MLB Player News

Cabrera heads to Philadelphia to compete for a bullpen spot in spring training after being jettisoned from the Twins’ 40-man roster last month. The 29-year-old southpaw spent time with four different teams this past season, including the Mets, Cubs, Pirates and Twins, posting an underwhelming 6.54 ERA — 6.56 FIP — and 35/18 K/BB ratio across 42 2/3 innings over 42 2/3 innings this past season. He’s made 312 appearances in the big leagues dating back to 2019.

Teng also issued a pair of walks in the ballgame while recording only one strikeout. The Pirates scratched out a run against him in the opening inning, and that was the lone run for either team in the contest through the first five frames. The Bucs broke it open in the sixth though, striking for four runs — including a two-run blast off the bat of Ryan O’Hearn. Teng got 10 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 26 percent. He’ll look to bounce back as he carries a 3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 44/21 K/BB ratio (47 innings) into Tuesday’s battle against the Angels in Los Angeles.

Straw capped off a three-run uprising in the third inning with a two-out, two-run single off of Chris Sale that extended the Jays’ early lead to 3-0. He also added an RBI knock and scored a run during a four-run rally in the top half of the ninth inning. With his three-hit night, the speedy 31-year-old is slashing .245/.314/.340 with two long balls, nine RBI and a pair of stolen bases in 106 plate appearances on the year.

The 27-year-old slugger started a three-run rally with a one-out double off of Chris Sale in the third inning. He then came around to score the game’s first run on an RBI single off the bat of Charlie McAdoo. Guerrero also singled in the ninth and scored on an RBI knock by Myles Straw. With his three-hit attack, he’s now slashing .300/.391/.391 with just three homers, 24 RBI and five stolen bases over 258 plate appearances on the season.

Varland was called upon to get the final out of the eighth inning with the Jays holding a 3-2 advantage. He needed just two pitches to get Ozzie Albies to fly out to center. The Jays then piled on four insurance runs in the top half of the ninth before Varland returned for the ninth inning to close it out, retiring the side in order. He has been unbelievable for the Jays this season, compiling an unfathomable 0.28 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 43/9 K/BB ratio over 32 1/3 innings while converting each of his first nine save chances.

The Cubs’ season seemed to be at another low point after Crow-Armstrong lost a fly to center in the sky in the top of the sixth, giving Shea Langeliers an inside-the-park two-run homer. PCA did come right back with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning, but the game seemed out of reach until the ninth, when the Cubs amassed seven hits and four runs to walk it off. The homer off J.T. Ginn was Crow-Armstrong’s ninth of the season and 50th as a major leaguer. He also collected his 13th stolen base tonight.

It should have been two runs in six innings and done. In the sixth, however, the Cubs’ one should-have-been-routine-out was a flyball lost in the twilight by Pete Crow-Armstrong, giving Shea Langeliers a two-run homer. The other three ballsin play in the inning were a 107-mph double and lineouts with xBAs of .890 and .860. In spite of that, Craig Counsell sent Imanaga out for the seventh and watched him give up two more homers. Of the four homers Imanaga allowed (including the inside-the-parker) only the last was a homer in more than half of MLB ballparks. This should have been a positive outing for the left-hander. Instead, it goes as a fourth straight bust, leaving him 4-6 with a 4.74 ERA. His next start will be the first of his career in Coors, making him a pretty weak play as a flyball pitcher.

Ginn had an average exit velocity against of 96 mph tonight, but only a 110-mph homer from Pete Crow-Armstrong and a 111-mph single from Moisés Ballesteros went for hits. That’s par for the course for Ginn lately, as he’s allowed eight hits over 22 1/3 innings in his last four turns. He’s 4-3 with a 2.74 ERA for the year, but it’s just going to be extremely difficult for a Sacramento starter to offer full-season value in shallow leagues. He’ll make his next start at home against the Brewers.

Kuhnel’s first save chance since Apr. 20 was a complete bust, though not actually a blown save. That went to Luis Medina, who came in with two on and the lead down to one and then gave up back-to-back singles to end things. Still, this was all Kuhnel’s mess. He was the Athletics’ early season saves leader despite opening up in the minors, but there’s a reason he hadn’t had any chances in a long time. He shouldn’t see another any day soon.

The Cubs were down 6-1 when Happ homered in the seventh, and his double came in the middle of the game-winning four-run rally in the ninth. Happ has four homers, five doubles and 13 RBI in his last eight games.

The first homer was a 369-foot fly to right-center that would have left 10 ballparks. The second should have been a routine fly to deep center. Pete Crow-Armstrong, though, lost it almost immediately and just stood rooted to his spot instead of backing up and at least hoping the ball would fall in front of him and he could prevent a run. It’s Langeliers’ ninth career multihomer game and third of this season. He had been quiet of late, hitting .145/.254/.290 with three RBI in his previous 16 games.