MLB Player News

Mayer made a prominent base-running mistake during the ninth inning of Friday’s lopsided defeat, but he’s been one of the few bright spots for the Red Sox recently, hitting .300 (6-for-20) with a pair of RBI over his last seven games. The 23-year-old former top prospect is hitting just .222/.296/.365 with one homer and one steal through 22 games overall. It’ll be veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the keystone on Saturday afternoon to face Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers.

Williamson knocked a base hit in the second inning, then hit a triple in the seventh to drive in a run before scoring on a base hit. He then added a double in the eighth to plate one more run and extend the Rays’ lead. After the three-hit day, Williamson is hitting .261/.338/.362 with 13 runs, 10 RBI, and two steals across 78 plate appearances.

Fraley broke a scoreless game with a two-run homer off Bailey Ober in the fourth inning. He was later pinch-hit for with a left-hander on the mound to lead off the seventh. The home run was the second of the season for Fraley. He’s hitting .240/.309/.440 with four runs, four RBI, and two steals across 55 plate appearances.

Keaschall knocked a base hit in the second inning and swiped second for his sixth steal of the season. He was later hit by a pitch in the ninth and came around to score the Twins’ only run of the game on a base hit. The 23-year-old second baseman is off to a slow start, hitting .206/.255/.265 with one homer, 12 runs scored, and 12 RBI, though a low .233 BABIP is the difference from the .340 mark he had over 207 plate appearances in 2025.

McClanahan had his best start so far, holding the Twins scoreless over five frames. He scattered three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters on 15 whiffs. This was as good as McClanahan has looked all year. He’ll look to keep it going when he takes a 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 25/13 K/BB ratio across 23 innings into a start against the Giants in Tampa Bay on Friday.

Ober worked three scoreless frames against the Rays before Jake Fraley took him deep in the fourth with a two-run blast. Bailey gave the Twins two more scoreless innings, ending his day after six with three strikeouts. Ober generated only three swinging strikes and continues to sit at 88 mph on the fastball. It makes him a risky option when he takes a 3.94 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 27/11 K/BB ratio across 32 innings into a start against the Blue Jays in Minnesota on Thursday.

Okamoto continues to get comfortable at the dish. He stayed hot on Saturday with a solo blast off Joey Cantillo in the fourth inning, his third homer in six games and team-leading fifth of the season. He added a base hit in the sixth and brought home another run with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. It was the fourth multi-hit day in his last seven games. The 29-year-old slugger is hitting .237/.324/.419 with 12 runs scored and 11 RBI across 105 plate appearances.

Fry got the rare start against a right-handed pitcher on Saturday, starting in right field. He took Kevin Gausman deep for a solo homer in the seventh inning for his first of the season. The 30-year-old slugger remains mostly limited to starts against left-handing pitching, mixing in at catcher, right field, and designated hitter.

Varland got the nod in the ninth inning to close out the game against the Guardians with a three-run lead. This one nearly got away from him. He recorded one quick out, then gave up a run on three straight hits before striking out the final two batters to preserve the win with his second save. The 28-year-old right-hander had not given up a run going into the day. He figures to remain in the saves mix in part of a committee until Jeff Hoffman gets right and is ready to resume ninth-inning duties.

Gausman retired the first six Cleveland batters before Juan Brito led off the third inning with a double and scored on a pair of groundouts. He pitched into the seventh, giving up a solo homer to David Fry and recording two outs in the frame. Gausman’s day would be done at 91 pitches, 63 for strikes. He collected three strikeouts. The 35-year-old right-hander has been excellent over the first month, posting a 2.57 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 38/6 K/BB ratio across 35 innings. He’ll take on the Twins in Minnesota on Thursday.