MLB Player News

Senga’s return from the injured list got off to a rocky start as he struggled to find the strike zone and needed 36 pitches to complete an opening frame where he allowed four runs on two hits and a pair of walks. He walked the first two batters he faced before coughing up a no-doubter to Sal Stewart into the left-field seats. He also gave up a solo shot to Spencer Steer in the frame. He managed to complete four innings, finishing with five strikeout and four walks. He’s been far too unpredictable for fantasy managers to consider trusting him when he faces the Cubs his next time out on Monday.

Before missing two games, Siri started seven games in a row in center with Mike Trout down. Now, though, he has Josh Lowe to contend with, which figures to mean less playing time against righties. Lowe, who was called up when Siri went on the paternity list, is making a third straight start tonight, and Siri will be available off the bench.

Moore goes and Josh Lowe stays with Jose Siri back from the paternity list. It’s a little amusing that the Angels are still listing Moore as an infielder on their official transaction after using him in left field five times and second base just once during his stint in the majors. Moore was 4-for-20 with 11 strikeouts in nine days with the Angels. He’ll probably get a longer look at some point during the second half.

That’s still better than being on the bench, as he was against a lefty on Wednesday. He’d previously hit sixth twice against lefties, but this is the lowest in the order he’s been this year. The switch-hitting Happ is batting just .172/.234/.345 against southpaws this season. He’s at .250/.377/.505 against right-handers.

Since delivering his walkoff grand slam against the Nationals on June 10, Eldridge had hit second in 11 of the Giants’ last 12 games and third in the other. He homered again in the first of those games, but in the last 11, he’s hit .179/.319/.282. As a result, he’s back down to sixth today. Casey Schmitt is batting second, and Jung Hoo Lee has been moved up to third. Eldridge should stay in the Giants lineup against righties after Heliot Ramos is activated from the IL, something that’s supposed to happen within the next couple of days, but he’ll probably start doing some sitting against lefties. He could cease being worthy of a roster spot in shallow leagues.

He underwent surgery this morning. Milner makes for an even dozen Cubs pitchers on the major league injured list. Even though his strikeout rate is all of the way down to 12 percent, the veteran southpaw has a 3.53 ERA in 35 2/3 innings this season. Expect him back soon after the All-Star break.

Ferguson will rejoin the bullpen. He has allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings for the Cubs since being acquired from the A’s in May.

Even though he’s hitting .263/.344/.421 against southpaws, this makes three straight times that Yelich has sat in games in which the Brewers have faced a lefty. That .765 OPS is actually better than his .730 mark against righties. The Brewers also have Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell on the bench tonight. Gary Sánchez is DHing.

It was thought the Brewers might go back to a five-man rotation next week, but it’s not happening. There’s definitely no sense of urgency. The three possibilities to be dropped have all made four starts with ERAs in the mid-3.00s this month (3.48 for Sproat, 3.65 for Drohan and 3.74 for Gasser).

The 38-year-old Pham went 0-for-13 with the Mets earlier this season. He then signed with the Orioles and hit .197/.286/.410 in 16 games in Triple-A before being set free again. It seems unlikely that he’ll help the Phillies, but they do need outfield depth with Adolis García and Johan Rojas out for the long haul.

Smith homered in the same at-bat in which he hurt himself and initially stayed in to play right field, but the Astros had Joey Loperfido hit for him in the seventh. Barring something unexpected, Smith should be available Sunday.