MLB Player News

It’d be almost impossible to script a worse start than Avila’s here. After 12 pitches, three runs were already home on a single and two home runs. After that, he retired the next two batters before a catastrophic five-batter sequence with three walks and two singles. He was mercifully pulled there and reliever Mason Black promptly allowed a grand slam to Yordan Alvarez, his second home run of the first inning. This was one of those starts to simply flush down the toilet and hope it can be moved on from. He’s scheduled to face the Nationals on the road next time out.

Is it too late to fold this into the Jameson Taillon trade? The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon says the Jays will get Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene in return. Gausman was 6-10 with a 4.38 ERA for the Jays, but he’s durable and could step it up in October, like he did in posting a 2.93 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance during last year’s World Series run.

It was a 100 mph offering from Adrian Morejon, and Grant McCray took over as the pinch runner. Basabe told reporters that he’s feeling better, but the 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day.

Walcott was hit in the head by an errant pickoff throw during Saturday’s game. This sounds precautionary, but it’ll likely keep Walcott out for at least a week. The 20-year-old has been sensational since returning from his internal brace surgery, and has a chance to be an impact player for Texas in 2027, with an outside chance of reaching the bigs before the end of this season.

It’s Alvarez’s third career three-double game, matching his number of three-homer games. He’s the major league leader with a .330 average, a .442 OBP, a .650 slugging percentage and 35 homers and the American League leader with 77 runs scored and 84 RBI.,

Both runs came in the fifth, which started with a walk and three singles. Fortunately for Lambert, Evan Carter was thrown out trying to take second after a throw to the plate on the second single. Elias Díaz then grounded into a double play after the third hit, preventing what could have been a big inning. Lambert has allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts and 11 of his last 12, but he’s remained stuck on eight wins since July 11, having received no-decisions in four straight starts. He’ll take a 3.06 ERA into his next start versus the Padres.

Blubaugh struck out Jake Burger with two on to end the eighth and was left in to pitch the ninth since there was no save situation then. He retired the side in order for his first save in 42 appearances this year. The 26-year-old has a solid 3.62 ERA while often pitching two innings at a time as a middle reliever.

Rocker had pretty awful luck today, and he did well to limit the damage to three runs. He actually allowed just four hard-hit balls, and the big blow, Jeremy Peña’s two-run homer to left in the fourth, would have been a double or maybe even a single in the majority of ballparks. Rocker struck out five and walked two. He’ll face the Orioles next weekend. He remains a mediocre option in mixed leagues.

With the Astros looking to upgrade their outfield, Smith is on a well-timed mini-surge here, going 7-for-19 with three extra-base hits and five runs scored in his last four games. He’s hitting just .213/.285/.371, so he could be vulnerable to losing playing time if the Astros add a regular.

Nimmo’s homer came off southpaw Stephen Okert, who had limited lefties to a .169 average and one homer in 97 plate appearances this season. Nimmo is hitting .310/.385/.500 with two homers and two steals in 16 games during the second half.

This was nice to see after Montero had arguably his worst start of the season last time out against the Orioles. That’s especially the case considering he was pitching in Sacramento. Montero was far from dominant — he had just two strikeouts and didn’t register his first one until the sixth inning — but he threw strikes and did a good job getting ahead in the count. The 26-year-old has been a surprising success story this season with a 3.17 ERA through 18 starts and six relief appearances. He’s a recommended play in his next start against the Giants in San Francisco.