MLB Player News

Vasquez completed five relief innings against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five batters in a no-decision.

Vasquez was the Padres' third pitcher, following Wandy Peralta (one inning) and Kyle Hart (one inning). Vasquez had pitched well as a traditional starter in his previous two appearances, giving up just two runs over 11 combined frames, so it's unclear why he was transitioned back to bulk relief Saturday. Regardless, that decision didn't work out, as the right-hander yielded two runs in the fifth inning and another two in the seventh. It remains to be seen how Vasquez will be deployed moving forward, but he logged a starter's workload of 90 pitches Saturday, so he'll presumably remain on his regular rest schedule, which puts him on track to next take the mound next weekend at home against Minnesota.

Jones (2-5) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Red Sox.

Jones pitched fairly well, but the Pirates gave him no run support. He had allowed 11 runs over seven innings across his first two starts in August. Jones has taken the loss in his last four appearances and is now at a 4.78 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 72:21 K:BB over 64 innings over 14 starts this season. He's projected for a tough road start versus the Dodgers in his next outing.

Banks (forearm) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, per MLB.com.

Banks' next step will be live batting practice, which could come next week. The left-hander is recovering from a strained left forearm, and he appears unlikely to rejoin Philadelphia's bullpen until sometime in mid-to-late September.

Stott went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and two walks in Saturday's 9-1 win over the Twins.

Although it was just Stott's first homer of August, he's been a menace at the plate lately. Over 45 at-bats on the month, the infielder is hitting .378 with the aforementioned big fly, four doubles, eight RBI, five stolen bases and 15 walks. Stott has been on a hot streak since the start of June, slashing .305/.399/.456 with three long balls, 17 doubles, 31 RBI and 13 steals over his last 264 plate appearances (65 games).

Bohm went 5-for-5 with three doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 9-1 win over the Twins.

Bohm posted his first career five-hit attack Saturday, matching a season high in extra-base hits as well. The infielder has now hit safely in all but three of his outings in August, batting .367 with five doubles, five RBI and one stolen over 49 at-bats this month. For the campaign, Bohm is still slashing a disappointing .239/.298/.376 with 13 homers, 21 doubles and 64 RBI across 483 plate appearances.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Bachar will start Sunday's game against the Red Sox at PNC Park, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Paul Skenes had been slated to take the hill for the series finale with Boston, but the Pirates will instead push their struggling ace back a few days in the pitching schedule and insert Bachar as a spot starter. The 31-year-old right-hander previously made four starts for the Marlins but has made all four of his appearances out of the bullpen since the Pirates acquired him Aug. 3. Bachar will be pitching on three days' rest after covering three innings and tossing 46 pitches in relief during Wednesday's 8-2 loss to Miami. He'll be operating with a limited pitch count Sunday and is unlikely to work deep enough into the contest to qualify for a win.

Luzardo (11-5) earned the win against the Twins on Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out nine.

Luzardo mostly cruised Saturday, punching out at least seven for the seventh time in his last eight outings. Additionally, the quality start was the southpaw's third in a row and sixth in his past eight appearances. Luzardo, who has notably given up two runs or fewer in 19 of his 25 starts on the year, is set to carry a 3.23 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 185:46 K:BB over 150.1 innings into a favorable home matchup against the Cardinals.

Manager Don Kelly said that Skenes won't start Sunday's game against the Red Sox as planned and will instead make his next start Wednesday versus the Tigers at PNC Park, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Kelly indicated that no injury was behind the decision to push Skenes off Sunday's start, as the Pirates simply wanted to build in more rest for their ace in advance of his next appearance. The Pirates will turn to reliever Lake Bachar to make a spot start Sunday in place of Skenes, who will get some extra time off after submitting a 6.52 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over his last four outings. Skenes threw just 65 pitches over five innings in his most recent start Tuesday in Miami and averaged 95.7 mph with his fastball, which was down a tick from his season-long average.

Marsee went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Reds.

Marsee banged out a season-high four hits Saturday, recording his third career four-hit attack in the process. While the outfielder has been rather disappointing at the dish following a torrid finish to 2025, he's batting .342 with the aforementioned homer, a double, a triple and four walks over 38 at-bats in August. Through 471 plate appearances in 2026, Marsee is slashing a weak .212/.326/.320 with seven long balls, 29 RBI, 19 stolen bases and 60 runs scored.

Gusto took a no-decision against the Reds on Saturday, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

A fielding error in right field by Esteury Ruiz kept both of Cincinnati's third-inning runs off Gusto's line, but the hurler later served up a pair of solo home runs in the fifth. The six strikeouts tied a season high for Gusto, but he's been taken yard at least once in each of his past four starts. The right-hander, who sits with a shaky 4.70 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 49:14 K:BB over 53.2 innings, has limited streaming appeal in his next scheduled outing against an upstart Nationals lineup.