MLB Player News

Urías will undergo further evaluation after experiencing left elbow pain while swinging during his rehab assignment. The 32-year-old was on the injured list with a different right elbow issue since May 5. There should be some clarity on his status at some point in the coming days.

It’s the second time in three games that Chisholm has sat against a lefty, with the Yankees using José Caballero at second and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, and the one game he started was really just against a lefty opener last night. Chisholm had previously started against 27 of the 36 lefties the Yankees had faced, but it looks like he might finish the season as a platoon guy unless he heats up. He’s hitting .207/.248/.371 in 125 plate appearances against southpaws.

Valdez’s homer was his 14th this season, tying him for the third-most through 37 big league games, according to Sarah Langs of MLB. It has been an incredible run, but his strikeout rate remains at 38%, which will be difficult to overcome over a longer sample. It helps that he’s part of a lineup that ranks second in the majors in runs per game. Valdez is a must-start fantasy option until his power heater fully cools off.

Ashcraft struck out five to earn his 10th win. He had allowed four runs through four innings but settled down over the final two frames to avoid a messier pitching line. The right-hander had recorded a 3.07 ERA before his five most recent starts, raising that mark to 4.05. Ashcraft has now allowed four or more runs in four of those starts. He’s scheduled to face the Reds in Cincinnati next time out.

Montgomery allowed a single to Dansby Swanson to begin the ninth before striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong. However, Suzuki connected for a two-run shot that turned an 8-5 game into a one-run lead. Montgomery then recorded the final two outs to still land the save. Notably, he was chosen for the opportunity despite neither him nor Gregory Soto having pitched since Friday. They each now have two saves in July, so this looks like a committee going forward. Of course, the upcoming trade deadline could further shake up this bullpen.

Taillon took the loss by allowing three homers on the afternoon. His season ERA sits at a career-worst 5.92. His K% is up from the past couple of years, but it’s come with a career-high walk rate. Publicly available command models suggest he isn’t locating his below-average stuff as well as he used to. He’s an easy starter to shy away from in his next matchup against the Yankees.

O’Hearn’s grand slam came on his 33rd birthday, one of three homers the Pirates hit off Jameson Taillon on the day. The lefty slugger has now tied his career-high in homers with 17, and his 68 RBI are a personal best too. O’Hearn is a similar hitter to his recent seasons by wRC+, but he’s benefitting from regular playing time on the second-highest-scoring offense in MLB.

Suzuki was hitless before a ninth-inning two-run homer off Mason Montgomery. It made the contest a one-run game but was ultimately too little too late. The right-handed outfielder/DH has been his usual dependable self at the plate this season and continues to bat high in the order as an everyday player on the Cubs.

The original plan was for Scherzer to make another rehab start, but he lobbied to return early. With Scherzer back, Spencer Miles will head to the pen for now, though that could be temporary. Scherzer doesn’t seem like a mixed-league option at this point.

Steer fouled off a pitch and came away shaking his right hand, which prompted the visit from the training staff and Reds’ manager Terry Franconca and after a brief discussion Steer was lifted from the game mid at-bat. He’ll presumably head for imaging to see what’s going on there. Fantasy managers who are relying on Steer for next week should have a contingency plan in place in the event that he’s forced to miss some time.