MLB Player News

It would have been unthinkable a few months ago seeing Pujols hitting in the two hole against righty Zack Wheeler, but he’s turned back the clock and been awesome in the second half. The Cards’ full lineup looks like this: Lars Nootbaar RF, Pujols DH, Paul Goldschmidt 1B, Nolan Arenado 3B, Brendan Donovan 2B, Dylan Carlson CF, Corey Dickerson LF, Yadier Molina C, Tommy Edman SS.

This is why a team like the Orioles trades for a pitcher like Burnes. Reeling for weeks and coming off a dramatic win the day before, this was a game they had to have to stop the bleeding and build some momentum. Enter Burnes who took the ball and twirled seven shutout innings in a gem. Only three Tigers reached scoring position and none made it to third base as Burnes was in complete control from the jump. His cutter was dominant and he willed Baltimore in a crucial game for them and fantasy managers everywhere. He’s set to face the Yankees in New York next time out.

Tigers’ starter Keider Montero had no answer for Cowser in this one. He jumped on a first-pitch fastball for his first long ball and smacked it over the left center field fence in an impressive display of power. Then, he turned on a hanging curveball as Baltimore put this game out of reach. Cowser has been one of the most impressive rookies in the American League with 22 homers, 64 RBI, and a .774 OPS.

Sweeney’s ninth inning single plated Spencer Torkelson and saved the Tigers from a shutout. He’s held his own fairly well through his first stint in the major leagues with a .703 OPS and has found some power with three home runs in his last 15 games.

Montero simply could not keep the ball in the yard. Colton Cowser and James McCann each took him deep twice and the rout was on in Baltimore. This was the first start in which Montero allowed multiple home runs since the start of August and also, weirdly, his most strikeouts in one outing since August 6th. His changeup was still lethal despite his poor performance overall with eight swings-and-misses on just 10 swings and the Orioles never even put one in play. He’s scheduled to face the Rays at home in what should be his final start of the (regular) season.

Aranda’s blast was the only run scored in this pitchers’ duel. It came on a two-strike slurve from José Berríos that didn’t have enough bite down and in the strike zone. Aranda has pushed his OPS up to .762 over his last 30 games as he vies for a regular role in this Rays’ lineup next season.

Bigge finished off the Rays’ second consecutive shutout in a masterful performance by their bullpen. His stuff is completely electric and he showed off his 99 MPH fastball, curveball, and slider in this one. While he’s always had all the tools, this was his first save or hold of his young career. It seems like he’ll get a shot in this high-leverage role over the final week of the season.

What an outing for Berríos. He faced some trouble in the second and third innings, but was able to work through unscathed. While that pushed up his pitch count, he had his swing-and-miss stuff working. All five of his pitches forced at least two whiffs and he wound up with 19 total on that night. That’s the most swings-and-misses he’s forced in one outing since 2023 as he’s putting the finishing touches on a fantastic bounce-back season. He’s scheduled to face the Red Sox on the road in what should be his final start of the season.

Alexander crossed the 60-pitch threshold for the first time in four starts in this one, but still couldn’t hang on long enough to qualify for a win. He was very efficient though, allowing just three base runners and three hard-hit balls as the Blue Jays couldn’t quite square up his cutter, sweeper, or sinker. He’s scheduled to face the Tigers in Detroit next time out.

This is like half an Ohtani and still a fantastic game. It’s Stephenson’s third career two-homer contest, with all of those coming since July. He drove in five runs for the second time. Stephenson finished at .243-13-56 while playing in 142 games last year. He’s at .265-20-64 in 131 games right now.

Martinez, who will surely decline his mutual option and return to free agency this winter, has earned himself plenty of money of late, and there have to be a few teams out there kicking themselves for not making a real run at him prior to the trade deadline. He’s won four straight starts this month, and he’s allowed a total of one run in the last three. He’s now 10-6 with a 3.22 ERA.