MLB Player News

Mills underwent Tommy John in July, so he’ll miss most or all of next year. He could be re-signed to a minor league contract.

Suzuki was responsible for two of the four hits the Cubs registered on a night where the offense was completely shutdown by Reds starter Hunter Greene. Suzuki doubled to kick off the start of the second inning but couldn’t come around to score after Greene locked in to retire the next three batters he faced via strikeout. Suzuki has now hit safely in three-straight games and has had at least one extra-base hit in each of those games.

De La Cruz broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, sending his 15th homer of the season into the stands to put the Reds up 1-0. He would later triple in the bottom of the seventh inning and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Sal Stewart to put the Reds up 2-0. Elly continues to go on a tear since returning from injury and is slashing .286/.390/.543 on the month with a few days to go before the All-Star Break.

Soroka is still dealing with a bit of soreness, so the Diamondbacks will take a cautious approach and give him a couple of extra days out. The plan had been for him to rejoin their rotation immediately following the All-Star break, but it looks like he’s going to need at least another week or so before he’s ready.

Greene couldn’t have asked for a much better outing in this one. After a disastrous first start of the season his last time out, the hard-throwing righty held the Cubs in check all night, allowing just three hits over seven scoreless frames. Greene was lights out for the Reds on Friday, needing just 93 pitches to get through this outing while limiting himself to just one walk. He’ll get some time off with the All-Star Break just around the corner, but hopefully this start signals a strong second-half of the season for him.

Imanaga was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Hunter Greene, as both pitchers tossed four scoreless innings to begin the game. Imanaga was the first to fold on the night when he allowed a solo homer to Elly De La Cruz in the fifth inning to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. It would be the only run Imanaga would allow on the night, as the righty did his part to hold the Reds in check but received no run support from his offense. Imanaga enters the All-Star Break with a 5-8 record and a 4.17 ERA.

DeLauter opened the scoring in the ballgame with his 430-foot (106.4-mph EV) two-run shot off of Marlins’ right-hander Sandy Alcantara in the fourth inning. He also singled in the contest. With his two-hit attack, the 24-year-old rookie sensation is now slashing .282/.347/.447 with 10 homers, 45 RBI and three stolen bases in 323 plate appearances on the season.

Hedges singled in the fifth inning and ultimately came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Travis Bazzana. The 33-year-old backstop has been unexpectedly productive at the plate this season, slashing a healthy .289/.348/.414 with three homers, 14 RBI and a stolen base in 145 plate appearances.

Young put the Mariners on the board in the top of the fifth inning when he blasted his 11th homer of the season off of Nick Martinez to cut the Rays’ lead to 2-1. Young has now homered twice this month but is slashing just .154/.214/.423 in July with a few games to go before the All-Star Break.

Smith didn’t mess around in this one, needing just nine pitches (seven strikes) to retire the side in order — getting Liam Hicks on a fly ball to right, Griffin Conine on a pop out to second base and Jakob Marsee on a fly ball to left field to end it. The 27-year-old closer now boasts a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 61/11 K/BB ratio over 43 1/3 innings while converting 28 of his first 31 save chances.

Castillo escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning when he induced Victor Mesa Jr. to pop out, ending the threat. The Rays would score their first run of the night off Castillo in the third inning when Chandler Simpson singled to drive home Junior Caminero, and Richie Palacios would homer in the next inning to put the Rays up 2-0. Castillo would surrender two more solo homers in the fifth inning before being pulled to start the sixth, tying a career-high with three homers allowed in this one. Its been a forgettable season thus far for Castillo, who enters the All-Star Break with a 3-8 record and a 4.93 ERA.