MLB Player News

The Cardinals just keep on winning extra-inning games. They’ve won in extras on back-to-back nights and three times in their last three tries. Coincidentally, all three have come against the Brewers. Baker played the hero in this one with his 10th inning single off Hoby Milner to set up the victory. Baker has shown impressive power with two homers, a double, and nine RBI in just 19 at-bats since being called up, but isn’t much more than a short-side platoon partner with Alec Burleson at DH right now.

Lockridge told reporters after the game that the strain wasn’t too severe and that he could have played through it if he needed to. He underwent an ultrasound after the game that revealed merely inflammation and no muscle damage. Still, it’s possible that it could cause Lockridge to miss at least a few games and a trip to the injured list isn’t entirely out the question. Tyler Wade replaced him in center on Sunday and could see extra action out there if Lockridge is forced to miss any time.

Naylor led off the sixth inning with a single off of Freddy Peralta and ultimately came around to score the tying run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tim Tawa. Naylor then broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring single up the middle in the seventh inning. He also swiped third base later in the frame but wound up stranded there. With his two-hit afternoon, the 27-year-old first baseman is now slashing .322/.397/.475 with a homer, 10 RBI and four stolen bases in his first season with the D’Backs.

Thomas entered the game as a defensive replacement late in the game, then strolled to the dish with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning. He came through in a huge way, grounding a two-run single into right field, transforming a 3-2 lead into a 5-2 advantage. On the season, the 24-year-old outfielder is hitting an impressive .344/.389/.531 with zero homers, 10 RBI and a pair of stolen bases in his first 36 plate appearances.

Senga only had four strikeouts today, but despite giving up 11 hard-hit balls, he had it pretty easy throughout. The A’s managed only five total bases off him and helped him out with a couple of double play balls. Senga is now 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA. His next start will come either Friday or Saturday against the Cardinals; his turn is due Friday, but the Mets don’t like to pitch him on four days’ rest and could opt for a spot start sometime this week.

Severino did his part against his former team, but the Mets exploded for seven runs after he left. It really didn’t matter anyway, since the A’s never scored in the game. Severino seemed amped up in averaging a season-high 96.7 mph with his fastball today; his average through three starts was 85.4 mph. His start next weekend will come in Milwaukee.

He just missed five straight games with a forearm bruise, but Torrens has excelled while filling in for Francisco Alvarez, batting .333/.375/.567 in 32 plate appearances. He’s still due to return to his reserve role once Alvarez is activated.

Butler doubled and singled twice. His first single left his bat at 110.9 mph, and his one out was a 109.5 mph liner caught in center field. Butler is batting .281/.388/.404 with as many walks (10) as strikeouts in 16 games.

Justin Martinez was deployed against the heart of the Brewers’ lineup with a one-run lead in the eighth inning, so Puk was left to clean up the ninth after the Diamondbacks tacked on a couple of runs in the eighth. It wasn’t the smoothest of outings, as he hit Joey Ortiz and then walked Isaac Collins to bring the tying run to the plate, but he rebounded to strike out Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio to end it. He’ll continue to share save chances with Martinez based on the handedness of the opposing lineup it appears. On the season, Puk holds a 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio over six innings while securing three saves.

Gallen struck out five batters on the afternoon while issuing three free passes. The only blemish on his day came on a two-run blast off the bat of William Contreras in the opening inning. The 29-year-old right-hander settled in nicely afterwards and blanked the Brewers the rest of the way, setting the stage for the Diamondbacks to come back. He generated nine swings and misses on 89 pitches in the game, posting a CSW of 31 percent. On the season, Gallen now holds a 4.64 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 24/11 K/BB ratio over 21 1/3 innings through his first four starts. He’ll square off against the Cubs his next time out at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

Contreras opened the scoring in the ballgame in the opening inning as he clobbered a knucklecurve from Zac Gallen for a 375-foot (108.4 mph EV) two-run shot. The 27-year-old backstop also singled in the ballgame, finishing the day 2-for-4. He’s now hitting .222/.328/.426 with three homers and 10 RBI on the season.