MLB Player News

Rasmussen allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three. One would think his rotation spot is clinched at this point. He figured to have one anyway, and he finishes the spring here with a 2.53 ERA and a 9/2 K/BB in 10 2/3 innings. Expect him to be a nice mixed-league starter, at least for the first few months. Fatigue might set in afterwards.

Goldschmidt became the first hitter to take Toronto stopper Louis Varland deep this season, launching a majestic 400-foot blast to left field in the ninth inning. It was his ninth round-tripper of the season and third time he’s left the yard in 10 games since the start of June. The 38-year-old has seen a huge uptick in playing time with Giancarlo Stanton (calf) on the shelf. That trend should continue with Stanton suffering a setback in his recovery.

Okamoto’s third-inning solo homer was Toronto’s lone tally against Yankees starter Cam Schlittler and a pair of relievers, who combined to somehow allow just one run on just six hits and seven walks. The 29-year-old third baseman has homered in back-to-back games in the series and is up to 15 round-trippers through 69 games.

Domínguez took Blue Jays veteran starter Kevin Gausman deep in the fourth inning of his return from the injured list. It was New York’s lone run of the contest until Paul Goldschmidt’s go-ahead blast in the ninth. The 23-year-old former top prospect has plenty of runway to prove he belongs in the majors with Aaron Judge (rib), Trent Grisham (hamstring) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) sidelined with injuries.

Varland was called upon to work the top of the ninth in a tie ballgame and wound up surrendering a go-ahead homer to Paul Goldschmidt. He’s given up three runs over his last three appearances after allowing just one earned run across 34 2/3 innings through June 7. He’s put together an outstanding first-half performance and will continue serving as Toronto’s primary closer.

Schlittler gave up six hits and walked four batters, but still managed to limit Toronto’s lineup to just a third-inning solo homer by Kazuma Okamoto. The 25-year-old emerging ace has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 14 of his 15 starts this season. He’ll carry a favorable home outing against the Reds on Friday.

Gausman locked horns with emerging Yankees ace Cam Schlittler as the pair traded zeroes into the late innings and allowed just a solo homer apiece. The 35-year-old veteran served up a solo homer to Jasson Domínguez in the fourth inning, which accounted for all of the damage against him. He generated an eye-popping 20 swinging strikes and finished with seven strikeouts while only issuing two walks. He’s compiled a strong 3.41 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 86/16 K/BB ratio across 87 innings through 15 starts. He’ll square off against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday.

Abrams put the Nats on the board in the first inning with a base hit to drive in Luis García Jr. before scoring on a triple. He then singled in the fifth and drove in one more run with his third hit in the seventh. Abrams would cross home one more time on a throwing error. The 25-year-old shortstop is having an incredible season, hitting .291/.380/.524 with 14 homers, 45 runs scored, 53 RBI, and 10 steals across 295 plate appearances.

García reached on a throwing error in the first inning and scored on a single by CJ Abrams. He then gave the Nationals the lead with a two-run blast off Luis Castillo in the fifth inning for his ninth home run of the season before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh. The 26-year-old second baseman is hitting .260/.286/.470 with 28 runs scored and 43 RBI across 224 plate appearances.

Emerson’s only hit of the game left the yard as he took Cade Cavalli deep for a two-run blast in the fifth inning. The 20-year-old infielder is already up to six homers and 14 RBI while hitting .233/.309/.575 across 81 plate appearances, proving to have very real power despite a high strikeout rate early in his rookie season.