MLB Player News

Francis (2-6) took the loss against the Tigers on Friday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six across 4.2 innings.

Francis gave up solo home runs to Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry in the second and fourth innings, respectively. Francis has given up a league-worst 14 home runs through nine starts this season and has a 5.63 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB across 46.1 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next week at home against the Padres.

Pallante (4-2) earned the win Friday against the Royals after allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out four.

Pallante entered Friday with an MLB-high 75 groundball outs, and he continued to keep the opposition off balance against Kansas City. The right-hander induced 13 more groundouts, also working at least six frames for the fifth time in his last seven outings. Pallante has an ordinary 4.11 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while fanning more than four just twice over his nine appearances (50.1 innings) this season, so his lack of strikeout upside should continue to limit his fantasy appeal in a tough matchup versus the Tigers in his next scheduled start.

Flaherty (2-5) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six across 5.2 innings.

Flaherty had a 6.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over his last five starts (all losses), but he was much better in Friday's outing. He kept the Blue Jays off the board through the first five innings and struck out the first two batters he faced in the sixth, but he yielded a two-run home run to Daulton Varsho and was one out shy from logging his second quality start of the season. Flaherty will look to make it two wins in a row in his next start, tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Cardinals.

Megill (3-4) took the loss against the Yankees on Friday, allowing four runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four across 2.2 innings.

Megill was able to get through the first two innings without much resistance. However, the 29-year-old right-hander ran into trouble in the third frame, when he allowed seven baserunners and four runs and was mercifully lifted after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Oswald Peraza. Despite not making it out of the third inning, Megill tossed 72 pitches (37 strikes). He has yielded four earned runs in each of his last three starts, and for the season he has a 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 56:22 K:BB across 43.1 innings. Megill is slated to take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park next week.

Ragans exited Friday's game against St. Louis due to left groin tightness.

Ragans gave up four runs in five-plus innings before an athletic trainer took him out of the game. The left-hander is tentatively scheduled to make his next start Wednesday in San Francisco, though it's unclear if he'll be able to do so.

Rodon (5-3) earned the win against the Mets on Friday, allowing one run on two hits and four walks while striking out five across five innings.

Rodon tied a season high with four walks issued Friday, but he limited the Mets to one run in the fourth inning and finished his outing with 15 whiffs on 102 pitches (60 strikes). The 32-year-old southpaw has logged at least five strikeouts in each of his 10 starts this season, and his 72 strikeouts are tied with Cole Ragans for second-most in the American League behind Garrett Crochet (73). Rodon is slated to face the Rangers at home next week.

Meyer (3-4) earned the win Friday against the Rays after allowing four runs on six hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out seven.

Meyer continues to struggle with run prevention, yielding at least four runs in his fourth straight start, but his seven punchouts were the most in his past four outings. The 26-year-old right-hander kept the ball in the yard for just the second time in his last six appearances, but he has a 7.97 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over his last 20.1 innings. Meyer could have a hard time getting back on track in his next scheduled start versus the Cubs, who are scoring 5.7 runs per game across their first 45 contests.

Bradley (3-3) took the loss Friday against the Marlins after allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out six.

Friday marked Bradley's shortest outing of the season, but he did fan at least six for the first time in his last six starts. Walks have been a big issue for the hard-throwing right-hander, who has issued at least three free passes on five occasions in his last eight appearances. Bradley will look to improve on his 4.80 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 41:22 K:BB over 50.2 innings in his next scheduled start versus the Astros, which lines up for next week.

Crochet (4-3) took the loss Friday against Atlanta after allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out eight.

Crochet punched out at least six in his seventh consecutive start, also tossing at least seven innings for the third time in his past four outings. The hard-throwing left-hander also got a whopping 19 whiffs Friday, but he did yield a season-high two home runs in what was a tough-luck loss amid a pitching duel with fellow southpaw Chris Sale. Crochet will take an outstanding 2.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 73:21 K:BB over 63 innings into a difficult matchup versus the Mets, which is slated for next week.

Sale (2-3) earned the win Friday against the Red Sox after allowing one run on five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out eight.

Sale fanned at least eight in his fourth straight start, delivering his third quality start in that span. The star left-hander endured a rough start to the season, which saw him post a 6.17 ERA through five outings, but he's now thrown at least five innings while surrendering two runs or fewer in each of his past five appearances. Sale will aim to further improve his 3.62 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 72:15 K:BB over 54.2 innings in his next start against the Nationals, currently projected for next week.