MLB Player News

Birdsong fanned five and walked none. He gave up three hits to Xavier Edwards and two to everyone else. Birdsong has won two of his three starts, though those two victories have come against the Marlins and Royals. Still, he’s probably done enough to hold off Kyle Harrison and keep his rotation spot after Justin Verlander is activated. He’s slated to face the Braves next weekend.

Nick Allen replaced him at the end of Friday’s game. If Altuve lands on the IL, the Astros could give Brice Matthews some time at second base. He’ll be less needed in the outfield with Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido nearly ready to return. Braden Shewmake could also play some second base after Jeremy Peña is activated.

It’s important to see Contreras back on the board again, as he had been 2-for-21 since leaving a May 6 game with a left-hand issue that caused him to temporarily switch bats. And that was separate from the right-hand contusion he sustained on a HBP in May 10. He hit the homer tonight 106 mph and also had a 113-mph groundball single.

Tolle needed just 85 pitches to get 24 outs tonight, finishing with four hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts. He gave up a 421-foot homer to Drake Baldwin and had two flyouts that projected as homers in 15 and five ballparks, according to Statcast. Still, it was a pretty impressive showing, especially because he averaged the same 96.5 mph with his fastball in the eighth that he did in the first. Tolle is 2-2 with a 2.05 ERA through five turns, and he’ll be a worthy mixed-league play next week against the Twins.

There wouldn’t have been a jam, except Andruw Monasterio airmailed a throw from short to first on what should have been the final out of the game. Chapman then walked two to lead the bases. Ha-Seong Kim came up and hit a 104-mph comebacker off Chapman’s right ankle. Fortunately, though, Chapman was able to gather himself, run down the ball and make the play at first. Chapman didn’t seem to favor the ankle on his way off the field, so hopefully he won’t miss any time. The save tonight was his 377th, moving him into a tie with Joe Nathan for 10th place on the all-time list.

Elder had a 2-1 lead until Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer in the eighth. It was just the fourth homer allowed by Elder in 62 2/3 innings this year, and it led to his second defeat in 10 starts. He’ll take a 2.01 ERA into next week’s outing, which will probably come Friday against the Nationals.

Baldwin has hit in seven straight games, homering in four of those. He drove in both Braves runs tonight with his leadoff homer in the first and his single in the fifth. In 2025, Baldwin was the NL Rookie of the Month for May. This year, he might have a shot at Player of the Month for May, having hit .296/.387/.667 with six homers to date.

Fraley was scratched from Saturday’s lineup with an undisclosed injury. Jacob Melton is hurt in Triple-A, so Carson Williams might be the choice to replace Fraley on the Tampa Bay roster. Richie Palacios, who has been mostly starting at second base, could move to right field to replace Fraley, opening up infield starts for Williams and Ben Williamson.

Martínez’s homer off Pierce Johnson in the seventh gave the Guardians a 6-4 lead. He’s homered three times in four games to up his season line to .266/.313/.496. Martínez wasn’t the choice to step into the leadoff spot against a righty after Steven Kwan’s demotion tonight, but at least he’s staying in the lineup, and he’ll probably hit first or second against lefties. He’s a solid choice in mixed leagues right now.