MLB Player News

It sounded like Christopher Morel was going to be Miami’s primary first baseman to start the year if he hadn’t gotten hurt, but he’s started just one of three games since coming off the IL. Norby DH’d in that one and played first in the other two. He’s hit .226/.330/.376 while starting 28 of Miami’s 31 games this year, including the last six in a row. One would think he’ll need to do a little better than that going forward in order to remain a regular, but even if Morel can overtake him, he could still play third over Graham Pauley.

Rogers entered Wednesday’s game after Dingler took a foul ball off of his hand and opened the scoring by clubbing a solo home run. He got the Tigers on the board first once again on Thursday, lining a 2-2 fastball from Jack Perkins for a 363-foot (96.6-mph EV) solo shot in the third inning. He also drew a pair of walks in the contest, finishing the game 1-for-1. On the season, he’s still slashing a meager .171/.263/.329 with three homers and nine RBI.

Valencia entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning. After ripping a pitch down the line that just missed being a double, he clobbered a 2-1 fastball from Hogan Harris for a 425-foot (103.4-mph EV) solo shot to center that increased the Tigers’ lead to 4-1. The 26-year-old backstop was then plunked in the back in the eighth inning. He’ll continue to add depth behind the plate for the Tigers until Dillon Dingler (hand) is ready to return.

It hasn’t always been easy for Jansen this season, and this one was no exception for the 38-year-old hurler. He issued a leadoff walk to Shea Langeliers and then fell behind Jonah Heim before roaring back to strike him out. The veteran right-hander then allowed a single to Jacob Wilson to bring the tying run to the plate. He then got Lawrence Butler to line out to shortstop and Tyler Soderstom to line out to first to end it. He has now converted 11 of his 15 save chances on the year to go with a 4.76 ERA.

The 32-year-old southpaw scattered just three hits on the evening and did not allow a base on balls. The lone tally against him came on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Henry Bolte in the fifth inning. Valdez piled up 18 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the evening — eight on his curveball — while posting a strong CSW of 33 percent. Valdez finishes up an inconsistent first half with a 5-6 record, 4.10 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and an 87/36 K/BB ratio over 107 2/3 innings in his first 19 starts for the Tigers.

Bolte came to the dish with runners at the corners and one out in the first inning and hit a slow bouncer to first base that the Tigers were unable to turn the double play on, plating Jacob Wilson in the process. The rookie outfielder also made a couple of terrific catches in center field in the contest. At the dish, he’s hitting .274/.354/.363 with three homers, 16 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 193 plate appearances.

Ultimately, Perkins was saddled with three runs on those two hits and a pair of walks in his three innings of work. Working behind an opener, he took over with one out in the second inning and cruised until Jake Rogers tagged him for a solo shot in the third inning. He then gave up a two-run blast to Zach McKinstry before exiting in the fifth. Perkins got five swings and misses on 67 offerings on the evening, posting a CSW of 21 percent. He finishes the first half of the season with an uninspiring 6.87 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 72/23 K/BB ratio over 57 2/3 innings in his 24 appearances (six starts).

Lee has been in a bit of a funk at the plate, going just 7-for-44 with one extra-base hit over his last 12 games, so the Giants will give him a night off to clear his head. Drew Gilbert will start in his place in center field and will bat eighth for the Giants against Ryan Feltner and the Rockies.

Goodman missed each of the team’s previous two games after jamming his hand on a play at the plate on Monday against the Dodgers. He’ll function as the Rockies’ designated hitter and bat cleanup against Carson Whisenhunt on Thursday night in San Francisco.

The superstar third baseman was held out of action on Wednesday due to soreness in his foot after fouling a ball off of it during Tuesday’s game. It appears all is good now though, as he’s right back at the hot corner and batting cleanup against Diamondbacks’ right-hander Merrill Kelly on Thursday evening in San Diego.

Brebbia elected free agency last weekend rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Albuquerque, but after exploring his options on the open market, the veteran right-hander decided that his best opportunity was to remain with the Rockies. The 36-year-old has compiled a 10.38 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 4 1/3 frames in his three outings with the big league club this season.