MLB Player News

Gusto (1-4) took the loss Saturday as the Marlins fell 6-5 to the Cubs, surrendering five runs on 10 hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Chicago had runners in scoring position in every inning against Gusto, finally getting on the board when Michael Conforto led off the top of the third inning with a solo shot. Gusto got the hook after 100 pitches (67 strikes), and while the right-hander has been able to complete five innings in only one of his last six starts, he's managed to put together a 3.29 ERA and 23:9 K:BB in 27.1 innings over that stretch, albeit with a 1.50 WHIP. He'll look to be a little more efficient in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Dodgers.

Hoerner went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins.

The infielder produced his second straight three-hit effort and his third in the last nine games. Hoerner has shifted over to shortstop while Dansby Swanson (oblique) is on the shelf, but the change in defensive responsibilities hasn't caused him to lose focus at the plate. Over 18 games since Swanson landed on the IL, Hoerner boasts a .310/.320/.366 slash line with one homer, two steals, four runs and eight RBI.

Assad didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins, giving up three runs on three hits and five walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

Called up earlier in the day for a spot start, Assad held Miami off the scoreboard for three innings before his control issues caught up to him. The right-hander exited after 88 pitches (51 strikes) with the Cubs ahead 5-2, as he missed a chance to record his seventh win of the season and tie his career high. It's not yet clear if Chicago will keep Assad around as a sixth starter or long reliever, or option him back to Triple-A Iowa in exchange for a fresh arm, but over five appearances and 18.1 big-league innings since the beginning of August he's delivered a 2.95 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB.

Thornton (3-5) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs on seven hits -- including four home runs -- and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

In total, five of the hits off the rookie left-hander went for extra bases, with Rafael Devers and Christian Koss each taking him deep twice. Thornton still managed to complete five frames for the sixth straight start, taking a little pressure off the Mets' bullpen, and during that stretch he's produced a 4.22 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB over 32 innings while serving up eight homers. He'll try to keep the ball in the yard in his next outing, which is set to come on the road next weekend in a Subway Series against the Yankees.

Molina (3-0) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and one walk over five innings in a 9-5 victory over the Mets. He struck out six.

A Rafael Devers error extended the second inning and led to a two-run homer for A.J. Ewing, but it was the only hit Molina gave up over 87 pitches (55 strikes). The 24-year-old right-hander has gotten into the win column in his first three outings for the Giants since being acquired at the trade deadline from Atlanta, posting a 1.88 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB over 14.1 innings. He'll look to keep that streak going in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Padres.

Koss went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Mets.

Both homers came off Zac Thornton, with Koss belting a two-run shot in the third inning and a solo blast in the fifth. The shortstop has flipped the switch at the plate in September -- he entered the month with a .498 OPS in 47 big-league contests, but over the last five games he's gone 6-for-19 (.316) with two homers, a walk, four RBI and eight runs.

Devers went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Mets.

The 29-year-old slugger continued his rampage at the plate, launching a solo shot off Zac Thornton in the first inning and then tagging the rookie southpaw for a two-run blast in the fifth. In the process, Devers became just the third hitter in Giants history to hit six or more homers and draw seven or more walks in a six-game span -- an exclusive club whose other members are Willie Mays and Barry Bonds. Devers' hot streak has pushed him up to 35 homers on the season, three shy of his career high, and he needs nine more RBI to reach 100 for the fifth time.

Raleigh went 3-for-4 with a double and run scored in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Athletics.

Raleigh had half of the Mariners' hits, including their only extra-base knock. This was his second multi-hit effort in a row and his third such game during his seven-game hitting streak. The catcher is now batting .182 with a .674 OPS, 21 home runs, 58 RBI, 40 runs scored, 12 doubles and two stolen bases over 108 contests this year.

Kirby (9-11) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.2 innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Athletics.

Kirby has now allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts, making him somewhat fortunate to have a 1-2 record in that span. The right-hander gave up all of the runs between the second and fourth innings Saturday, and the Mariners' offense gave him nearly nothing in terms of support. For the year, Kirby is now at a 4.18 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 133:37 K:BB across 159.1 innings through 27 starts. His next start is projected to be a rematch with the Athletics in Sacramento.

Gelof went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Mariners.

Gelof has hit safely in five straight games to start September. He had homered in his three previous contests, but he wasn't able to extend his power streak in this game. Gelof continues to enjoy a strong bounce-back year, batting .260 with a .799 OPS, 17 home runs, 12 steals, 42 RBI, 63 runs scored, 14 doubles and two triples over 92 contests.