MLB Player News
-
Chase Lee RP | TOR
Tigers' Chase Lee: Struggles badly Saturday
Lee allowed four runs on four hits in just an inning of work in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out one.
With the Tigers down 2-0 entering the top of the ninth inning, Lee let things get out of hand with one of his worst outings of the season. The rookie righty started his campaign by posting a 2.05 ERA across his first 25 games, but he now has a 15.88 ERA over his last six appearances, getting tagged for multiple runs three times during the stretch. Fatigue is potentially becoming a factor for Lee, and the team could decide to send him back to Triple-A Toledo at some point for a reset.
-
Jacob Latz RP | TEX
Rangers' Jacob Latz: Shifts back to bullpen
Latz worked in relief in wins over Atlanta on Friday and Saturday, covering 1.1 innings between his two appearances while allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks.
Prior to his pair of relief appearances, Latz tossed five innings of one-run ball in a start against the Tigers on July 20, but he was never expected to receive multiple turns through the Texas rotation. The 29-year-old lefty has proven to be a dependable spot starter when called upon this season, but the Rangers aren't likely to have a permanent rotation spot available for him unless another starter succumbs to an injury. Even in that scenario, Jon Gray -- who was activated from the 60-day injured list earlier this week and moved to the bullpen -- might be the preferred option over Latz to fill any void in the rotation.
-
Will Vest RP | DET
Tigers' Will Vest: Takes loss Saturday
Vest (5-2) allowed two runs on three hits across an inning of relief to take the loss in Saturday's 6-1 defeat to the Blue Jays. He struck out one.
With the game scoreless through seven innings following a dazzling start by Tarik Skubal, Vest let things get away in the eighth. It was the first time the veteran righty had allowed more than one run in an appearance since June 15, and he had posted a stellar 0.96 ERA in nine games since then. Overall, Vest still has a solid 2.58 ERA across 45.1 innings this season to go along with 51 strikeouts, and he should be able to bounce back from the rough outing and get back to closing out games for the Tigers.
-
Steven Cruz RP | KC
Royals' Steven Cruz: Earns third win
Cruz (3-1) earned the win Saturday against the Guardians. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning.
Cruz found himself in a jam in the top of the 10th inning but limited the damage to one run and ultimately earned the win after Jonathan India walked it off in the bottom half of the frame. The reliever entered July with a 2.20 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 32.2 innings but has struggled this month, posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 7.1 innings. Despite the rough stretch, his season-long numbers remain strong, with a 2.93 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 40 innings, backed by a fastball that regularly touches 98 mph.
-
Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman: Notches save No. 18
Chapman earned a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, issuing one walk and striking out one batter over one scoreless and hitless inning.
Chapman took the mound with a two-run lead in the top of the ninth frame. He retired the first two batters he faced before walking Esteury Ruiz. That brought Mookie Betts up to the plate as a pinch hitter representing the tying run, and Chapman was able to whiz a 97 mph heater past the former MVP for strike three on a 3-2 count to end the game. Chapman's save was his 18th of the campaign, his most since he logged 30 with the Yankees in 2021. The seemingly ageless closer has also registered an impressive 1.31 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 61:11 K:BB through 41.1 innings spanning 44 appearances this season.
-
Jonathan Bowlan RP | PHI
Royals' Jonathan Bowlan: Goes back to minors
Bowlan was returned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Bowlan was summoned to the big club as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against Cleveland, but his time with the team will be short. The right-hander got into Game 2 of the twin bill, allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts over 2.1 innings.
-
Grant Taylor RP | CHW
White Sox's Grant Taylor: Pitching as opener Sunday
Taylor will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Cubs, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Sean Burke had previously been scheduled to start Sunday's series finale, but the White Sox announced late Saturday that Taylor will open the contest. Taylor will be making his second start of the season, but he's not likely to pitch more than an inning or two, as he hasn't thrown more than three innings at any level in 2025. It's not yet clear if Burke was pulled from the start due to an injury or if he's simply going to pitch in bulk relief behind Taylor.
-
Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Mixed results in doubleheader
Clase (5-3) took a blown save and the loss by allowing three runs on a hit and two walks over one-third of an inning in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Royals. He then pitched a perfect inning to earn a save in the second game of the twin bill.
It's rare for a reliever to be called on to pitch twice in the same day, and even rarer for the second appearance to come after the type Clase had in the day game, when he threw just six of 15 pitches for strikes. He showed a strong ability to bounce back by locking down his 24th save in 29 chances with his outing in the nightcap. He has a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB through 47.1 innings over 48 appearances this. While Clase has failed to match his dominance from 2024, he remains firmly entrenched as the Guardians' closer and has mostly bounced back from an ugly start to the campaign.
-
Bryan Baker RP | TB
Rays' Bryan Baker: Dealing with calf issue
Baker departed Saturday's contest against the Reds due to a right calf injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays aren't sure at this point if Baker is dealing with a cramp or a strain. If it's the former, Baker could be back in action shortly, but he could be out for longer if he's dealing with a strain. He's set for further evaluation Sunday.
-
Manuel Rodriguez RP | TB
Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: TJ surgery not a certainty
Rodriguez will have right elbow surgery Aug. 8 to address a flexor tendon repair, and his UCL will be evaluated during the surgery to determine if any additional procedures are needed, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
An earlier report indicated Rodriguez will need Tommy John surgery, and while that remains a possibility, the full extent of the reliever's procedure won't be determined until the flexor tendon repair takes place. While Rodriguez is almost certain to miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign regardless, he could pitch in 2026 if Tommy John surgery is not needed. Assuming Rodriguez is indeed done for the current campaign, he'll finish with a 2.08 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB over 30.1 innings spanning 31 appearances while notching 12 holds.