MLB Player News

Welcome back, Mookie. Betts didn’t show any rust after missing eight weeks with his broken hand, and smashed a two-run homer off Freddy Peralta in the third inning. The 31-year-old also drive in a run with an RBI-single in the seventh. The steal was the 10th of the season, and the homer the 11th. Betts was enjoying a strong 2024 campaign before the injury, and there’s every reason to believe he’ll be outstanding for the final six weeks.

Fitzgerald is day-to-day with tightness in his lower back. Marco Luciano is the starting second baseman, with Brett Wisely moving over to shortstop while Fitzgerald recuperates.

Loperfido left in the fifth inning and appeared to have some discomfort after hitting a double two innings earlier. The 25-year-old will likely test the adductor/hip area to see if he can go Sunday against the Cards in the finale.

Hughes is added back to the MLB roster for the second time, and to say he wasn’t effective his last go round with the D-Backs is quite the understatement as seen in a 10.29 ERA and 2.14 WHIP in 14 innings. He’ll be low-leverage depth, and he takes the roster spot of Ryne Nelson.

Knizner is now off the 40-man roster. It’s possible someone could put in a claim on the 29-year-old to add to their catching depths, but it’s just as likely he finishes the year in Triple-A while becoming a free agent at the end of the year.

Schneider got the start against a right-hander on Saturday and rewarded the Blue Jays at the plate, going yard for a solo homer off Kyle Gibson in the third inning. He knocked a base hit in the sixth to drive in another run and collected his third hit of the game in the eighth with a single. The 25-year-old is hitting .197/.287/.346 with 11 homers, 43 runs scored, 42 RBI, and six steals across 414 plate appearances.

Walker provided the early offense for St. Louis in their loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday, taking Jose Berrios deep for a solo homer in the third inning. It was just his third home run of the season, with all three coming in September. The 22-year-old outfielder is slashing .179/.242/.321 with the three homers and 11 RBI across 124 plate appearances.

Berríos was outstanding against the Cardinals, holding them to one run over seven frames. The only run allowed came on a solo homer by Jordan Walker in the third inning. Berríos allowed only one other hit and walked two batters while striking out four. The 30-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.44 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 143/50 K/BB ratio across 183 1/3 innings. He’ll take on the Rays in Tampa Bay on Friday.

Gibson retired the first seven batters until Davis Schneider took him deep for a solo homer in the third inning. He later loaded the bases with one out in the sixth before a throwing error brought a run in. Gibson would depart with the bases loaded and all three inherited runners would come in to score. The 36-year-old right-hander will take a 4.11 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 144/62 K/BB ratio across 159 2/3 innings into a start against the Pirates in St. Louis on Thursday.

The first 25 pitches were solo action, and then hitters stood in for the final 15 offerings. Steele told reporters it was a “good day,” and that’s always nice to hear. The left-hander is working his way back from tendinitis in his pitching elbow, and it remains to be seen if he can return before the end of the 2024 campaign.

Nelson must have picked up the injury Sunday or at some point during his work before his scheduled start over the weekend. The 26-year-old will likely miss the rest of the regular season and the D-Backs will hope he can help them out if/when the team qualifies for the postseason.