MLB Player News

Lindor was part of Team Puerto Rico’s squad back in 2023 that lost to Mexico in the Quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic shortly after ousting the Dominican Republic in pool play. It doesn’t have any impact for fantasy managers, but it’s a significant honor for the 31-year-old superstar as he’ll continue to represent Puerto Rico on the international stage as one of the faces of baseball.

It wasn’t pretty, but Strider got the job done. There were not many clean innings as the command of his secondaries were not sharp. That’s a problem because Strider’s fastball remains an issue. Without the elite velocity or shape of yesteryear, that fastball doesn’t miss many bats anymore and forced a grand total of zero swings-and-misses in this one. He’s gotten by with his slider plus curveball and changeup especially against left-handed batters – and the Pirates’ lineup was nearly all lefties in this one – they just weren’t as sharp here. Strider will take a 4.00 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and 19 walks over 36 innings pitched into his next scheduled start against the Mets on the road.

The 36-year-old wonder continues to show no signs of slowing down with another save and scoreless appearance here. He’s only allowed two earned runs all season and they both came in the same appearance. So, 19 of 20 appearances without a run which has helped him to a gorgeous 0.87 ERA on the season along with 24 strikeouts and just four walks in 20 2/3 innings. Right now, he’s performing like one of the best closers in the league.

Smith came into this game without a hit in more than a week and was stuck in his first slump of the season. It seems like he ended that decisively with his two-run shot in this one that more or less ended Pirates’ starter Braxton Ashcraft’s outing and more or less put this game away. Still starting against all right-handed pitchers the Braves face, Smith has had a magnificent season to this point with six home runs, 28 RBI, a .309 batting average, and an .830 OPS through 52 games.

One fire lately, two more knocks here extended Gonzales’ hitting streak to eight games with multiple hits in four of those. His fourth inning double helped catalyze the only real rally the Pirates had in this game and he’s now up to a .315 batting average and .759 OPS on the season as an everyday player for the Pirates.

Ashcraft did not have his best stuff in this one. The Braves were on him from the get go with a pair of first inning runs and then finally broke it open in the fifth, Ashcraft’s final frame. He wasn’t missing many bats while allowing a bunch of hard hit contact and when that lineup turned over for the third time, he gave up hits to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson which set the table for a Dom Smith home run. The game was tied before that inning and the Braves’ 6-3 lead after that rally held firm. Hopefully Ashcraft can flush this poor result and get his breakout season back on track next week against the Marlins.

This opens up a spot on the 40-man for Joel Kuhnel. Priester has already served his 60 days while recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome, so this is just a paper move for him. He’s currently rehabbing in the Arizona Complex League.

Vientos and MJ Melendez have been alternating starts of late. Vientos played over Melendez in four straight games from May 27-31, but since then, Melendez has gotten the nod in three out of five games. Vientos can reemerge as a regular if he gets hot, but he’s batting just .218/.253/.378 right now.

It seems Drew Rom’s stay in the Milwaukee pen could be very brief. Kuhnel was DFA’d by the A’s on Friday after blowing a save chance on Thursday. The 31-year-old journeyman had a 4.21 ERA, four saves and a 14/6 K/BB in 25 2/3 innings for the A’s. He’s out of options, so he’ll go right on to the major league roster.

Salazar will head back to Triple-A Sugar Land after losing his spot to Collin Price and getting DFA’d on Thursday. Salazar has hit .189/.295/.216 in 89 major league plate appearances since debuting with Houston in 2023.

But not before the Yankees got people in the gates and sold some food. Ranger Suárez and Will Warren were scheduled to start tonight’s game. Suarez will go tomorrow, with Connelly Early following on Monday, but the Yankees have decided to push Warren back to Monday against Cleveland and keep Cam Schlittler in line to face the Red Sox on four days’ rest.