Brandon Marsh delivers two-homer game in defeat

After four straight seasons as an NL All-Star, Alonso failed to get chosen initially in his first year in the AL. Still, he might be added to the squad with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepping aside. Alonso is up to .254/.347/.472 after a slow start to the season. He’s tied for ninth in the AL with 19 homers and is third with 60 RBI.

Young allowed eight hits and walked three, but the Reds didn’t do a great job of making him pay. In the sixth, he was pulled after a walk and a single to start the inning, but Grant Wolfram came in and got a double play and a groundout to protect Young’s 3.38 ERA. Young moved to 7-2. His 62/30 K/BB in 77 1/3 innings isn’t very impressive, but he’s given up just seven homers. Last year, he allowed 12 in 57 2/3 innings, even though he had a better groundball rate than he does now. Young will face the Royals at home to finish off the first half. That’s a kind matchup, but he’s not an every-week option in mixed leagues.

Wells gave up a single to Elly De La Cruz and walked Sal Stewart to begin the inning, but he then retired JJ Bleday, Eugenio Suárez and Nathaniel Lowe in order. Wells is very clearly the favorite for saves in the Baltimore pen with Ryan Helsley down, but he will need Sunday off after this. With Yennier Cano also having worked back-to-back days, Rico Garcia might be the top ninth-inning option then.

Greene’s velocity started out well tonight, but his 51 fastballs tonight produced one whiff on 21 swings and four hits, including a Samuel Basallo homer. It didn’t help that he went from averaging 100 mph in the first to 99 in the second and 98 in the third and fourth. At least he did get 14 whiffs with the slider and seven strikeouts overall. Greene will build endurance, but in his case, fastball shape has always been key to his success. Obviously, it’s not time to rush to judgment here when he’s really just four outings into his rehab. He’ll likely face the Cubs on Friday.

Roa begin the year in the Astros’ organization, but was designated for assignment after he posted a 5.19 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 8 2/3 innings. He then signed with the Cubs, but was DFAd by Chicago near the end of June, and now will provide some arm depth for Houston.

Rodriguez threw 78 pitches while allowing four hits, one walk and striking out five. The right-hander’s next steps will be determined in part by how he feels after this outing, but it sounds like he’ll be ready to roll after the All-Star break, at the latest.

Tellez is now free to find a new club. The 31-year-old was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Thursday, and unsurprisingly didn’t find a new home via waiver claim nor trade. He’s assuredly looking at another minor league pact in the coming days, barring something unforeseeable.

Montgomery doubled in the first inning to bring a run home for the White Sox. With the game later tied in the eighth, he took Tim Herrin deep for a solo homer to give Chicago the lead. The 24-year-old slugging shortstop is up to 22 homers and 51 RBI while slashing .221/.308/.484 across 351 plate appearances.

Hedges knocked a base hit to lead off the third. He then supplied Cleveland’s only run of the game with a solo homer off Sean Burke in the fifth. He’s hit safely in six straight starts, with home runs in two of his last three. The 33-year-old backstop is having his best season at the plate, hitting .281/.343/.413 with three homers, 16 runs scored, and 14 RBI across 138 plate appearances.

Taylor was summoned in the ninth inning to close out the game against the Guardians with a two-run lead. He struck out the first batter, then worked around a walk with two groundouts to secure the win for Chicago with his third save of the season. The 24-year-old right-hander is the only reliever worth rostering in the White Sox bullpen despite not working every save chance. He’s posted a 2.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 65/15 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings.