MLB Player News

With Luke Weaver perhaps returning Friday, things might get complicated for the Yankees in the ninth in the coming days. Manager Aaron Boone refused to commit to a closer before the game today. We’re guessing he mostly sticks with Williams, who has a 1.72 ERA and a 23/2 K/BB in 15 2/3 innings since May 7. In spite of his early struggles, Williams is 9-for-10 in save chances this season.

After nearly two weeks off to rest his troublesome lower left leg, Schanuel will return as the Angels’ primary first baseman. He was hitting .262/.313/.387 with four homers in 208 plate appearances before landing on the injured list. He still might prove to be a fringy mixed league option if he’s now closer to 100 percent physically than he’s been previously this year.

This was a good Littell game. He located his fastball well at the top of the zone all afternoon and let his splitter dive low and below it. Plus, all five of his pitches forced at least one swing-and-miss. Also, credit to the Nationals for yanking Littell when they did and not letting him face Corbin Carroll for a third time after they rallied in the prior inning. He’s scheduled to face the Mariners at home next time out.

Soler’s hip irritation has morphed into a more concerning injury. The Angels will likely rotate DHs in his absence, with Mike Trout and Jo Adell both likely to see some time there. That would open up outfield starts for Jose Siri.

It seems like an odd move to put an injured Campero back on the 40-man roster, but the Angels must have their reasons. Campero, 28, hit .202/.272/.346 in 114 plate appearances for the Angels between 2024 and ’25. He was at .287/.375/.455 in 44 games for Rocket City before getting hurt last week.

Martinez had already been back in Triple-A since mid-May, but this takes him off the 40-man. He went 1-for-3 in a brief stint with the Angels while Logan O’Hoppe was on the IL.

We have no idea who is going to get the next save for the Nationals. This one was a bit odd with Lord coming in for the eighth in a three-run game before two insurance runs were tacked on the board in the bottom of the inning. Still, he stayed on for the ninth and now the last seven converted Nationals saves have gone to six different pitchers.

Crews’ home run gave the Nationals vital insurance in the moment, extending their lead to 3-1 before they broke it open in the late innings. It was a welcome sight too as his first home run in two weeks with just one other extra-base hit between them. He’s desperately trying to put together any level of consistent major league production and probably should find a way to do so given his pedigree, raw power, and bat-to-ball ability. Swing decisions remain a problem though as he’s walked just once in nearly three weeks of big league action.

Owner of quite possibly the coolest name in the league, the recently promoted Groover drove in the first run of his career with a fifth inning single. At the time, that cut the Nationals lead to 2-1 before Eduardo Rodriguez and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen let this one get out of hand. Along with that single, Groover had two batted balls hit harder than 100 mph and has now started consecutive games at first base after Ildemaro Vargas went on the injured list, but be advised that each came against a left-handed starting pitcher. More of a contact over power player who showed great plate discipline at Triple-A, Groover could find his way into deep league relevance should he hold onto an everyday role.

Things did not start out well for Rodriguez when Curtis Mead socked a two-run homer as the second batter of the game. Then, after cruising in the middle innings, he gave up two more runs when the Diamondbacks tried to push him through the seventh. Still, his changeup and curveball were each highly effective as they’ve been for most of his resurgent season. He’ll take a 2.52 ERA into his next scheduled start against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Dalton Rushing is starting in his place against the Angels.