MLB Player News

Ibarra was diagnosed with Hepatitis B last month and has been taking it easy thus far in camp. The bullpen will mark the beginning of Ibarra ramping up his activities as he tries to catch up. The 24-year-old was lights out last season, posting a 1.93 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could still win a job in the Twins’ bullpen with a strong spring.

Suarez continues to fill in admirably for Rasiel Iglesias, picking up two saves in his last three games while holding the opposing offense at bay. Suarez felt the heat a bit in this one, allowing a leadoff walk to Treat Turner and a two-out single to Adolis Garcia. A wild pitch would put both runners in scoring position, but a groundout by Brandon Marsh ended the threat and secured the win for the Braves. Suarez remains the top option to fill the Braves’ closer role as long as Iglesias is sidelined.

Acuña hit a 420-foot shot off Andrew Painter in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. It’s just the second homer of the season for Acuña, who has struggled to find his power in the early part of this season. The righty has just two extra-base hits in his last nine games and just one multi-hit game over that span. Hopefully, this latest homer is the spark he needs to get on track after his slow start.

Turner sent his third homer of the season 394 feet into the stands to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. It was the third homer of the season for Turner, who has struggled at the plate this first month of the season. The veteran shortstop is slashing a paltry .190/.288/.362 in his last 15 games and hasn’t recorded a multi-hit game since April 12th. We would expect him to get out of this slump sooner or later, but Turner is becoming increasingly harder to trust while he irons things out.

After making it through the first two innings unscathed, Holmes ran into trouble in the top of the third inning. After allowing a single to Garrett Stubbs, Holmes left a fastball just over the heart of the plate to Treat Turner, who sent it 394 feet into right center to put the Phillies up 2-0. Holmes would get through the fourth inning without allowing a run despite loading the bases with two outs, but gave up a solo homer to Bryce Harper in the fifth inning. Holmes continues to be solid for the Braves, allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his six starts this season. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at home against the Tigers.

Didn’t think Lorenzen had this in him. He evaded trouble all night with some well-timed double plays and line drives that found gloves, but got the job done. It felt like more of an old-school start where he appeared to be pitching to contact rather than hunting whiffs. It worked here and he’ll have another chance to start away from Coors Field next time out against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Senzatela entered this game in the eighth inning with the tying run on third base and one out and lucked out when Mark Vientos hit a line drive back up the middle that was caught and turned into a double play. Then, he made quick work of the Mets in the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season. Rockies’ usual closer Victor Vodnik blew an ugly save Thursday, allowing five runs against the Padres and throwing 22 pitches in the process, so it makes sense as to why the team didn’t immediately turn back to him here. Senzatela has widened his arsenal in relief this season throwing far more cutters and sinkers than he ever has, making him mildly intriguing as a late-game option besides for the fact that he pitches his home games in Coors Field.

With his Rockies up one, Johnston delivered a clutch, two-run knock to stretch their lead out. The Mets wound up responding with a rally of their own, but fell one run short. Just as he and his teammates have done all season, Johnston attacked a first-pitch fastball from Sean Manaea to get his big hit. On the season, he has a .317 batting average and .834 OPS as a pleasant surprise in the middle of the Rockies’ order.

Painter avoided serious trouble in the first inning, pitching a scoreless frame despite allowing two runners to reach base. He would retire all three batters he faced in the second inning, but in the bottom of the third, the rookie allowed back-to-back hits to Eli White and Ronald Acuña to kick off the inning, with Acuña’s hit coming in the form of a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2. Painter would fall victim to a two-RBI double by Michael Harris in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Phillies down 4-2, and was pulled later in the inning after walking Acuña. The five earned runs allowed by Painter were the most in any game this season, while his lone strikeout tied a season-low. He’ll make one more start this month when he takes the mound on Thursday against the Giants.

Baty was one of the few Mets who were able to convert scoring chances in this one. He came around to score the game’s first run after hitting a second inning double and smashed a two-run single through the hole in the eighth that nearly pushed the Rockies to the brink. After a disastrous first few weeks of the season, he’s 6-for-16 over his last seven games while showing much, much better plate discipline and power.

There’s a hump that Peralta just can’t get over at the moment. Just like in many of his other starts this season, he cruised early and then ran into trouble during the fifth and sixth innings. It wasn’t much hard contact – a swinging bunt, some walks, and ball that caromed off the second base bag – but he was pulled with two outs in the sixth after having given up the lead. His fastball and changeup were sharp, combining for 14 of his 16 total swing-and-misses. We’re just still looking for some consistency from his slider. His next start is scheduled to come against the Nationals.