MLB Player News

Díaz hasn’t pitched since last Friday due to a minor right knee issue with Alex Vesia stepping in for a pair of saves earlier this week against New York. The 32-year-old elite closer figures to make an appearance against his former club on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Olson started his 900th consecutive game in Sunday’s matinee. He celebrated with a seventh-inning homer off a 100-mph Cam Schlittler heater to break a scoreless tie. New York tied things up an inning later before Atlanta won in extras. Olson is now up to 34 homers on the year. While he’s unlikely to approach the career-best 54 he hit in 2023, he’s headed toward 40 for the second time.

Holmes walked two and allowed three hits while needing just 77 pitches to record 18 outs. He typically struggles more the second time through a lineup, which is why so many of his starts are capped around five innings or low pitch counts. For instance, 14 of his 18 homers this season have come in that second turn through the order. That wasn’t an issue this time, though, and he allowed three or fewer runs for the 15th consecutive outing. Up next is a home start against the Diamondbacks.

Schlittler allowed three hits and didn’t walk anyone. Unfortunately, one of those hits was a go-ahead solo homer by Matt Olson on a 100-mph fastball in the seventh inning. The Yankees tied the game an inning later before losing in extras. They’re now 41-41 since May 6. Schlittler wasn’t to blame, though, as he pitched well enough to win. He issued five free passes in his first August start but has a 39:1 K/BB in his other second-half starts. He’ll continue his Cy Young push next time out, in Toronto against the Blue Jays.

Iglesias struck out two in a scoreless ninth, needing just 10 pitches. Didier Fuentes couldn’t hold a 1-0 lead in the eighth, but Atlanta still went to its closer in a tie game. The Braves went ahead in the tenth, and Tyler Kinley converted the save in the bottom half. Iglesias hadn’t been as sharp in his previous two outings, but he’s had a strong season overall. He remains the locked-in closer in a deep bullpen.

Grisham provided the only offense New York could muster in Sunday’s matinee, smacking a game-tying homer off Didier Fuentes in the bottom of the eighth. The Yankees lost in extras and are now 41-41 since May 6. They’ve struggled offensively with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger all sidelined. Grisham remains the primary leadoff option against right-handers, which keeps his fantasy value afloat.

The 24-year-old slugger tagged Reds’ starter Brady Singer for a 378-foot (102.4-mph EV) solo shot in the third inning that extended the Nationals’ edge to 3-1. He finished the day 2-for-3 and is now hitting .273/.304/.591 with a pair of homers and four RBI in his first 23 MLB plate appearances.

Chaparro entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and struck out. He redeemed himself in the eighth though, smacking a two-run double that capped off the scoring in the ballgame. For the season, the 27-year-old is now slashing .235/.348/.500 with six long balls and 28 RBI in 115 plate appearances with the Nationals this season.

The 23-year-old outfielder delivered a run-scoring single in the seventh inning that extended the Nationals’ lead to 4-1. He also singled with two outs in the fifth inning but was left stranded there. With his two-hit attack, he’s now slashing .247/.297/.420 with 15 homers and 61 RBI on the season.

The left-hander struck out one batter in the contest and didn’t allow a base on balls. Dion took over for Brad Lord in the third inning and pitched the Nationals nearly into the sixth, allowing just a double to JJ Bleday and nothing more. He now sports a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 26/4 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings on the season.

As a team, the Reds only mustered four hits in the contest with Bleday’s double off of Will Dion the only one that went extra bases. He also struck out twice in the contest. For the season, the 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .225/.339/.460 with 20 homers and 47 RBI in 373 plate appearances.