MLB Player News

Victor Vodnik also came up big tonight, throwing hitless ninth and 10th innings for the win. Vodnik remains the favorite for saves in Colorado pen, but Mejia is probably next in line. He has a 4.66 ERA and a 25/9 K/BB in 19 1/3 innings.

He has a 7.15 ERA in 11 1/3 innings this year and will likely provide some low-leverage relief help in the short-term while the Phillies try to find a new way to address Brad Keller’s injury going forward.

It’s a huge blow for Philadelphia’s bullpen depth and they’ll undoubtedly be looking to add at the deadline as Keller is likely to miss well into next season. Keller pitched in just one game after dealing with forearm tendinitis. He finishes his age-30 season with a 4.02 ERA in 31 1/3 innings pitched. He’s due $13 million next season from the Phillies.

Hassell was outrighted off the 40-man roster on Sunday, so he won’t cost a 40-man roster spot for the Pirates. He’s hit just .215/.304/.289 with two homers in 258 plate appearances at Triple-A Rochester. The Pirates will likely see if some time in Indianapolis will bring his bat back to life.

Expect him to be back in the starting lineup tonight. Since Semien is hitting .214/.271/.341 with nine homers and six stolen bases in 318 plate appearances, he doesn’t necessarily need to be started in any fantasy leagues. Hopefully the time off will get him hitting better down the stretch.

He was previously designated for assignment on June 24 and stayed with the Mets in Syracuse. The Tigers designated Short for assignment in early June and lost him to the Mets on waivers. The 31-year-old will get the chance to elect free agency again if he clears.

The Rangers will open with Cal Quantrill and MacKenzie Gore against the Braves on Friday and Saturday, leaving a TBA slot open for DeGrom on Sunday. DeGrom missed his last start before the All-Star break with what was announced as a “mild left glute strain.” There’s no reason to think that he’s going to go on IL over this yet, and DeGrom did tell reporters that he was going to throw off the mound in Atlanta. It’s possible he’s pushed back beyond Sunday.

“Some teams” had increasingly leaned upon AI to help shape in-game strategy, which explains why your team’s favorite manager keeps going to that one reliever you don’t like. The Athletic’s Eno Sarris believes “pitch-calling from the dugout may be at the center of this battle, and is one of the usages the league appears to be targeting,” the practice lead by the Marlins this year has now spread to as many as six other teams. MLB had let teams know in a memo issued on June 11, to give teams a month of leeway before adopting the ban.

The Marlins will open the second half with Alcantara on Friday, Max Meyer on Saturday, and Eury Pérez on Sunday. No major surprises here as these are the three main starters for the Marlins. All three of them are worthy starters in 12-team leagues coming out of the break.

Same. Roberts lead with saying he expects Smith back this year, but this is not exactly a ringing endorsement that it will be any time soon. Smith has been swinging, but The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya describes his recovery as “stagnant.” Dalton Rushing figures to remain the Dodgers’ main catcher going forward and should be rostered in most leagues at this point.

He’s progressing slowly, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and is trying to clear each step without his back flaring up. Glasnow looks likely to be out for quite a bit longer given how slow he’s been to start throwing. An August return is probably on the table, but it might be mid-to-late August at this point.