MLB Player News

Tovar homered in the eighth to get the Rockies to within a run at 4-3. The 24-year-old gave the Rockies the win and also improved his homer total to four with a two-run blast off Caleb Kilian that completed the comeback win for Colorado, as the Rockies entered that inning trailing 6-3. Tovar has struggled for most of the year, but he’s homered three times this week, and he’s shown the ability — in spurts anyway — to be a fantasy factor.

Riley had a two-homer game against the Rangers on July 19, and since then he’s hit .162/.225/.189 with no homers and one stolen base. Riley hasn’t been good all season and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Braves started to cut his playing time down the stretch, though there’s nothing to suggest at this point that this is more than a routine day off.

A bit of a cheap dinger, Mullins’ homer down the left field line would have gone out of only seven parks and it barely cleared a short porch in Tropicana Field. Mullins has been a rough fantasy proposition, as to get 13 homers and 16 stolen bases, fantasy managers have had to swallow a .202/.279/.356 line. He retains a little deep-league value based on how high he often hits in the order, but that’s about all.

His hard grounder down the line off Craig Kimbrel momentarily gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. Langford is hitting .323/.368/.629 over his last 30 games with 10 homers and four stolen bases, though he’s been colder of late. Perhaps this will get him back on track.

Baker allowed a leadoff walk to Nicky Lopez (after two overturned strikeouts), another walk to Wyatt Langford, and sweated a hard lineout from Evan Carter as a pinch-hitter. But he was able to get Ezequiel Duran swinging with two on and two out to notch his 30th save. He’s been one of the biggest waiver closer adds of the season, right up there with Jacob Latz and Louis Varland. After throwing 30 pitches today and 20 on Thursday, Baker will likely not be available tomorrow against the White Sox.

Gonzales threw 68 pitches as he allowed five hits, topping out at 90.9 mph on the gun. He won’t be a recommended streamer in his bulk starts, but it’s cool to see him back in the bigs after he was absent in the 2025 season due to a torn flexor tendon.

Jung is eligible to return Saturday, but “it looks like it will take longer than that.” The 28-year-old was described as “at a standstill” by his manager. If it drags on too long, Jung may require a rehab assignment. Jung, 28, was in the midst of his best year since 2023 this season by hitting .294/.361/.441 with nine homers.

Placed on the 15-day IL this past Tuesday, this is actually a huge deal for Leiter. He won’t be able to return to the Athletics until the very end of the season, if at all. If not, he finishes a lackluster 2026 with a 4.28 ERA in 33 2/3 innings pitched and four saves. He’ll be a free agent in 2027.

Thomas, who wore 11 runs against the Mets this past Monday to save the Braves bullpen, may wind up in Triple-A Las Vegas by the time this transaction is over.

That’s a relief compared to an injury to his throwing arm, but it’s still not great news and could portend an injured list stay. More to come on this. McClanahan lasted three innings against the Rangers, allowing one hit and one earned run while striking out three.

It’s unknown where exactly the injury was or how it was suffered, but McClanahan’s fastball velocity dipped notably in the fourth inning, sitting close to 93 as opposed to his average on the year of 95.6 and a peak of 97 that he hit in the first inning. More news to come as the Rays make it available, but this doesn’t look good.