MLB Player News

Perez (7-10) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on two hits and four walks over three innings as the Marlins fell 9-2 to the Nationals. He struck out five.

After two scoreless frames to begin the night, the wheels came off for Perez in the third after he walked the bases loaded, uncorked a wild pitch that brought home the first two Washington runs, then served up a three-run blast to Brady House after another free pass. The 23-year-old right-hander has thrown a career-high 130.2 innings this season, and fatigue could be setting in -- he's issued multiple walks in six straight outings, managing to put together a 3.09 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over that stretch despite a 36:18 K:BB in 32 innings. Perez will try to turn things around in his next start, which is set to come on the road next week in Kansas City.

Scott struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 20th save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Tigers.

The southpaw reliever had been stuck with a loss in his previous two appearances, but Scott bounced back with a dominant effort in which he fired eight of 13 pitches for strikes. He's converted four straight save chances since Edwin Diaz (neck) landed back on the IL, and with manager Dave Roberts having already announced that Diaz will initially be used in low-leverage situations once he returns, Scott's latest stint as the Dodgers' closer could extend well into September. On the season, Scott has produced a 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 67:12 K:BB through 55 innings.

Skubal didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 win over the Tigers, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

Returning to Comerica Park for the first time since Detroit traded the ace left-hander to the Dodgers, Skubal controlled his emotions and fired 56 of 83 pitches for strikes in a sharp performance, but Los Angeles didn't push across the winning run until the eighth inning. Over five August outings for his new club, Skubal sports a 3.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 37:7 K:BB in 30 innings with four quality starts, but only one win. He'll look for his ninth win of the year in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Cardinals.

Peterson didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 10-8 loss to the Reds, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw left the mound after 88 pitches (54 strikes) with the Cubs holding a 3-2 lead, but Trent Thornton immediately coughed it up in the top of the sixth once Peterson was out of the game. Peterson has given up more than two earned runs just once in his last nine outings, posting a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 41:19 K:BB over 46 innings during that span. He's set to make his next start at home next week against the Brewers.

Pagan struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 18th save of the season in a 10-8 win over the Cubs.

The veteran righty handled the heart of Chicago's order on an efficient seven pitches (six strikes), including a three-pitch strikeout of Ian Happ. Pagan's last blown save came back on May 4, a game in which he suffered a hamstring strain that landed him on the IL for nearly two months, and since returning at the beginning of July he's put together a 1.96 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 23:3 K:BB over 18.1 innings while converting all 12 of his save opportunities.

De La Cruz went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI in Friday's 10-8 win over the Cubs.

The performance extended De La Cruz's hitting streak to six games, a heater in which he's gone 13-for-30 (.433) with four doubles, a homer, a steal, three RBI and seven runs. On the season, the 24-year-old is slashing .268/.345/.476 with 21 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 116 contests, his third straight 20-20 campaign.

Mize (5-8) took the loss against the Rays on Friday, allowing seven runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk with one strikeout over five innings.

Mize was mostly undone by a five-run fourth inning that included his own error. While he was healthy enough to throw 77 pitches after dealing with an ankle sprain, the 29-year-old generated just one whiff as his velocity was down a tick on each of his offerings. He owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 96:27 K:BB across 109.2 innings this season and appears in line to face the Yankees at home next weekend.

Stewart went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 10-8 win over the Cubs.

The 22-year-old slugger took David Peterson deep in the fifth inning as the Reds put together a comeback from an early 3-0 deficit. The long ball was Stewart's 29th of the season, and his 102 RBI lead the majors -- putting him on pace to become the third rookie in history to lead the league in that category after a pair of Red Sox, Walt Dropo in 1950 and the legendary Ted Williams in 1939.

Lowder (6-8) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on six hits over five innings in a 10-8 victory over the Cubs. He struck out five without walking a batter.

Chicago grabbed a 3-0 lead after Michael Busch launched a two-run shot off Lowder in the third inning, but the right-hander held on long enough for Cincinnati's offense to come roaring back and take the lead for good in the top of the sixth. Lowder has worked at least five innings in seven straight starts, going 3-1 over that span with a 4.05 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB in 40 innings. He'll look to build on this effort in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Padres.

Merrill went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Rays.

Merrill was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable effort by the Padres, launching a 425-foot blast in the sixth inning. The 23-year-old has now homered three times in his past six games, and he's gone deep seven times with 21 RBI in 25 August contests. On the season, he's slashing .241/.293/.424 with 22 home runs, 69 RBI, 70 runs scored and 24 steals across 553 plate appearances.