MLB Player News

Backhus gave up a single and an RBI triple before Woodford came in and allowed the game-tying hit to Cody Freeman. The D-backs have no closer at the moment, but Ryan Thompson, who pitched a scoreless seventh tonight in his return from the IL, should prove to be their best reliever. If anyone in the Arizona pen is worth rostering, it’s him.

Jeffers broke his bat the first pitch of an at-bat, took two balls and then basically just walked off the field. The best guess here is that it’s a hand problem, but we’ll find out soon.

Two of Benge’s three hits and all three of his RBI came in the Mets’ 10-run 12th inning. Benge had an RBI single to put the Mets up 7-6 and then a two-run double that gave New York a 14-6 lead. He’s been heating up at the plate lately and is now 21-for-55 (.381) with one home run, 14 runs scored, 11 RBI and two steals over his last 14 games. After a difficult start to his rookie season, he’s recovered quite nicely.

Baty’s home run was his third of the year. He hit a solo shot off Jake Irvin in the fourth inning. Baty is quietly 13-for-41 (.317) with seven runs, two home runs and eight RBI over his last 12 games. With a hot bat and eligibility at multiple positions, he’s worth rostering in mixed leagues.

John King, Calvin Faucher and Lake Bachar finished up. Meyer struck out six, generating 13 whiffs. All three hits against him were singles. Meyer is now 4-0 with a 2.85 ERA. His peripherals aren’t quite as good as his ERA, but they are much improved. The big thing is that he’s given up homers on just 7.4 percent of his flyballs allowed. He was at 20.9 percent in his career coming into the season, compared to a league average of 11-12 percent. He’s slated to make his next start Saturday against the Mets.

Five of the runs came in the fourth, which included four hits, a walk and a HBP. The big hit was a 98-mph smash from Joe Mack that Ozzie Albies couldn’t handle at second base. If Albies had picked it, it likely would have been an inning-ending double play without a run scoring. He didn’t, and Ritchie just couldn’t recover. Ritchie is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a 21/16 K/BB in 25 2/3 innings through five starts. He needs to have a better afternoon Sunday against the Nationals.

Sanoja had six homers in 342 plate appearances as a rookie last season, but he was without one in 102 plate appearances this year until taking Aaron Bummer deep in the fifth. Sanoja has started 25 of the Marlins’ 48 games this season and is batting .260/.317/.354 as a utilityman, though he’s mostly playing third base of late.