MLB Player News

O'Neill went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three total runs scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.

O'Neill hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added a solo shot in the fifth for his sixth multi-homer game of the year. He had been slumping at the plate, going 15 contests without a multi-hit effort entering Saturday, a span in which he hit just .143 (7-for-49), albeit with three homers. The outfielder is up to a .258/.350/.531 slash line with 27 long balls, 53 RBI, 67 runs scored and four stolen bases through 97 games this season.

Story (shoulder) went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.

Story supplied an RBI single in the third inning to give the Red Sox a 6-2 lead in his first big-league game after missing five months due to a dislocated shoulder. Assuming he doesn't have any additional injuries, Story should be Boston's primary shortstop over the final three weeks of the campaign. He's batting .229 with no home runs, five RBI, one stolen base, one run scored and three doubles through nine games this year.

Jansen (lat) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.

Jansen was dealing with a lat injury that made him unavailable to pitch Friday, two days after a four-run meltdown versus the Mets. He wasn't heavily tested in Saturday's contest, as he required just seven pitches (six strikes) to retire the side for his 26th save in 30 chances this season. Jansen is at a 3.62 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB through 49.2 innings, though he had allowed seven runs over 4.2 innings across his previous six appearances before his clean outing Saturday.

Criswell (6-4) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while failing to record a strikeout over five innings, earning the win Saturday over the White Sox.

Criswell continues to operate on a short leash -- this was the first time in four starts since he rejoined the Boston rotation where he pitched deep enough to qualify for the win. He's allowed multiple runs in just three of his 10 outings since the All-Star break, though five of those were relief appearances. For the year, Criswell has a 4.11 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 66:27 K:BB through 92 innings over 23 outings (17 starts). He's tentatively projected to make his next start on the road versus the Yankees.

Gilbert (7-11) took the loss Saturday versus the Cardinals, throwing a complete game (eight innings) in which he allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit-by pitch while striking out 10.

Gilbert was just about at his best Saturday, but a hit batsman and a Pedro Pages two-run home run in the eighth inning sent him to the unlucky loss. This was Gilbert's fifth quality start in seven outings since the start of August. He's covered eight innings on four occasions this year, though this was his first complete game of the campaign. The 27-year-old is now at a 3.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 191:33 K:BB through 185.2 innings over 29 starts this season. Gilbert is projected to make his next start at home versus the Rangers.

Duran (6-9) took the loss Saturday versus the Royals, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and a hit batsman while striking out one over one-third of an inning.

Duran avoided the blown save, but he set the stage for the Twins' collapse by allowing three of the first four batters he faced to reach base. Griffin Jax couldn't slow the Royals, ultimately allowing two inherited runners to score. Duran has been charged with multiple runs in four of his 19 appearances since the All-Star break, permitting 15 runs (10 earned) over 16.2 innings in that span. He's now at a 3.80 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 54:13 K:BB while collecting 22 saves and five holds through 47.1 innings this season.

Ober allowed one hit and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Royals on Saturday.

Ober was dominant, but Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax melted down in the eighth inning to let the Royals steal one. Ober had thrown just 83 pitches (59 strikes) when he was pulled with the bottom half of the Royals' order due up in the eighth. While Ober's winless streak is at five starts, this was his fourth quality start in that span and his fifth scoreless outing of the year. He's now at a 3.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB through 155 innings over a career-high 27 starts. The 29-year-old's next start is projected to be at home versus the Reds.

Lynch (1-0) allowed a hit and struck out four without walking a batter over three scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday over the Twins.

Lynch served as a de facto piggyback reliever after starter Alec Marsh went five innings. The Royals' four-run rally in the eighth inning put Lynch in position to be the pitcher of record, and Lucas Erceg was able to lock down the save. Lynch hasn't allowed a run over 7.2 innings across five appearances since he rejoined the major-league roster in late August. He's now at a 4.75 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 30.1 innings over 10 outings (three starts) this year. He is likely to end the campaign in a multi-inning relief role as long as he stays in the majors.

Erceg struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Twins.

Erceg was able to protect the two-run lead the Royals established in the eighth inning. It's his second clean outing in a row after he struggled in three straight appearances from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, including one outing which was cut short when he was hit on the hand by a batted ball. He's up to 10 saves -- including seven as a Royal -- while posting a 3.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 61:15 K:BB through 53 innings between Kansas City and Oakland this year.

Marsh allowed two runs on four hits and struck out five without walking a batter over five innings, taking a no-decision versus the Twins on Saturday.

Marsh threw 60 of 84 pitches for strikes in a decent start, but he received almost no help while he was in the game. The Twins put up both runs against him in the third inning, and it took until the eighth for the Royals to offer a response. Over his last three outings, Marsh has given up nine runs (seven earned) over 14.2 innings, which is a little more stability than he offered in July before he lost his spot in the rotation. Overall, he's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 105:34 K:BB through 116 innings over 23 appearances (22 starts). Marsh is tentatively projected to make his next start at Pittsburgh.