MLB Player News

Kroeger was hitting just .244/.303/.429 with nine homers and a .732 OPS over 64 games with Triple-A Pawtucket this season. Now 29 years old, the 2000 fourth-round pick hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2004 as a member of the Diamondbacks.

It looks like this might become a thing, which would take a significant toll on Ohtani’s value as a hitter, even if he’s never been as productive at the plate on days that he pitches. The Dodgers didn’t announce who would DH in his place, but we imagine they’ll take the opportunity to have both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing in the lineup.

Murakami’s homer off Drew Pomeranz gave the White Sox a 7-5 lead in the seventh. Miguel Vargas then made it back-to-back blasts, and the White Sox held on from there despite giving up two runs in the ninth. Murakami is alone in first in the majors with 12 homers. He’s also tied for third with 41 strikeouts and tied for last with zero doubles, so it’s hard to know exactly what to make of him at this point. The White Sox, though, are probably wishing they had signed him for three or four years, instead of two.

Kay allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out two while seeing his ERA rise to 6.12. He might soon find himself bumped to middle relief if the White Sox want to give Tanner McDougal a look or try Shane Smith again. For now, though, he’s in line to face the Padres on Sunday.

Colson Montgomery made an error to start the ninth in an 8-5 game, and Taylor went on to give up three hits before the White Sox lifted him with two outs. Bryan Hudson came in at that point and retired Adam Frazier for his first save. Taylor had the chance to close tonight because Seranthony Domínguez had pitched three of the previous four days. It would have been his first save, but he settled for his second hold instead.

Kochanowicz departed with a 5-1 lead in the seventh, but that went away as soon as the Angels bullpen got involved. Still, it was a nice outing for the lefty, who struck out five and walked one. Last year, he had four quality starts in 23 tries. This year, he already has three and two others in which he was pulled just one out shy of qualifying. He’s still not recommended in mixed leagues, but he’s definitely an improved pitcher. He’ll likely face the Mets on Sunday.

The first was a three-run shot from Munetaka Murakami, but since both runners were inherited, Pomeranz was charged with only two earned runs. Still, he’s now given up three homers in two days, which won’t help his chances for picking up saves in a wide-open Angels bullpen. He has an 8.74 ERA in 11 1/3 innings, and while it’d make sense for the Halos to stick with him, there’s the chance they’ll give him the Jordan Romano treatment.

Fairbanks has Reynaud’s Syndrome, which leads to poor blood flow to his fingers in cold weather, but no word yet if tonight’s issue was related to that. Fairbanks wound up being charged with three runs in one-third of an inning and took his second loss tonight. If he’s forced to the IL, then Tyler Phillips, Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender could be candidates for saves.

Ohtani’s RBI came on a ground-rule double that got the Dodgers to within a run at 4-3 in the ninth. He came around to score on Kyle Tucker’s walk-off single to give the Dodgers the victory. Ohtani may be out of the lineup Tuesday, as he’ll be on the bump and looking to further lower his miniscule 0.50 ERA on the campaign.

Hicks took Yoshinobu Yamamoto deep to give Miami a 4-2 lead over the Dodgers; a lead that would stay until the ninth inning when Los Angeles scored three to get the win. Hicks has been impressive in the first month of 2026, as that’s his sixth homer and he’s already up to 27 RBI in 29 games.

Tucker has his first big moment for the Dodgers. The 29-year-old came up with two outs and the bases loaded with the Marlins trailing 4-3, and he laced a single up the middle to score a pair to give Los Angeles the win. Tucker has not gotten off to a hot start as seen in his .230/.326/.364 line, but he’s been one of baseball’s best hitters for the past decade or so despite rarely playing his best in the early portion of the season. There’s very little reason to think he won’t get it going shortly.