MLB Player News

Varland (5-4) was credited with the win in the Blue Jays' 7-5 extra-innings victory over the Phillies on Saturday. He allowed one unearned run on one walk while striking out one batter across two innings.

Varland entered Saturday's game looking to bounce back from Friday's effort, when he was charged with his first blown save of the season. He kept the game tied at 4-4 after the ninth inning and was brought back out for the 10th, with the run he gave up being unearned due to the automatic runner scoring on a Luis Arraez sacrifice fly. Varland has converted 24 of 25 save opportunities this season and has a 1.34 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 60.2 innings.

Pearson secured the save against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in one innings. He struck out two.

It's worth noting Steven Cruz, who seemed to have taken over as Kansas City's favorite for saves lately, worked ahead of Pearson on Saturday in the eighth inning for a hold. Pearson has handled a save opportunity in back-to-back appearances, suggesting he's in the conversation for high-leverage work. Through 25.2 innings for the Royals and Astros, the right-hander has a 2.81 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB with two saves in three chances.

Gimenez went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI during Toronto's 7-5 extra-innings win over Philadelphia on Saturday.

Gimenez sent Saturday's game to extra innings after his two-run double in the eighth inning tied the game at 4-4, and he added to the Blue Jays' run total with a sacrifice fly in the 10th. It was the third time this season that Gimenez logged at least three RBI, with the last instance taking place May 11 against the Rays, when he drove in five runs. He has gone 10-for-28 (.357) with three steals, four RBI and three extra-base hits over his last nine games.

Lukes went 3-for-6 with a two-run homer during the Blue Jays' 7-5 extra-innings win over the Phillies on Saturday.

Lukes was responsible for the Blue Jays' game-winning runs in the 11th inning, with his fly ball to center field clearing the wall for a two-run homer. It was just the sixth long ball of the season for the 31-year-old outfielder, with his last homer coming July 12 against the Padres. Lukes has a .697 OPS with one steal, 21 RBI and 17 extra-base hits over 298 plate appearances this season.

Lugo (5-7) earned the win against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Lugo was pretty effective against a formidable Cubs lineup, tossing 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes while hanging on for a quality start after giving up his third run of the game in the sixth inning. Saturday's outing marked the 36-year-old right-hander's fourth quality start in his past five outings as well. Lugo will carry a pedestrian 4.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 104:46 K:BB over 134.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Angels in Anaheim.

Scherzer did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four across 5.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.

Scherzer turned back the clock in Philadelphia, keeping the Phillies off the board for the first five innings. His punchout of Kyle Schwarber in the sixth was his fourth of the game, and it moved Scherzer up to 10th on the all-time leaderboard with 3,516 career strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson. Unfortunately for Scherzer, the good times were short-lived after he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, leading to the right-hander being pulled. In what is likely Scherzer's last season, he needs 18 more strikeouts to match Gaylord Perry for ninth on the all-time Ks leaderboard. Scherzer's next start is scheduled for next week at the Rogers Centre against the Yankees.

Guerrero (hamstring) returned to action Saturday evening against the Phillies and homered in his first at-bat against Aaron Nola.

Guerrero has been nursing hamstring and back issues in the midst of a terribly disappointing season. The homer Saturday night was his seventh of the season -- all on the road. With two hits in his first four plate appearances Saturday night, his slugging percentage remains paltry at .359.

Williams is in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup with Seattle.

Williams will make his first appearance with the big-league club since May 27 after being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Friday. With Taylor Walls (back) scratched from Saturday's lineup, Williams will take over at shortstop and bat ninth for Tampa Bay. In 33 plate appearances with the Rays, the 23-year-old has batted .100/.156/.133 with three RBI this season.

Tampa Bay scratched Walls from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners due to lower-back tightness, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Walls was penciled in for a fifth consecutive start at shortstop but will instead hit the bench due to the back issue. Carson Williams will replace Walls at shortstop and bat ninth for Tampa Bay.

Urena (7-8) took the loss Saturday, coughing up four runs on four hits and three walks over 2.1 innings as the Angels were routed 7-0 by the Marlins. He struck out two.

The rookie right-hander faced the minimum six batters through the first two innings, but the wheels came off in the third, and Urena got the hook after just 50 pitches (30 strikes) in his shortest appearance since moving into the rotation in mid-April. The rough outing ended a streak of three straight quality starts for Urena, and he allowed just three earned runs total over his last five outings. He'll take a 2.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 97:55 K:BB through 101.2 innings into his next start, which is set to come at home next week against the Rangers.