-
Shane McClanahan SP | TB
Rays' Shane McClanahan: Earns 10th win
McClanahan (10-6) earned the win against the Padres on Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
McClanahan opened with four scoreless frames before losing steam, departing an out shy of a quality start after allowing a homer in the sixth. It marks the first time the 29-year-old has reached 80 pitches since returning from the injured list Aug. 17, a three-start stretch in which he's yielded six earned runs with a 12:3 K:BB. He'll take a 3.19 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 103:38 K:BB across 113 innings into a home matchup with the Mets next week.
-
Chandler Simpson LF | TB
Rays' Chandler Simpson: Notches two steals in win
Simpson went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases in Friday's 9-4 win over the Padres.
Simpson stole second and came around to score in the fourth and fifth innings. It was the 25-year-old's seventh multi-steal game of the season, and he's now hitting a ridiculous .380 in 37 games since the All-Star break. On the season, he's slashing .309/.337/.364 with 29 RBI, 53 runs scored and 37 stolen bases across 509 plate appearances.
-
Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Reaches 20 homers in win
Diaz went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's 9-4 win over the Padres.
Diaz reached 20 homers for the second straight campaign with a solo shot in the third inning. It continued a strong August for the 35-year-old, who's hitting .301 with five home runs, 11 RBI and 18 runs scored through 24 games this month. On the season, he's slashing .302/.370/.465 with 20 homers, 74 RBI, 77 runs scored and three steals across 573 plate appearances.
-
Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Reaches 20-save mark
Hader earned the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mets, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Hader was called in to protect a two-run lead and retired the heart of the Mets' order to slam the door. The 32-year-old is a perfect 20-for-20 in converting save chances in 2026, with his last blown save coming July 12 of last season. On the year, he owns a 0.76 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 48:11 K:BB across 35.1 innings while holding opponents scoreless in 33 of 36 contests.
-
Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out 10 in win
Brown (4-3) earned the win against the Mets on Friday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
Brown delivered his first double-digit strikeout performance of the campaign, generating 14 whiffs on 102 pitches and working into the seventh inning for the second time in 15 starts. It also broke a streak of five straight outings in which the 28-year-old allowed a home run, and he'll end August with a solid 3.18 ERA over 28.1 innings. He owns a 3.33 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 86:44 K:BB across 81 frames this season and lines up for a home matchup with the White Sox next week.
-
Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Suffers tough-luck loss
Bibee (5-14) took the loss against the Royals on Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings.
Bibee allowed a run in the fifth inning and delivered his third straight quality start but was outdueled by Michael Wacha. The 27-year-old Bibee is now tied with Shane Baz for the major-league lead in losses, though he's pitched better than his record would indicate. He owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 128:46 K:BB across 162.1 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Blue Jays next week.
-
Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Fires eight scoreless in win
Wacha (8-8) earned the win against the Guardians on Friday, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out 10 over eight scoreless innings.
Wacha was dominant, throwing 75 of 103 pitches for strikes with 16 whiffs without allowing an extra-base hit. It continued a stellar second half for the veteran hurler, who owns a 2.28 ERA and has delivered six quality starts in eight outings since the All-Star break. He'll take a 3.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 136:42 K:BB across 170.2 innings this season into a home matchup with the Marlins next week.
-
Steven Cruz RP | KC
Royals' Steven Cruz: Earns sixth save
Cruz earned the save in Friday's 3-0 win over the Guardians, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Cruz finished off an eight-inning gem by Michael Wacha despite allowing two singles and hitting a batter. The 27-year-old secured his first career save July 22 and has gone a perfect 6-for-6 since then despite owning a 4.08 ERA over 17 games during that span. On the season, he owns five holds and six saves to go along with a 4.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB across 51.2 innings.
-
Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Displays power in Friday's win
Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during the Yankees' 1-0 win over the Red Sox on Friday.
Goldschmidt was responsible for the only run in Friday's game, when he took Patrick Sandoval deep to left-center field for a 430-foot solo home run. It was Goldschmidt's 17th home run of the season and his first since July 24 against the Phillies. The veteran first baseman has seen his playing time drastically cut down since the Yankees acquired Luis Garcia from the Nationals on Aug. 2, but Goldschmidt should see some starts against southpaws.
-
Cam Schlittler SP | NYY
Yankees' Cam Schlittler: Fans eight in Friday's win
Schlitter (12-6) earned the win against Boston on Friday, allowing two hits and five walks while striking out eight across 5.2 scoreless innings.
Schlittler ended up getting the better of Red Sox southpaw Patrick Sandoval in Friday's 1-0 pitchers' duel. Schlitter set the tone early by striking out two batters in the first inning and was able to keep Boston off the board for his ninth scoreless outing of the season. He got a little bit of help from Cody Bellinger, with the veteran outfielder gunning down Ceddanne Rafaela at the plate in the seventh inning to preserve the shutout. It was Schlittler's 12th start of eight-plus strikeouts and brought him up to 201 punchouts, which is fifth-most in the majors this season. He'll take a 2.09 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 163.2 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next week on the road against the Rangers.