MLB Player News

Morosi cautions that Ohtani still does not have a signed agreement with any big league club, though this will fuel speculation on the earlier report by J.P. Hoornstra of Dodgers Nation that Ohtani has ultimately decided to sign with the Blue Jays over the Dodgers. For those that are constantly refreshing social media waiting to hear the final update, it sounds like we’re nearing a conclusion and should have word before the end of the day on Friday. Stay tuned.

Skenes struck out seven and walked none in an efficient 97-pitch outing. The two hits came back-to-back in the fifth, but they were both two-out singles and Gabriel Moreno lined out afterwards. Skenes is 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He’s allowed four earned runs with a 45/5 K/BB in 40 1/3 innings since the Oneil Cruz-fueled debacle on Opening Day, and he’ll probably again lower his 2.36 ERA in a home start against the Rockies next week.

Soto has three wins and two saves in a rather spectacular start to his season. He’s not the Pirates’ sole closer right now, but with a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings, he’s made a case for getting the nod over Dennis Santana. Alas, he has a long history of disappointing when faced with elevated expectations.

Bouncing back from a loss to the Brewers in which he gave up eight runs, Soroka allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out six in what ended up being a 1-0 game. He’ll take a 4-2 record and a 4.14 ERA into his next start in Texas.

Lowe’s homer was a 435-foot blast in the first inning off Michael Soroka, and it held up the rest of the way. He has nine homers on the year, but with a .143/.189/.314 line against lefties, he still seems best utilized as a platoon guy. That will continue to cut into his fantasy value.

This was certainly one of the starts of all time. Facing a lineup of almost all right-handed hitters, his changeup was very inconsistent. It still forced six of his seven total swings-and-misses, but couldn’t carry him like he needed it to. Still, it’s not like any other pitch found its way to being effective either and the Guardians decided to give him a quick hook with just 70 pitches over five innings. He’ll take a 3.43 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 37:19 strikeout to walk ratio over 39 1/3 innings into a two-start week against the Angels and Reds.

Despite letting the tying run come to the plate, Smith disposed of the Royals rather easily here. The five swings-and-misses he forced in one inning of work nearly watched the seven Guardians’ starter Joey Cantillo mustered through five innings. After a bit of a rocky start to the season, Smith has now converted six consecutive save opportunities and has only allowed one run across his last 10 appearances. He belongs in conversations with the game’s best closers.

DeLauter has oddly flown under the radar since his four home run barrage over the first weekend of the season despite continuing to hit well. His two-run single in the fifth inning put the Guardians ahead and wound up being the only runs they’d need to dispatch the Royals. Earlier in the game, he hit his ninth double, which is tied for the 10th most in the American League. His .308 batting average and .941 OPS are up there with the league leaders, too.

In another slow night for the Royals’ lineup, Garcia did all he could to be a spark plug atop their order by reaching base three times. The first time, he was erased in a double play. Next, he was cut down by a fielder’s choice. Lastly, he was stranded on first base in the eighth inning when Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone got opportunities at the plate as the tying run. Alas, Garcia has a respectable .265 average and .745 OPS with three home runs and four stolen bases through 35 games.

Crow-Armstrong’s fourth home run of the season could not have come at a better time. After the Cubs’ bullpen imploded to turn a two run lead into a two run deficit in the top of the ninth, Crow-Armstrong took Graham Ashcraft deep for a two-run shot to tie the game. He did a good job of getting his bat head on a 90 mph slider that was darting below the zone and golfing it just barely beyond the fence in left-center field. It looked like a load was lifted off his back as he jetted around the bases and is now riding a 10-game on-base streak. Perhaps this was the moment he needed to get his season back on track.

Rea had his splitter working in this one. It forced seven of his 13 whiffs as he located it perfectly low and below the zone. With that pitch working, his often uninspiring fastball was forcing late swings and was rarely squared up. He ran into a bit of trouble during his third time around the order, but some help from Alex Bregman and Jacob Webb helped keep his line clean. Up next is a terrifyingly enticing two-start week against the Braves and White Sox.