MLB Player News

The Tigers got a lot of work after Doug Fister was chased early on Monday and will likely be tested again Tuesday now that Duane Below is starting in place of Max Scherzer (hamstring), so Downs provides a fresh arm. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 2.22 ERA and 33/8 K/BB ratio in 28 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this season. He’s quite the example of perseverance after suffering a skull fracture when he was hit in the head by a line drive back as a Rays’ farmhand in 2009.

Always start your pitchers against the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Teams have combined to score exactly 100 runs in 19 games there this year, 50 by the Rangers and 50 by their opponents. That’s average of 2.63 runs per game, compared to a league average is 4.43. Soroka allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five tonight. He’ll go from arguably the league’s friendliest environment for pitchers tonight to its harshest in Coors Field this weekend against the Rockies.

He plunked Corey Seager with two outs, but he retired the other three batters he faced. Sewald has delivered five straight scoreless appearances since giving up three runs to the White Sox on Apr. 23. He’ll eventually face challenges from A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez in the ninth, but the closer’s role in Arizona is all his for now.

Waldschmidt’s 412-foot fly to center in the third would have been a homer in 18 ballparks, but it was an out at Globe Life field. Waldschmidt is now 3-for-11 since joining the Diamondbacks. He went without a strikeout tonight after fanning four times in his first eight at-bats.

Seager was fine after the HBP, but his average is down to .189 after the hitless game. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Saturday that Seager would soon get a day off, but he’s been in the lineup both games since. Maybe Tuesday will be the day.

Burger did get to first base on a forceout in the eighth, only to be immediately removed for a pinch-runner. He’s at .204/.238/.355 for the season. He has a .260 OBP since the beginning of 2025, which is the worst mark in the league for anyone with at least 400 plate appearances.

It’s a bit unclear when Eovaldi will start next, but there’s optimism he isn’t facing an extended absence, and could potentially avoid a trip to the injured list. It’s an extremely encouraging development after the 36-year-old veteran was scratched from Monday’s scheduled start against the Diamondbacks with left side tightness. There should be a more definitive update from the club on his status in the coming days once he resumes throwing.

Aranda has been one of the more impactful middle-of-the-order run producers this season with a whopping 32 RBI through 40 contests. The 27-year-old first baseman delievered a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single before taking Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman deep in the fifth inning for his eighth round-tripper of the year. He’s been on fire recently, hitting .346 (18-for-52) with two homers and 11 RBI over his last 15 games.

Giménez took Rays starter Drew Rasmussen deep for a three-run homer in the second inning before repeating the feat against reliever Ian Seymour in the seventh to record the first multi-homer performance of his career. The 27-year-old infielder was one of the few bright spots in this one as he was responsible for all five of Toronto’s runs in a losing effort. He’s up to five round-trippers already through 38 games after mustering only seven across 101 contests last year in his Blue Jays debut.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters Simpson was lifted for a defensive replacement in the eighth inning due to some left leg cramping after going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. It doesn’t sound like a significant concern. The 25-year-old’s speed caused some serious chaos on the basepaths for Toronto all night, but he put on a masterclass in the fourth inning when he reached on an infield single and advanced on a balk before scoring on an errant throw after swiping third base. He’s up to 14 steals through 40 games.

Baker got the call to protect a three-run lead in the final frame and needed just 11 pitches (nine strikes) to slam the door. He struck out Myles Straw, got Ernie Clement to line out to center field and fanned Andrés Giménez to end it. The unheralded 31-year-old journeyman has converted 11 of 13 save opportunities this season and finds himself just one behind Padres relief ace Mason Miller for the league lead. Simply put, he’s been an unexpected revelation for fantasy managers.