MLB Player News

Wheeler authored a dominant performance on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, limiting San Diego’s lineup to just six hits and one extra-base knock over eight stellar frames. The 35-year-old fantasy ace generated an eye-popping 19 swinging strikes, including nine on his fastball alone, to record his third double-digit strikeout performance of the year. He continues building a strong case to start the upcoming All-Star Game with a stellar 2.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 136/25 K/BB ratio across 107 innings over 17 starts. He’ll face the Reds on Sunday in his next outing.

Jung got the scoring started with a solo homer off Seth Lugo in the first inning. He later added a base hit in the seventh, then singled and scored in the ninth in the Rangers’ comeback effort. The 28-year-old third baseman has enjoyed a solid bounce-back season, slugging seven homers while hitting .312/.367/.490 with 27 runs scored and 23 RBI across 221 plate appearances. The improvements come behind a marked drop in his strikeout rate, down from 25.2 percent in 2025 to 14.9 percent this season.

Jensen put the Royals on the board with a base hit in the seventh to drive in a run and later came around to score. He then took Chris Martin deep for a two-run blast in the eighth to give the team a pair of insurance runs. The 22-year-old catcher is up to seven homers while slashing .228/.309/.401 with 22 runs scored and 26 RBI across 191 plate appearances.

Erceg was summoned in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game with a two-run lead against the Rangers. He served up a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson, then gave up three straight hits to bring home the winning run. The blown save was his third in his last five outings and gives him a 6.33 ERA over 21 1/3 innings. The Royals may have to consider a change in the ninth, but there aren’t many standout options. John Schreiber and Daniel Lynch IV have been the most effective in the back end of the bullpen and could be relievers to watch.

Rocker was excellent on Saturday, holding the Royals scoreless over six frames. He scattered three hits and three walks, tossing 52 of 85 pitches for strikes. Rocker succeeded mostly with batted ball luck and weak contact, striking out two and inducing nine fly outs. The outing continues his trend of success at home, ending the day with a 2.95 ERA at Globe Life Field. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 3.54 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 44/25 K/BB ratio across 56 innings into a start against the Guardians in Texas on Friday.

Lugo served up a solo homer to Josh Jung in the first inning. The Rangers brought two unearned runs in to score in the fourth on three hits and an error. Lugo completed two more innings, ending his day after six with six strikeouts. He scattered six hits in all with no walks. The 36-year-old right-hander will carry a 3.55 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 60/23 K/BB ratio across 71 innings into a start against the Twins in Minnesota on Thursday.

Mead was out of the starting lineup for the first time in six games and probably the last time for at least a week or two. He worked the walk after hitting for Nasim Nuñez in the seventh, giving the Nationals a 4-3 lead, and then mostly clinched the game by making it 9-4 in the eighth. Mead is 9-for-26 with four homers, nine RBI and four walks in his last seven appearances.

The runs came on homers from Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Griffn’s ERA is still a solid 3.76, but he’s up to 13 homers allowed in 67 innings, and it doesn’t seem like things will get a lot better for him there. He’ll make his next start Friday in Arizona.

Varland was pulled from a 7-4 game with the bases loaded, and Clayton Beeter bailed him out. Varland hasn’t taken any blown saves in his opportunities to close, but his stock has declined after a shaky month in which the Nationals have often chosen to play matchups late in games. His fourth and most recent save came on May 7, and he’s given up five earned runs in 7 1/3 innings in eight appearances since. Beeter went on to get the save today.

Beeter, who replaced Gus Varland, stranded the bases loaded by retiring Ty France to end the eighth. The Nationals then gave him two extra runs to work with heading into the ninth, and he pitched a scoreless inning despite walking two. It’s Beeter’s first save in four appearances since returning from the injured list. Consider him to be very much in the mix for saves in D.C., but it’s hard to say that any of the team’s relievers are worth rostering in shallow leagues right now.

It was just one run through six, thanks in part to Jorbit Vivas’s 369-foot fly to right in the fifth turning into an out. Statcast had it as a homer in 26 ballparks. The seventh started with a single, a big miscue from Fernando Tatis Jr. on a grounder to second that went as a fielder’s choice, a walk and a HBP, at which point King was removed. After another botched play in the infield and another walk before the first out was finally recorded, it wound up turning into a six-run inning for the Nationals. King was clearly better than the line suggested, but he dropped to 4-4 with a 3.04 ERA. He’ll likely face the Mets next Friday.