MLB Player News

Fried (8-7) yielded three runs (one earned) on four hits over five innings Monday, striking out seven and earning a win over Minnesota.

Fried gave up a run in the first inning and held the Twins in check until they plated two unearned runs in the fifth. It was Fried's first win since June 23, snapping an 0-4 skid over his previous seven appearances. He's produced a 5.26 ERA across five starts this month since returning from the injured list. While Fried has been shaky throughout the year and hasn't quite looked like his usual self, he still owns a solid 3.50 ERA with a 126:46 K:BB through 133.2 innings. His next start is projected to be in Philadelphia this weekend.

Vasquez (4-6) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings Monday, striking out two and earning a win over St. Louis.

Vasquez was called up to make his first MLB appearance since Aug. 8 and delivered a quality start. It was his first win since throwing six shutout frames against Washington on July 23. Vasquez has now made 18 starts with the Padres this season. He registered a 5.70 ERA through the first nine and a 3.40 ERA over his last nine. Vasquez will carry a 4.52 ERA into his next start, which is currently lined up to be in Tampa Bay.

Gibson (7-6) allowed seven runs on five hits and four walks over 4.1 innings Monday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Padres.

Gibson coughed up a two-run shot to Manny Machado in the first inning and set the tone for a poor performance. The Padres scored another pair in the third inning before piling on four more runs in the fifth. Gibson has given up 15 earned runs over 14.1 innings in his last three starts, driving his season ERA up from 3.99 to 4.54 in the process. Since his last win July 7, he's gone 0-3 with a 5.86 ERA over eight outings. Gibson is projected for a road matchup with the Yankees this weekend.

Merrill went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a stolen base in Monday's win over the Cardinals.

Merrill knocked a two-run single in the third inning before delivering another RBI base hit and swiping second base in the fifth. He has a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, going 14-for-43 (.326) with just five punchouts during that stretch. His steal Monday ended a 14-game drought, and he's now 14-for-17 in that department this season. Merrill is slashing .290/.321/.488 with 46 extra-base hits and 75 RBI through 128 games.

Machado went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Monday's win over St. Louis.

Machado got started early with a two-run shot in the first frame. He walked and scored a run in the third inning before capping off his day with an RBI double and another run scored in the fifth. Machado has collected multiple hits in three of his last four games and 13 of his last 30 contests overall, stretch, producing a .968 OPS with 25 RBI over the latter stretch. Machado is now slashing .272/.325/.456 with 46 extra-base hits through 520 plate appearances on the season.

Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros.

The 31-year-old played hero for the Phillies, walking it off with a 10th-inning single that brought home Kyle Schwarber as the phantom runner. Harper also has a two-bagger in four straight contests, and through 22 games in August he's slashing .287/.354/.460 with nine doubles, two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs.

Wheeler came away with a no-decision in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The veteran righty fired 64 of 97 pitches for strikes in his NL-leading 20th quality start of the season, tying him with Seattle's Logan Gilbert for the major-league lead. Wheeler has produced a quality start in all five of his trips to the mound in August, posting a 1.97 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 37:5 K:BB through 32 innings on the month. He'll look to keep bolstering his Cy Young credentials in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against Atlanta.

Williamson (shoulder) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Williamson, who threw two innings at the Reds' complex in Arizona last Thursday, is scheduled for three innings in what will be the first appearance of his second rehab assignment. The left-hander opened the season on the injured list due to a left shoulder strain and was pulled off an earlier rehab assignment in June, when he was diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in the shoulder.

McMahon went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 3-2 win against Miami.

McMahon had the only extra-base hit by either team in the contest, and it was a big one, as his sixth-inning, 438-foot solo shot broke a 2-2 tie and ended up providing the decisive margin of victory. The long ball snapped a 20-game homerless streak for the infielder, and he had batted a meager .155 with a 31.3 percent strikeout rate during the power drought. McMahon now has 17 home runs overall this season, putting him on pace to reach the 20-homer mark for the fourth consecutive campaign.

Cabrera (2-6) took the loss against Colorado on Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over 5.1 innings.

Cabrera had his swing-and-miss stuff working, as he induced 18 whiffs en route to eight punchouts. The right-hander got through four frames without giving up a run but faltered late in his outing, yielding two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth before departing. Cabrera ended up with his third straight loss, and he also walked multiple batters for his eighth consecutive start. He has a healthy 81 strikeouts over 70.2 innings this season, but Cabrera has also issued 40 free passes, and his 5.09 BB/9 is second-worst in the league among pitchers who have thrown at least 70 frames.