MLB Player News

O’Conner struggled through the first two-plus months of the season, batting just .192/.222/.305 with four home runs and a 62/6 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 44 games. Something clicked for the 23-year-old backstop in mid-June, however, as he’s rebounded to hit .310 with four home runs, nine doubles and 12 RBI in his last 21 contests. O’Conner’s recent hot streak has raised his season batting line to .231/.261/.386 to go along with eight home runs and 17 doubles, but it’s still difficult to ignore his ugly 80/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 66 games at Montgomery. On a positive note, O’Conner has continued to shine behind the plate this season by throwing out 17 of 37 (46%) of attempted base stealers.

Gelof knocked a base hit in the third inning to drive in a pair of runs. He later took Ryan Johnson deep for a solo homer in the seventh for his sixth of the season. He’d add a base hit and a run scored in the ninth, ending his day hitting .269/.320/.505 with 18 runs scored, 16 RBI, and four steals across 102 plate appearances. The biggest improvement Gelof has made has been in his strikeout rate, sitting at 22.5 percent.

Rooker knocked a base hit to drive in a run before scoring on a single in the third inning. After drawing a walk in the fifth, he took Ryan Johnson deep for a two-run homer in the eighth. The 31-year-old slugger is up to seven homers and 24 RBI while hitting .200/.285/.392 across 137 plate appearances.

Trout drew a walk in the first inning, then led off the third with a solo homer off Jacob Lopez. He drew his second walk in the fourth with the bases loaded to bring a second run home. The 34-year-old slugger has cooled off in May after hitting .248 with ten homers through April. Tuesday’s blast was his second of the month, giving him 12 on the year while slashing .235/.398/.488 with 34 runs scored, 25 RBI, and five steals across 216 plate appearances.

Lopez held the Angels scoreless over two innings, then gave up a leadoff homer to Mike Trout in the third. He couldn’t make it out of the fourth, giving up three runs on a bases-loaded walk and a base hit with two outs. He’d depart at 83 pitches with two strikeouts. The 28-year-old left-hander ends the day with a 6.14 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, and a 32/30 K/BB ratio across 44 innings. He lines up for a start against the Padres in San Diego on Sunday.

Detmers had retired the first seven A’s batters before unraveling in the third inning. With two runners on and two outs, he gave up five straight hits to bring six runs home. He hung in to give the Angels three more innings, pitching into the sixth. Detmers would depart with two outs and two runners on. Both inherited runners would come in to score. The 26-year-old left-hander will carry a 5.07 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 61/19 K/BB ratio across 55 innings into a start against the Rangers in Anaheim on Sunday.

Freeman got the scoring started right away, taking Griffin Canning deep for a two-run blast in the first inning. He went yard again in the sixth, leading off with a solo blast of Jeremiah Estrada to tie the game. The 36-year-old first baseman is up to six homers and 23 RBI while slashing .260/.342/.435 across 199 plate appearances.

Machado put the Padres on the board early, taking Emmett Sheehan deep for a two-run blast in the first inning. It was a 404-foot shot to center field at 108 mph off the bat. The 33-year-old third baseman has struggled this season, hitting .182/.277/.339 with seven homers, 25 runs scored, and 22 RBI across 192 plate appearances.

Klein was summoned in the ninth inning with a one-run lead after Tanner Scott pitched the eighth to face the heart of the Padres’ order. Klein made easy work, recording two groundouts and a strikeout to secure the win and convert his first save. Scott should still be expected to operate as the Dodgers’ primary closer, but there will be occasions where he’s utilized before the ninth based on matchups.

After Sheehan was given a two-run lead in the first, he gave it right back on a two-run blast by Manny Machado. He served up another two-run shot to Miguel Andujar in the third. Sheehan then stranded two runners in the fourth before he was replaced on the mound in the fifth, ending his day at just 67 pitches. He generated only five swinging strikes to collect two strikeouts. It’s been a disappointing season for the 26-year-old right-hander. He’ll take a 4.93 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 51/13 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings into a start against the Rockies in Los Angeles next Tuesday.

Canning served up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the first inning, then settled in for three more scoreless frames. The Dodgers would bring a third run home on a double and two groundouts in the fifth. That would be it for Canning, ending his day with five strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander holds a 9.00 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, and a 19/10 K/BB ratio across 16 innings. He’ll take on the Phillies in San Diego on Monday.