MLB Player News

Ritchie set a poor tone for his start by walking Luis Arraez to start the game. That was only the 16th walk Arraez has drawn all season and Rafael Devers doubled him home a few batters later. Then, the floodgates opened in the second when Ritchie gave up home runs to Willy Adames, Arraez, and Bryce Eldridge. He did wind up retiring the final nine batters he faced, but the damage was already done. Without wipeout stuff, fastball command is very important for Ritchie. He struggled with such early on before finding it after settling in.He’s for a two-start week coming up against the Padres and Giants, again, with both games coming on the road.

Pederson put the Rangers on the board right away, taking Shane Bieber deep for a solo homer on the first pitch of the game. It was the 13th home run of the season for the 34-year-old slugger. He’s hitting .241/.340/.464 with 33 runs scored and 29 RBI across 263 plate appearances.

Lukes knocked a base hit in the first inning. After the Blue Jays were blanked through seven innings, he delivered a two-run homer off Cole Winn to put Toronto on the board. The 31-year-old outfielder has hit well this season, slashing .310/.357/.439 with four homers, 18 runs scored, and 17 RBI across 170 plate appearances.

After converting a save on Saturday, Alexander got the call again on Sunday, giving Jacob Latz another day off after three appearances in five days this week. Alexander took the mound with a one-run lead in the ninth and tossed a clean frame, striking out one batter to convert his fourth save of the season.

Rocker was brilliant against the Blue Jays on Sunday, holding them scoreless over six innings of work. He scattered four hits and one walk, with just two runners reaching scoring position against Rocker. He tossed 60 of 92 pitches for strikes and struck out five batters. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 3.83 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 70/31 K/BB ratio across 80 innings into a start against the Tigers in Texas on Saturday.

Leahy allowed a ground-rule double to Graham Pauley in his fifth and final frame, and that was it. The 29-year-old has been outstanding as of late, and he’s given up just one run over his last two outings while lowering his season ERA to 4.09. He struck out five in that solid effort, and he issued just one free pass. Leahy will look to keep the good run going in a scheduled start Saturday against the Cubs.

Bieber surrendered a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson in the first inning. He settled in nicely, holding the Rangers to just the one run into the sixth. He walked a batter and gave up a hit with one out before departing at 92 pitches with four strikeouts. He scattered five hits in all and issued four walks. The 31-year-old right-hander will look to carry some momentum after the encouraging start into a matchup against the Mariners in Seattle on Saturday.

Caminero got his day started with a single in the first inning to drive in a run. He then led off the third with a walk before launching a solo homer off Merrill Kelly in the fifth for his ninth round-tripper in June, homering in five of his last six games. The 22-year-old slugger is up to 22 homers, 52 runs scored, and 49 RBI while slashing .292/.384/.548 across 354 plate appearances.