MLB Player News

The Rangers could certainly use some additional firepower after being no-hit by the Astros during Monday’s series opener and struggling to score runs during a four-game losing streak. Jung is back at third base and hitting cleanup following a two-game absence due to left shoulder soreness. He’s ready to roll after a precautionary MRI came back clean for any structural damage. The 28-year-old has put together the start of a breakthrough campaign, slashing .302/.357/.462 with 22 runs scored, five homers, 21 RBI and one steal across 199 plate appearances over 48 games.

Turner extended the Phillies’ lead in the third inning with a solo homer off Randy Vásquez. He then knocked a base hit in the fifth and stole second, putting some power and speed on display on Tuesday. The 32-year-old shortstop is hitting .225/.279/.347 with six homers, 33 runs scored, 17 RBI, and 10 steals across 240 plate appearances.

Machado put the Padres on the board with a two-run homer off Aaron Nola in the fourth inning. The home run broke a three-game hitless streak. He now has three hits in his last eight games, with all three leaving the yard. It’s all of the other balls hit in play that he’d had trouble with, recording an unfortunate .177 BABIP. The 33-year-old third baseman is slashing .173/.270/.346 with nine homers, 27 runs scored, and 27 RBI across 216 plate appearances.

Duran was summoned in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game against the Padres with a one-run lead. He tossed a clean frame on 14 pitches, striking out the final two batters to secure the win and convert his 11th save of the season. The 28-year-old right-hander has been dominant, posting a 1.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 26/5 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings.

Nola had retired the first 11 Padres hitters before Gavin Sheets reached on an infield hit in the fourth inning. Manny Machado followed with a two-run homer. Nola settled back in for two more scoreless innings, giving up just one more hit. He issued zero walks and struck out five batters on 12 whiffs. The 32-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 5.72 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and a 56/18 K/BB ratio across 56 2/3 innings. He’ll look to keep working away at those ratios when he takes on these same Padres in Philadelphia next Tuesday.

Vásquez was a victim of the home run on Tuesday. He served up a solo blast to Bryce Harper in the first inning. J.T. Realmuto then took him deep for a solo shot in the second. Trea Turner added a solo homer in the third before a walk and two hits brought a fourth run in. He finally kept the Phillies off the board with a clean fourth inning and continued with a scoreless fifth. Vásquez recorded the first two outs in the sixth and departed at 99 pitches. He struck out two. It was only the third time in 11 starts that Vásquez has allowed more than three runs. The 27-year-old right-hander will carry a 3.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 47/17 K/BB ratio across 60 1/3 innings into a rematch against the Phillies in Philadelphia next Tuesday.

Robles got the start in right field on Tuesday against the left-handed Gage Jump in Sacramento. He got on base in all three at-bats, starting with a single in the second. He then doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on a base hit. Robles collected his third hit with a single in the sixth before he was replaced by Luke Raley in the eighth. The 29-year-old outfielder is in a strict short-side platoon, seeing limited time against left-handed pitching. Robles still carries some stolen base upside if he finds himself with more playing time at some point.

Soderstrom knocked a base hit in the fifth, then put the A’s on the board for the only run of the game with a solo homer off Andrés Muñoz in the ninth. It was a 110.5 mph shot over the center field wall for his sixth of the season. The 24-year-old outfielder has been a bit unlucky, with a .233 BABIP, while still generating plenty of hard contact. The home run on Tuesday was his first since May 6, but hopefully the two-hit game was the start of a turnaround. Soderstrom is slashing .207/.288/.384 with 24 runs scored and 25 RBI across 222 plate appearances.

Hancock dominated the A’s in Sacramento, giving up just one hit and two walks over six shutout frames. He tossed 56 of 87 pitches for strikes and collected three strikeouts while generating six groundouts. The 25-year-old right-hander is in the midst of a breakout campaign, posting a 2.78 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 63/15 K/BB ratio across 64 2/3 innings. Hancock will look to keep it going against the Mets in Seattle on Monday.

Jump struck out two in a scoreless first inning, then ran into trouble in the second. The Mariners brought three runs across in the frame on four hits and a walk. He stranded two more runners in the third, then allowed another run in on four hits in the fourth. Gage gave the A’s one more scoreless frame, ending his day after five. On the bright side, he only walked one and generated 13 whiffs on 88 pitches to strike out five in his MLB debut. Sacramento certainly isn’t the easiest venue to make your first start. He’ll look for better fortune when he takes on the Cubs in Chicago next Tuesday.

Hernández was 2-for-2 with his first home run of the season prior to leaving the contest. The versatile 34-year-old is a virtual lock to hit the injured list after just two games back with the Dodgers following offseason elbow surgery.