MLB Player News

Kirby allowed two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Wednesday.

Kirby's five walks were a season high, and it underscores his step back in the command department this season. The right-hander has issued 44 walks this year, already 15 more than in any other campaign of his career, though his 2.3 BB/9 is still pretty good in the general context of the majors. The walk rate has been creeping up lately -- he's issued 19 free passes over 49.2 frames since the start of August. Through 169.2 innings this season, Kirby has a 4.24 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 143 strikeouts. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Astros.

Alexander will serve as the Rangers' opening pitcher during Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Alexander will draw his fifth opening assignment of the season after beginning September by allowing three earned runs across 7.1 innings. He'll likely remain in the game for an inning or two before Cody Bradford presumably takes over in bulk relief.

Massey went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Astros.

Massey crushed a solo shot in the eighth inning off the right-field foul pole to bring the lead to 3-0 for the Royals. This was Massey's first home run since coming off the 7-day concussion injured list in early September. Since returning from the injury, Massey is slashing .326/.354/.435 with two doubles, a homer and a steal in 12 games.

Javier (2-6) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the Royals on Wednesday.

Javier dealt with a lot of traffic on the basepaths, but all the damage against him came via a John Rave two-run homer in the fourth inning. This start continued a strong September for Javier, who has a 2.20 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings through three starts this month. A matchup with the Mariners in Seattle is likely up next for the right-hander.

Lynch (6-5) picked up the win in Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Astros, allowing two hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five scoreless innings.

Lynch delivered his first scoreless outing since joining the Kansas City rotation on August 7. It's the second consecutive victory for the 29-year-old, who has pitched exactly five frames in each of his past three outings while giving up seven runs with a 6:4 K:BB. As a starter this season, he has a 5.28 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB over 30.2 innings across eight starts. The left-hander next lines up to take the mound against the White Sox.

Ullola will serve as the Astros' opening pitcher during Thursday's game against the Royals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Ullola pitched a shutout inning while working as an opener during his last outing Friday, and he'll look to replicate that performance Thursday. Ethan Pecko is expected to handle bulk-relief duties once Ullola exits the game.

Manager Skip Schumaker said after Wednesday's game against the Red Sox that Gore is dealing with spasms in his back/shoulder, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gore gave up three earned runs over four innings on just 69 pitches during his start Wednesday, and his spasms help to explain why his outing was cut short. It's unclear whether the left-hander will be able to make his next start -- tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Mets -- but the Rangers will likely have a better idea of his availability after monitoring him for a few days.

Basallo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in the win versus the Mets on Wednesday.

One pitch after Christian Encarnacion-Strand crushed a two-run homer in the third inning, Basallo launched his 18th long ball of the campaign. It was the first homer of September for the rookie backstop, who ended a 17-game power drought. The 22-year-old entered Wednesday's contest with a .493 OPS in 25 contests since the All-Star break.

Encarnacion-Strand went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, two doubles and two additional runs scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Mets.

Encarnacion-Strand crushed a homer into the second deck in left field in the third inning to bring Baltimore's lead to 5-0. The 26-year-old has now homered in back-to-back contests for the second time this season and also extended his on-base streak to six games, during which he's gone 10-for-24 with three doubles, two homers and six runs.

Bennett took a no-decision Wednesday against Texas, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk in 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

Bennett kept the ball in the park after serving up five homers in his prior two starts, but he was instead tagged for a trio of doubles Wednesday. The rookie southpaw is showing signs of fatigue late in the season, surrendering at least three runs in all but one of his last 10 outings. He'll take a 3.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:20 K:BB over 109.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against Cleveland, which will be a key matchup in the American League playoff race.