while posting an incredible 27:1 K:BB. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is slated to be a home tilt versus Boston.

Gilbert (12-9) earned the win over Texas on Thursday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters over seven innings.

A two-run homer by Joc Pederson accounted for the bulk of the scoring against Gilbert, and the right-hander was down 3-0 when he threw his final pitch in the top of the seventh frame. However, Seattle stormed back for four runs in the bottom of that inning, putting Gilbert in position for the win. It was a well-deserved victory, as Gilbert racked up 24 whiffs -- the second-most in his career -- and a season-high 11 punchouts. This was the second straight game in which the veteran hurler has recorded double-digit punchouts and his fourth such performance overall this season. Gilbert ranks eighth in the majors with 187 strikeouts on the campaign, and he'll look to get closer to reaching 200 punchouts for the second time in his career the next time he takes the mound, which lines up to be a road matchup versus the Angels.

The Pirates placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right arm discomfort, retroactive to Monday.

Ashcraft gave up three earned runs during his most recent outing Saturday against the Angels, and he appears to have come away from his start with an arm injury that's serious enough to warrant a trip to the injured list. A minimum-length stay would give him enough time to make one more start during the final week of the season, though the Pirates -- currently five games back of a wild-card spot with 16 to play -- could shut him down for the year if they're eliminated before Ashcraft is healthy. Antwone Kelly was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Javier took a no-decision Thursday against Philadelphia, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Javier was dominant at times Thursday, beginning the day with four no-hit innings to flummox the Phillies. Houston continues to keep a close eye on the right-hander's workload, as he's thrown 90 pitches just once in 2026, but he's surrendered a single run in 79-pitch starts to open the month of September. He'll take a 5.50 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 55:23 K:BB through 55.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance at home against the Royals.

Wheeler took a no-decision Thursday against Houston, allowing one run on five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out nine.

Wheeler has now fired at least six innings while yielding just one run in three consecutive starts. The right-hander has also tapped back into his best swing-and-miss stuff, tallying nine strikeouts in consecutive starts after fanning six or fewer in six of his prior seven outings. He'll bring an outstanding 3.14 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 172:45 K:BB through 143.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Washington against the division-rival Nationals.

Perez took a no-decision Thursday against Tampa Bay, allowing four hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Perez outdueled Nick Martinez on Thursday, scattering four singles across seven sterling frames. The southpaw showed signs of rust his last time out while pitching on extra rest, coughing up four runs over 3.2 innings in Philadelphia on Saturday, so it was encouraging to see him rebound in response after a normal between-starts protocol. He'll carry a 3.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 98:56 K:BB through 131.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Chicago against the Cubs.

Martinez took a no-decision Thursday against Atlanta, allowing two hits and no walks in 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.

Martinez was in cruise control, firing 53 of his 68 pitches for strikes and scattering two singles over 6.1 shutout frames. The right-hander extended his streak of quality starts to four, but it's worth noting he saw his second-lowest workload of 2026 on Thursday as the Rays prepare for the postseason. He'll take a career-best 2.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 98:24 K:BB over 166.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance in pitcher-friendly Tampa Bay versus the lowly Athletics.

Early (elbow) is tentatively slated to make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

The southpaw threw 30 pitches in a bridge league game Tuesday, so he could be ready to handle around 40-to-50 during his upcoming appearance with Harrisburg. Early has yet to make his Nationals debut after being acquired from the Red Sox in July, but he may be able to join the big-league club before the end of the season if all goes well Sunday. Over 17 starts for Boston prior to being shut down with elbow inflammation, Early delivered a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93:34 K:BB through 91.2 innings.

Santucci allowed one run on five hits over five innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The 23-year-old southpaw initially struggled upon his promotion to Triple-A at the beginning of August, but over his last three starts, Santucci has a 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB over 15 innings. A second-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Santucci isn't on the 40-man roster and won't need to be protected from the Rule 5 draft this winter, so the Mets have little incentive to bring him up to the majors before the end of the season. A strong finish at Syracuse would position him to compete for a spot in the big-league rotation next spring, however.