MLB Player News

Quite the bummer for Valdez, who was performing well when he hurt his shoulder on a slide into third on April 19. He played through the injury initially, but he went on the IL two weeks ago with shoulder inflammation. The Pirates didn’t announce what today’s surgery discovered. A 26-year-old with a career 86 OPS+ in 156 games, Valdez will probably be bumped from the Pirates roster and made a free agent this winter.

That was the thought when he left the field, so nothing new from the update as Witt heads for further evaluation. Expect Royals’ skipper Matt Quatraro to have more information when he talks to the media following the conclusion of Thursday’s game.

Benintendi strolled to the dish as a pinch hitter for Randal Grichuk with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning with the score knotted at one run apiece. He then jumped on a first-pitch sinker from Camilo Doval and clobbered his 393-foot (99.7-mph EV) game-changing blast. On the season, the 31-year-old outfielder is now slashing .242/.301/.440 with nine long balls and 37 RBI.

Montgomery opened the scoring in the ballgame as he ambushed a first-pitch sinker from Ryan Weathers for a 420-foot (94.7-mph EV) solo shot to lead off the second inning. He also walked in the seventh and singled in the eighth inning, reaching three times in his four trips to the plate. For the season, the 24-year-old shortstop is now slashing .230/.325/.516 with 20 homers and 45 RBI.

Burke punched out eight hitters in the contest while issuing one walk. He entered in the second inning after Bryan Hudson got the first five outs as an opener for the White Sox. Burke served up a solo homer to Ryan McMahon in the third inning, but that would be the only run that they could muster against him the rest of the way. The 26-year-old got 20 swings and misses on 88 offerings in the game, posting an elite CSW of 39 percent. Now 4-4 on the season, he’ll look to replicate this fine performance as he brings a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 81/29 K/BB ratio (81 innings) into Tuesday’s divisional showdown against the Guardians.

McMahon connected on a 430-foot (108.3-mph EV) solo shot off of Sean Burke to open the third inning that tied the game at one run apiece. That would be his only hit in the ballgame. For the season, the 31-year-old slugger is slashing .212/.273/.369 with eight long balls and 23 RBI.

The 26-year-old southpaw scattered just three hits and one walk on the evening. The lone tally against him came on a solo blast off the bat of Colson Montgomery in the second inning. Unfortunately, the Yankees were only able to provide one run of support for him. Weathers got 13 whiffs on 88 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 28 percent. Still 2-5 on the season, he’ll bring a 4.13 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an 89/22 K/BB ratio (80 2/3 innings) into Tuesday’s matchup against the Tigers in Detroit.

Soto got the Mets on the board first with a 386-foot (100.5-mph EV) solo shot off of Aaron Nola in the opening inning. He then replicated the feat in the third inning — that time with a 389-foot (105.0-mph EV) blast. The 27-year-old superstar also drew a walk in the ballgame, finishing the night 2-for-4. For the season, he’s now slashing an outstanding .300/.398/.582 with 17 homers, 38 RBI and six stolen bases on the season.

Semien broke the game open with a two-out, two-run triple off of Jose Alvarado in the seventh inning that turned a 4-3 game into a 6-3 advantage. He also singled in the contest. With the two-hit attack, the 35-year-old infielder is now slashing .225/.283/.362 with nine homers, 26 RBI and six stolen bases across his first 298 plate appearances with the Mets.

They haven’t all been easy for Williams this season, and this was no exception. After striking out Edmundo Sosa to start the inning, he issued a one-out walk to Bryson Stott. Williams then battled back to get J.T. Realmuto to bounce into a fielder’s choice before Gabriel Rincones Jr. reached on an infield single to bring the tying run to the plate. He then allowed an RBI single to Justin Crawford before finally retiring Kyle Schwarber on a line drive to right to end it. Williams has now made good on 11 of his first 12 save chances on the season despite a miserable 5.24 ERA.

Manaea struck out five batters on the night while allowing only one base on balls. The Phillies scratched out single runs against him in the first, third and fourth innings — the last of which came on a throwing error by AJ Ewing. The 34-year-old southpaw got a whopping 16 swings and misses on 95 pitches in the contest — 11 of those on his sweeper — while registering a strong CSW of 32 percent. He’ll tote a 4.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 56/18 K/BB ratio (54 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Cubs.