MLB Player News

That’s more like it. Ramírez has not had an effective first two weeks of the season, but Saturday was a very friendly reminder — to everyone but Atlanta and those facing him in fantasy leagues — of how silly it is to worry. His homer is the second of the season, while the steals double his total from two to four. The perennial MVP candidate is still hitting just .175/.277/.333, but it’s just a matter of time until those numbers sky rocket.

O’Hearn drove in the first run of the game with a single in the first inning. He later added a base hit in the fifth for his second hit of the game. The 32-year-old slugger is having an excellent season with the Pirates, slashing .282/.350/.460 with 10 homers, 31 runs scored, and 35 RBI across 226 plate appearances.

Soto was called on in the ninth inning to close out the game against the Marlins with a one-run lead. He allowed a leadoff single before retiring the next three batters to finish out the game with his 10th save. The 31-year-old left-hander has emerged as one of the better closers with a 3.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 35/12 K/BB ratio across 30 1/3 innings.

Chandler tossed two clean innings, then gave up a run on a pair of hits in the third. He settled in for a clean fourth and fifth, then departed with two runners on and two outs in the sixth at 84 pitches. Overall, it was an encouraging start for the 23-year-old right-hander as he walked just one batter for only the third time in 13 starts. Chandler will look to build on his performance when he takes a 4.76 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 68/41 K/BB ratio across 68 innings into a start against the Rockies in Colorado on Friday.

Bachar opened the game for the Marlins and surrendered a run in the first inning on a hit batter, a walk, and a hit. He then tossed a scoreless second before handing it over to the bullpen at 42 pitches. He recorded four of his six outs via the strikeout. Bachar will likely return to a long relief role following the spot start.

With the game tied 1-1 in the eighth inning, Marte came through for the Reds in a big way, taking Juan Morillo deep for a solo homer. It would prove to be the deciding run in the game. That makes two homers in two days for the 24-year-old outfielder, his first two of the season. He’s certainly worth a look in all formats if he’s earned himself every day playing time with his recent play.

Carroll put the Diamondbacks on the board with a solo homer off Michael Soroka in the first inning. The home run would be the only run Arizona would score on the day. The home run was the 12th of the season for Carroll. The 25-year-old outfielder is hitting .282/.373/.552 with 43 runs scored, 34 RBI, and eight steals across 287 plate appearances.

This will be the sixth time the White Sox have used Fedde as a bulk guy. They’re 3-2 when they go that route and 4-4 when they use him as a starter.

Santillan was summoned to close out the game against the Diamondbacks with a one-run lead in the ninth. He worked a clean inning, inducing three straight groundouts to end the game with just his third save of the season to go with an underwhelming 5.67 ERA across 27 innings.

Lowder served up a solo homer to Corbin Carroll in the first inning. He then settled in nicely, scattering four more hits and two walks as he pitched into the sixth without allowing another run. He’d depart with two outs in the sixth with six strikeouts. The 24-year-old right-hander will carry a 4.60 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 37/25 K/BB ratio across 47 innings into a start against the Yankees in New York on Friday.

Soroka was brilliant against the Reds on Saturday, going seven innings of one-run ball for the second straight start. He tossed two quiet frames, then gave up a run on two hits in the third inning. He coasted the rest of the way, ending his day after seven frames with seven strikeouts. The 28-year-old right-hander will take a 3.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 79/17 K/BB ratio across 81 innings into a start against the Twins in Arizona on Friday.