MLB Player News

Duran took advantage of a misplay by Dom Canzone in the corner outfield and put his ever-so-impressive wheels to use. That’s already the eighth triple of the season for the 28-year-old, which puts him on pace for 17 in 2025. It’d be easy to say that number isn’t sustainable, but he’s coming off a 14-triple season in 2025, so, sure.

Lazar suffered an oblique strain pitching for Team Israel in the WBC and had been on the IL since the start of the season, though he’s been well enough to post a 2.70 ERA in 11 relief appearances. With his rehab assignment ending, he’s now back on the 40-man, but he’ll continue pitching for Lehigh Valley until needed.

Pop went on the injured list with a calf strain since Apr. 15, but he’d been pitching in Triple-A on a rehab assignment for three weeks now, giving up eight earned runs in eight innings. It was time for the Phillies to decide whether to bring him back or not, and they decided to against it. The 29-year-old had a 3.68 ERA in 7 1/3 innings before getting hurt. He could stick around and stay with Lehigh Valley if he clears waivers.

TJ Friedl is starting in his place against lefty Martín Pérez, with Blake Dunn moving from ninth to leadoff.

How many grand slams does a guy have to hit in order to start regularly? Alas, Bader is batting just .170/.198/.358 overall. Now that Jung Hoo Lee is back, Bader could lose significant time against righties to Drew Gilbert. Of course, Gilbert is only hitting .194/.254/.274 this month, but he does have the platoon advantage (and the his-college-manager-loves-him advantage). Bader has a .482 OPS against righties and an .837 OPS versus lefties.

It’s believed to be a hamstring injury for Nimmala, though the Jays haven’t commented. The 20-year-old was hitting .308/.375/.369 in 18 games since being moved up to Double-A at the beginning of May.

It’s another big blow to the Reds pen just after losing Graham Ashcraft. Johnson had a 3.27 ERA, one save and four holds over 22 innings to start the season. With him and Ashcraft out of the mix, Tony Santillan is looking like the heavy favorite for saves until Emilio Pagán returns.

Richardson, 26, had a 4.54 ERA in 37 2/3 innings out of the Reds pen last year. He cleared waivers back in January, but he’s back now after compiling a 4.75 ERA and a 34/14 K/BB in 30 1/3 innings over 17 relief appearances and one start for Triple-A Louisville. He’ll work in middle relief.

Nicolas saw time with the Reds in April but gave up seven earned runs and 13 walks in 7 1/3 innings. He had since pitched for Triple-A Louisville, amassing a 5.17 ERA and a 20/17 K/BB in 15 2/3 innings. The arm is there for him to be helpful in a major league pen, but control has always been an issue and he’s faring worse than ever there at age 27.

The 372-foot homer off Beau Brieske was Montgomery’s first since he homered in three straight games from May 14-16. He was 3-for-29 with 13 strikeouts from May 17-25, but he seems to have snapped out of that little skid with eight hits in his last five games.

Wenceel Pérez’s third-inning homer was the only damage. Kay left after a walk and an error to begin the sixth, but fortunately for him, the White Sox didn’t mess around and turned right to Grant Taylor, who successfully negotiated the jam. It’s third straight start in which Kay has allowed exactly one earned run, and he’s 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last five turns. We still wouldn’t want to bet on him in mixed leagues, but it’s been quite a run for the 31-year-old. He’ll make his next start in Philadelphia.