MLB Player News

Bello (14-8) took the loss against Tampa Bay on Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over 5.2 innings.

Bello didn't allow any extra-base hits, and the only run he surrendered came on a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly in the third inning. However, Boston's offense managed just one hit and zero runs, pinning the right-hander with a hard-luck loss. Bello nonetheless continued a strong stretch during which he's allowed a modest four runs over his past 16.1 frames across three starts.

Cleavinger earned a save against the Red Sox on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.

Cleavinger threw 15 of 19 pitches for strikes and recorded multiple punchouts for the first time since Aug. 14. The save was his second of September and his sixth overall this season. The last three Rays saves have been claimed by three different relievers, so it's clear that the team prefers a committee approach to the closer role.

Gilbert (8-11) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Yankees. He struck out nine.

Gilbert was afforded an early three-run lead then held the Yankees in check, with the only damage coming by way of a two-run homer in the third off the bat of Jazz Chisholm. Gilbert's whiff of Giancarlo Stanton to end the first gave him 200 on the season, marking the first time in Gilbert's four-year career he's reached the 200-strikeout milestone. He ended the day with nine strikeouts, one shy of matching a season high. Gilbert lines up for a start early next week against the Astros, which could be his final outing of the season.

Littell (8-9) earned the win over Boston on Thursday, allowing one hit and recording seven strikeouts without issuing a walk over seven scoreless innings.

LIttell allowed just one baserunner in the outing (on a third-inning single). The right-hander retired the final 13 batters he faced and was ultra efficient, needing only 75 pitches to complete seven frames. LIttell has held his opponent scoreless in three straight starts, compiling a total of 18 scoreless innings while posting a 16:1 K:BB during that span. The outstanding stretch has lowered his season ERA to 3.56.

Fitts will start Friday against the Twins, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Fitts most recently made a spot start Sept. 13 in place of Tanner Houck, who was dealing with shoulder fatigue. Even with Houck back in action, Fitts will get another turn through the rotation. He has yet to allow an earned run across 10.2 innings, though his 4:4 K:BB is less impressive.

Guerrero went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs, an additional run scored and a walk Thursday against the Rangers.

Each of Guerrero's blasts went for over 400 feet, raising his season homer total to 30. The first of those homers snapped a 49 at-bat homer-less streak. It was the first multi-homer game of the season for Guerrero and the 19th time he's collected at least three hits in a game. The veteran first baseman stands just one RBI shy of his second 100-RBI season, while his .322 average is a career best and ranks second in the majors behind only Bobby Witt.

Alexander will start Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alexander has worked bulk innings for the entire season, though he's fluctuated between working behind an opener and as a traditional starter. Topkin reports there will be no opener Friday, setting Alexander up for his eighth start of the campaign.

Rocker (0-1) took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks across three innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five.

Rocker's second start was a bit rockier than his first, needing 71 pitches to complete three frames. In addition to the four walks, he also allowed a baserunner by way of a hit-by-pitch. Despite the control trouble, his one earned run allowed was scored without allowing a hit and the second run allowed came off of a throwing error. The highly touted rookie has allowed one earned run in each of his first two outings spanning seven innings and is set to make one more start to close out the season, coming in a road matchup against either the Athletics or the Angels.

Cousins (pectoral) is likely to be out for a few days after exiting his outing Thursday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cousins was pulled with the issue in the sixth inning. After the game, he said he's been dealing with the injury since Sunday but had progressed to the point where he thought he could pitch in game action. Even with the setback, it appears that Cousins will avoid the injured list.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and a walk across 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

Woods Richardson pitched respectably Thursday, holding Cleveland to a lone run on Kyle Manzardo's solo homer in the first inning. However, the right-hander ultimately failed to make it through five innings for a fifth consecutive start. Overall, Woods Richardson is 5-5 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 115:47 K:BB across 132.2 innings this year. He'll likely make one more regular-season start, tentatively scheduled for next week at home versus the Marlins.