MLB Player News

Baz gave up six hits, but Brice Matthews’ homer was the only one that did any damage. He struck out six and walked one. Through six starts, Baz has a 4.50 ERA and a 29/11 K/BB in 34 innings. He’d be a better bet in fantasy leagues if the Rays hadn’t traded him, but he still probably has some mixed-league value anyway.

We’re guessing that means Sunday. Seager would typically sit against a lefty, but the Rangers aren’t facing any for the next several days.

Clement had himself a day at the plate, starting with a pair of base hits in the second and fourth innings. He knocked his third base hit to drive in a run in the fifth, then took Mitch Farris deep for a two-run blast in the seventh. A fourth single in the eighth would give him five hits in the contest. The 30-year-old infielder is hitting a solid .299/.319/.422 with two homers, 14 runs scored, and 12 RBI across 160 plate appearances.

Valenzuela led off the third inning with a base hit, then broke the game open with a three-run blast off Mitch Farris to highlight a seven-run fifth inning for the Blue Jays. He added a third hit and scored again in the seventh and drove in a run with his fourth hit in the eighth. The 25-year-old backstop has operated as the team’s primary catcher in Alejandro Kirk’s absence, hitting .246/.306/.474 with four homers, nine runs scored, and ten RBI across 62 plate appearances.

Yesavage had a good feel for the splitter early on, striking out the side in the first inning, all on swinging strikes. The next three innings were a battle. He stranded two runners in the second inning with the help of an incredible outfield assist from Addison Barger. Yesavage worked through more traffic in the fourth as he stranded the bases loaded on a ground ball double play. That would be it for him, ending his day at 87 pitches. He generated 15 whiffs, eight on the split, to strike out six batters. The 22-year-old right-hander will take a 0.68 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 15/5 K/BB ratio across 13 1/3 innings into a start against the Tigers in Detroit on Friday.

Kochanowicz stranded four runners across three scoreless innings before the Blue Jays got on the board with one run in the fourth. Toronto completely broke through in the fifth, tagging Kochanowicz for six more runs, five earned, knocking him from the game before recording an out in the inning. The 25-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 3.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 30/23 K/BB ratio across 45 1/3 innings. He’ll look to bounce back in a tough matchup against the Dodgers in Anaheim on Friday.

Pop allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings before getting hurt. He’s out of options, so he’ll have a bullpen spot once the Phillies are satisfied with his rehab progress.

The Mariners are playing 14 games in 14 days, so one time through with a six-man rotation shouldn’t hurt. After that, they’ll probably need to demote Luis Castillo or Emerson Hancock, with Castillo-to-the-bullpen seeming like the obvious move at this point. Miller has been showing the best velocity of his career in his return from an oblique injury. There’s no guarantee he’ll be effective right away against the Astros next week, but he should offer mixed-league value over the rest of the season.

Benintendi was set to DH and batting sixth. Randal Grichuk replaced him in the lineup, just because the White Sox feel the need to play one nominal outfielder whose best year came pre-COVID.

“I heard it was electric,” manager Torey Lovullo said. Martinez might rejoin the mix for saves in the D-backs bullpen in in July. However, A.J. Puk, another contender for ninth-inning duties, is expected to beat him back.

Mateo was limited to bench work for a couple of days due to a jammed thumb. He’s getting the nod over Jim Jarvis tonight.