MLB Player News

Stewart will get an opportunity in the heart of Cincinnati’s lineup to face Dodgers co-ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto after coming off the bench during the late stages of Tuesday’s series opener. The 21-year-old top prospect adds some serious thunder to the middle of the order in a win-or-go-home spot for the Reds after homering five times in 18 regular-season contests after being called up in early September. Here’s the full lineup: TJ Friedl (CF), Spencer Steer (LF), Gavin Lux (DH), Austin Hays (RF), Stewart (1B), Elly De La Cruz (SS), Tyler Stephenson (C), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B) and Matt McLain (2B).

Tyler Locklear moved into the lineup in his place, with Tim Tawa and Ildemaro Vargas switching positions. Consider Marte to be day-to-day.

Larnach actually started on the bench, but wound up with three at-bats against Cleveland’s relievers after Gavin Williams left. Larnach is hitting .391/.440/.696 in his last seven games and .294/.383/.460 overall in what has been a nice bounceback season, even if he only plays against right-handers.

It held up early in the game, but the Twins tied it 1-1 in the eighth and Bailey failed to get a bunt down to move the ghost runner over in extra innings in one of an incredible four straight half-innings in which neither team scored. Bailey has now hit three homers and batted .277/.320/.511 in his last 15 games. It’s a fun hot streak, but Bailey is not in the big leagues for his bat.

Marinaccio was DFA’d by the Padres on Saturday after posting a 4.79 ERA in 47 innings. With a 38/18 K/BB ratio and nine homers allowed, his peripherals are really quite similar to those of the guy he’s replacing in the Pirates pen, Dennis Santana. He’s out of options, so he will go on to the major league roster immediately.

No save for Smith, who was summoned with one out in the eighth and allowed a game-tying single to Alan Roden to score one of two inherited runners from Hunter Gaddis. Smith settled in to keep the game tied, but the Guardians didn’t score in the bottom of the eighth or ninth. It only took 22 pitches, so Smith is probably in line to pitch tomorrow if needed.

He walked two, but Gomez was eventually able to keep the Guardians off the board in the bottom of the ninth. The Twins didn’t rally in the top of the 10th to put him in line for a win. Gomez will likely be unavailable tomorrow after throwing 14 pitches on Wednesday and 22 today, but with Andrew Morris also pitching in back-to-back games, the Twins will likely play matchups if they have a save chance.

He allowed just a pair of singles in the process and recorded an immaculate inning in the fourth, striking out Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell on nine pitches. Williams’ secondaries were downright nasty today, as he generated 18 whiffs on 39 swings between his sweeper and curveball. It was a good bounceback from a five-earned run clunker against the Pirates in his last start that was fueled by three homers, and Williams moved his ERA on the season back under 4 with the effort. He’ll take his talents to Great American Ballpark next week.

The move makes room for fellow reliever Ron Marinaccio, who was acquired from the Padres. How much better off would the Pirates be right now if they had kept David Bednar, instead of taking a poor return from the Yankees, and traded Santana last summer? Santana was great last season, but with his strikeout rate down to 20 percent, he’d posted a 6.05 ERA in 41 2/3 innings this year. He’s a free agent at season’s end and any team that claims him would owe him about $1.5 million over the rest of the year, so there’s a good chance he’ll clear waivers.

He struck out five and walked three; the only damage was a Patrick Bailey solo home run that was the game’s lone run until the eighth inning. Bradley was outdueled by Gavin Williams and left in line for the loss. Bradley averaged 97.5 mph with his fastball and touched 100, but didn’t get many whiffs with his arsenal -- just 16 percent of swings against him missed the ball. Bradley bounced back well from a disappointing start against the Cubs last time out and should be on the mixed-league start line against the depleted Royals next week.

The assumption had been if the Mariners made a move in their rotation, it would likely be jettisoning Luis Castillo. Hancock would have more value to other teams as a controllable starter who is not making $22.75 million a season. Hancock has had a breakout year, with a 3.16 ERA in his first 19 starts, with 97 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings pitched. The Athletic’s pair of reporters believe the Cubs and Mariners could match up well in a trade, though stop short of reporting that the Cubs have engaged with the Mariners on Hancock.