MLB Player News

Lux, on the IL with a shoulder impingement, was finally showing signs of life today, doubling twice in the first game of a doubleheader. He had been 1-for-24 through seven games. The injury came in the second game tonight while he was running out a grounder.

Griffin, out with a finger injury, will rejoin the Pirates on Monday before likely playing in a couple of more minor league games. He’s eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Friday.

It wasn’t even the headline for the game, though, since six Syracuse pitchers combined to no-hit Lehigh Valley. Tobias Myers got the most outs of the six, working three innings. Vientos is 9-for-23 with five homers on his rehab assignment from a fractured hand. The Mets don’t seem to have big plans for him in September, but there’s a chance he’ll force the issue. He likely will need Juan Soto, currently DHing after his calf injury, to return to the outfield in order to get significant playing time.

Gray’s velocity was down slightly last Wednesday against the Marlins, and while the Red Sox aren’t committing to a specific injury here, they’re giving him several extra days between starts. The Red Sox figure to call up someone to replace him Tuesday when rosters expand, though they’re lacking options.

Alonso was removed for pinch-runner Jackson Holliday, but it sounds like it was more precautionary than anything else. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said that Alonso was “fine” in the dugout, so he should be back in the lineup ASAP.

Kerkering entered in the eighth inning with the Phillies holding a 4-1 lead, so even though Philadelphia scored a run in the ninth, he still gets the save. It’s the second save of the year for the 25-year-old, and there’s a decent chance it’ll be the last.

Kikuchi pitched well, but Zack Wheeler pitched better, so Kikuchi is now 0-5 on the season. The 35-year-old gave up a pair of solo homers, and unfortunately for the southpaw and the Angels, that was enough to prevent the victory. Kikuchi will hope to get some run support and pitch at a similar level against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Wheeler did walk three, but he was able to keep the damage to just the one run while striking out six and scattering four hits allowed. It’s a nice rebound for the right-hander after he was shellacked for four homers and eight runs in his previous outing against the Mariners. This one won’t go on Wheeler’s ‘best of’ DVD, but that’s more compliment to his previous success than insult to this one. He’ll take on Atlanta next weekend.

Duran’s 15th homer overtook his previous high of 14 from 2023. His .273/.331/.450 line this year is a near match for his .276/.324/.443 line from his one other nice season as a big leaguer. He hit just .237/.278/.309 with three homers over 504 plate appearances in the two years in between.

86 pitches to get nine outs. Rocker struck out seven of the 17 batters he faced today, but four walked and the six who put the ball in play against him collected four singles. Rocker finishes August with a 6.00 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 17 walks in 27 innings over six starts. It’d seem to be time to try him in relief if either Nathan Eovaldi or Jack Leiter were ready to return, but since they’re clearly not, Rocker should face the Rays next weekend.

Latz fanned one and got a couple of easy flyballs to end the game. It’s the first time in eight appearances this month that he went without walking a batter. Only the first of those appearances was a bad one, though. He’s pitched nine scoreless innings and collected six saves in his last seven outings.