MLB Player News

The Cardinals have decided not to expose last offseason’s marquee free agent acquisition to any additional injury risk behind the plate and will go with Andrew Knizner and Tres Barrera handling the catching duties. Contreras, who has had a couple injury scares so far, and is currently dealing with a minor ankle issue, will continue to play everyday between designated hitter and a corner outfield spot, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The decision could take away some extra at-bats from Nolan Gorman when there isn’t a spot for him in the field.

Rumfield is back at first base and hitting third during Wednesday’s series finale at Dodger Stadium after a brief one-game absence. The 26-year-old rookie standout, who has recorded an .809 OPS with seven homers and 27 RBI in 54 games this season, managed to avoid serious injury after being hit by a 97-mph fastball on the right hand during Monday’s series opener.

Sánchez struck out nine. Manny Machado made a bid to end the scoreless streak in the sixth, but his drive to right-center was caught at the wall by Justin Crawford. Statcast says it would have been a homer in 16 ballparks. Sánchez’s May concludes without him allowing a run in 39 innings of work. He’s potentially two starts away from challenging Orel Hershiser’s record streak of 58 scoreless innings from 1988. He’s one inning away from matching Zack Greinke’s streak of 45 2/3 scoreless innings in 2015, which is the longest since Hershiser’s. He’ll face the Padres again next week in Philadelphia.

Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller and Orion Kerkering had all worked the previous two days, opening the door for Alvarado to get his first save chance. He hadn’t pitched in a week and he was scored on in his previous two outings, but he didn’t create much drama today, allowing only a Xander Bogaerts single before completing the Phillies’ 3-0 shutout.

Thanks to a couple of double plays, Buehler faced the minimum through five, and he was pulled at just 58 pitches after a groundout, a single and a HBP to begin the sixth. Adrian Morejon replaced him and allowed both runners to score. Buehler struck out only two today and allowed nine hard-hit balls, but the three hits against him were all singles and he walked none. He has a 4.88 ERA after 11 starts, and he’ll probably face the Phillies again next time out.

The Phillies swapping Kyle Schwarber and Turner at the top of the lineup has worked out nicely the last two days. Turner has homered in both games, and Schwarber delivered an RBI single from the leadoff spot today, as the two combined to drive in all three of Philadelphia’s runs. Turner now has seven homers and 11 steals this season.

Andujar is in a 3-for-27 skid that’s seen him go without an RBI in his last seven games. He’ll probably continue to start for the most part, but he’s not a No. 2 hitter. Even though he’s batting .267 this season, his OBP is just .293.

It’ll be Javier’s first time facing hitters since hitting the injured list with a shoulder strain back on April 10. The 29-year-old starter will need a couple additional weeks, including a handful of rehab outings, before he’s ready to rejoin Houston’s rotation at some point in June.

No surprise after Arenado made an early exit from Tuesday’s contest with right groin tightness. The 35-year-old veteran will benefit from Thursday’s scheduled off day before Arizona kicks off a three-game road series against the Mariners on Friday night.

Marte’s prolonged offensive outburst continued in this one at Oracle Park as he recorded his ninth multi-hit performance since May 13, raising hit batting average from .215 to .276 during that 13-game span. The 32-year-old has been especially hot of late, batting .516 (16-for-31) with two homers and 10 RBI over his last seven games. He’ll try to keep things rolling when the Diamondbacks face the Mariners, his former organization, in a three-game road series this weekend.

Arraez was responsible for San Francisco’s lone runs of the contest when he smacked a two-run single to left-center field against Diamondbacks starter Michael Soroka in the third inning. The 29-year-old’s latest multi-hit effort raises his batting average to .325 through 53 games in his Giants debut. He’s been especially hot of late, hitting .352 (31-for-88) with two homers, nine RBI and one steal since the start of May.