MLB Player News

Sappington, a fifth-round draft pick in 2012, flashed his potential last year in his full-season debut, as the 23-year-old right-hander posted a 3.45 ERA and 136/82 strikeout-to-walk in 156 1/3 innings between High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas. However, he’s now struggled in back-to-back starts to begin the season, evidenced by his 10.80 ERA and .444 opponents’ batting average through 8 1/3 innings.

The former top prospect opened the scoring in the ballgame as the smacked a two-run single off of Landen Roupp in the top half of the first inning. He struck out in each of his other two plate appearances. Bleday has had a nice spring at the plate, hitting .290 (9-for-31) with a pair of homers and eight RBI. It sounds like he could open the season in the strong side of a platoon for the Reds, getting a chance to do damage against right-handed pitching.

The 23-year-old right-hander struck out of a pair of batters in the contest — Harrison Bader and Drew Gilbert — and didn’t allow a free pass. The only baserunner against him came on a two-out double by Matt Chapman in the opening inning. Burns got four whiffs on 24 pitches on the night — three of those on his slider — while registering an elite CSW of 38 percent. His fastball velocity was in its normal range in this one, averaging 98.3 mph (-0.4 mph). He continues to be a priority target for many fantasy managers due to his massive strikeout potential.

The 28-year-old outfielder smacked a two-out single in the fifth inning but wound up getting stranded there. He then plated the Giants’ lone run with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Encarnacion has had a solid spring at the dish, hitting .308 (12-for-39) with a homer and six RBI.

Roupp punched out four opposing hitters in the contest but also issued three free passes. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning as JJ Bleday smacked a two-run single. Roupp got five swings and misses on 64 pitches on the evening, registering a CSW of 23 percent. He has done a nice job overall this spring, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 10/5 K/BB ratio across nine innings in his first four appearances.

Turang singled in the fourth inning but was left stranded at first base. He then delivered an RBI single off of Phillippe Aumont in the sixth inning that extended Team USA’s lead to 4-0. The 26-year-old infielder also worked a walk in the ninth inning before being erased on a double play. Turang is having an exceptional tournament at the plate, hitting .467.

Team USA skipper Mark Derosa wanted to ensure that his club advanced on Friday, so he brought out his closer to protect a two-run advantage in the ninth. Miller did exactly that, striking out Jacob Young, Edouard Julien and Otto Lopez in succession to send Team Canada to the sidelines. He’ll be waiting and ready to go if Team USA has another lead to protect against the Dominican Republic on Sunday night.

Webb struck out five batters on the night. Team Canada had their best scoring threat against him in the opening inning, as a couple of singles put two men on with only one out, but Webb responded by striking out Owen Caissie and Abraham Toro in succession to quell the threat. The 29-year-old hurler got five whiffs on 71 pitches in the contest, posting a strong CSW of 34 percent. The next stop for Team USA will be a matchup against the Dominican Republic in the semifinals on Sunday evening.

Naylor made things much more interesting as his two-run shot off of Gabe Speier in the sixth inning, pulling Team Canada to within two runs at 5-3. That would be as close as they would get. The 26-year-old backstop also singled in the ballgame. He’ll now rejoin Guardians’ camp and get ready for the start of the regular season.

The right-hander also issued a pair of walks in the ballgame while recording only one strikeout. Team USA scratched out a run against him in the opening inning on a pair of hits and a ground ball off the bat of Kyle Schwarber. They then utilized a throwing error from Abraham Toro to push two runs across in the third inning. Soroka got three whiffs on 58 pitches in the contest, posting a CSW of just 21 percent. He’ll now return to Nationals’ camp and prepare for the start of the regular season.

Morel finally broke through and got the Marlins on the board with a run-scoring single off of Clay Holmes in the seventh inning. That wound up being the only run that either team would score in the contest. He’s having a rough spring overall at the plate, hitting just .172 (5-for-29) with zero homers, four RBI and one stolen base in his first 32 plate appearances.