MLB Player News

House started each of the team’s previous three games and hit in the middle of the Nationals’ lineup in each. He’ll get a breather against Roki Sasaki on Sunday afternoon though. Jorbit Vivas will cover third base while Jose Tena functions as the squad’s designated hitter on Sunday.

Petty performed admirably in a spot start against the Cubs earlier this week, allowing three runs over 5 2/3 innings while not factoring into the decision. The 23-year-old’s biggest highlight was a nifty, athletic play off the mound, fielding a chopper up the third-base line and delivering an on-target throw to first. He’ll be back at some point later this summer when the Reds need another starter.

Pagán has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is expected to miss roughly 4-8 weeks. The -year-old stopper told reporters he thought he tore his hamstring and that his season was over when he hobbled off the mound after throwing a pitch during Tuesday’s relief appearance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He’s facing an extended absence, but his season isn’t over. It’ll likely be either Tony Santillan or Graham Ashcraft taking over the closer role for Cincinnati during his absence.

The procedural move frees up a spot on Cincinnati’s 40-man roster for reliever Tejay Antone. Williamson is facing an extended absence after hitting the shelf with shoulder fatigue last week. He’s battled shoulder issues in the past, so the level of concern here is fairly high. He’ll be out until at least after the All-Star break in July.

Bleday is making a ton of hard contact since being brought up from Triple-A Louisville last week and is up to four homers in just eight games already. The 28-year-old’s omnipresent contact issues limit his ceiling, but his over-the-fence power and extremely favorable lineup spot make him a decent dart throw in all fantasy leagues. He’s at least worthy of a speculative roster spot, even in shallow mixed leagues.

Vaughn’s homer off Andre Pallente gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead in the first, and the Cardinals never managed to make things interesting afterwards. It was Vaughn’s first homer, as he was playing in just his second game back from a hamate fracture suffered on Opening Day. He should be locked in as an everyday player until Christian Yelich returns, at which point things could get a little complicated. Still, he’ll probably remain a regular if he produces.

Sproat, who struck out five and walked three, left with a 5-0 lead in a game the Brewers won 6-2, but he didn’t get the victory, of course. Instead, that went to Andy Ashby, who was credited with his sixth win after pitching two innings in relief. Sproat is 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA over five starts and two relief appearances. The Brewers are off on Thursday and Monday, so it’s possible Sproat could make a relief appearance before his next chance to start.

Megill had the eighth in a 5-0 game and gave up a run on a single, a stolen base and another single. The Brewers made it a five-run game again in the top of the ninth, but since they have Thursday off, they still used Uribe, and he gave up a run after a leadoff double and a couple of grounders. The second grounder turned into a Joey Ortiz error, but the run was still earned, and Uribe finished the game with a double play afterwards. So, neither of the Brewers’ late-game righties really gained or lost anything today. The ninth clearly belongs to Uribe at the moment; he hasn’t entered a game any earlier than that since Apr. 14, which was also the last time Megill pitched the ninth.

Pallante retired the first two batters in the first inning, only to give up four runs afterwards on a HBP, two singles and a three-run homer. After that, he did just fine. The loss leaves him 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA. He’ll have a tough assignment next time out in Sacramento against the A’s. The league has an .826 OPS in Sutter Health Park this year, easily the highest in baseball (.784 for Camden Yards in second).

Wetherholt has hit another little bump in the road to begin May, opening the month 3-for-21 with no extra-base hits and one walk (which was intentional). He still has a nice .352 OBP for the year, even with his average sitting at .239, and we imagine it would take a whale of a slump for the Cardinals to take him out of the leadoff spot.