MLB Player News

Gray came in with a 6.23 ERA, but he finished the spring strong, especially in the velocity department. He had been a little south of last year’s fastball average of 91.7 mph in his first three starts, but he was up to 92.3 mph with his four-seamer today, and his sinker made similar gains. Gray is in line to make his official Red Sox debut Saturday against the Reds.

After Sheehan was given a two-run lead in the first, he gave it right back on a two-run blast by Manny Machado. He served up another two-run shot to Miguel Andujar in the third. Sheehan then stranded two runners in the fourth before he was replaced on the mound in the fifth, ending his day at just 67 pitches. He generated only five swinging strikes to collect two strikeouts. It’s been a disappointing season for the 26-year-old right-hander. He’ll take a 4.93 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 51/13 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings into a start against the Rockies in Los Angeles next Tuesday.

Canning served up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the first inning, then settled in for three more scoreless frames. The Dodgers would bring a third run home on a double and two groundouts in the fifth. That would be it for Canning, ending his day with five strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander holds a 9.00 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, and a 19/10 K/BB ratio across 16 innings. He’ll take on the Phillies in San Diego on Monday.

Runs were hard to come by in Tuesday’s contest in Seattle. Chicago was held scoreless through eight until Meidroth stepped to the plate with two runners on. He got a ground ball just past the first baseman for a single to drive in the game-tying run. The 24-year-old infielder is having a solid season, hitting .262/.337/.369 with three homers, 29 runs scored, and 11 RBI across 194 plate appearances.

Herrera’s fifth homer and first since Apr. 25 was a 410-foot blast off Mason Montgomery. It was his first career walkoff homer. There should be more power in the way, and in spite of the home run drought, he’s still at a solid .263/.391/.417 for the year.

Liberatore cruised through four before giving up two singles to start the fifth. He was able to retire two more batters while giving up one run, but the wheels came off afterwards, as Bryan Reynolds doubled, Marcell Ozuna walked and Oneil Cruz singled before he was lifted. Fortunately, Gordon Graceffo was able to strand both runners he inherited at that point. Liberatore finished up with 13 whiffs and a 32 percent CSW. His previous high for strikeouts was eight, though he’d topped out at six in his previous nine starts this season. He has a 4.70 ERA, and he rates as a poor play Sunday in Cincinnati.

O’Brien loaded the bases on a single and two hit by pitches to start the inning, only to get a double play ball from Marcell Ozuna afterwards. That put him in position to salvage things, but he then walked Oneil Cruz and gave up a game-tying single to Spencer Horwitz before retiring Brandon Lowe. It was O’Brien’s fourth blown save, but the Cardinals did win tonight in 10, and they’re 21-2 when he pitches this season. He’s leaving the door open for someone else to emerge as the Cardinals’ closer, but there still isn’t anyone else in the pen that’s as good of a bet as he is.

He fanned three. Keller has kept it together from an ERA perspective this year, but that’s mostly because he’s allowed only four homers while being a modest flyball pitcher with a weak strikeout rate. It’s not going to last, even if he does pitch half of his games in pitcher friendly ballpark. His 18 percent strikeout rate this year is down from a career mark of 22 percent, and his velocity is down about two mph from his best season in 2022. He just doesn’t figure to be very good going forward. His next start is slated for Sunday against the Blue Jays.

This came after Gregory Soto struck out the side in a tie game in the ninth, The Pirates failed to score in the top of the 10th, so it wasn’t a blown save for Montgomery. It was, however, a setback for the pitcher with the best stuff in Pittsburgh’s bullpen. Montgomery would seem to remain clearly behind Soto and Dennis Santana in line for save chances.

Wetherholt was coming off three straight hitless games, but both times so far that he’s shown signs of going into a real slump, he’s bounced back quickly. He’s batting only .239 to date, but with nine homers and 25 walks, he has a fine .784 OPS through 213 plate appearances. He’s also yet to ground into a double play in 15 opportunities to do so.

Seranthony Domínguez got an extra day off after tossing 32 pitches and blowing the save in Sunday’s loss to the Cubs. Taylor got the call in the ninth with a one-run lead and slammed the door on Seattle, striking out the side for his first save. The 24-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 38/8 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Taylor begin to take more save chances from Domínguez, who’s gone 10-for-13 in save chances and holds a 4.82 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.