MLB Player News
-
Chris Paddack SP | CIN
Tigers' Chris Paddack: Can't get through fourth inning
Paddack took a no-decision Friday against the Royals, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks in 3.2 innings. He failed to record a strikeout.
Paddack was pulled after tossing just 58 pitches, his second-fewest total of the season, and it was his shortest outing since way back on March 31 against the White Sox. Although it was also the second time this year that the 29-year-old right-hander registered zero punchouts, he at least managed to settle down after Kansas City tagged him for three runs in the first frame. Paddack has an underwhelming 5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 30 innings since joining the Tigers, and his streaming appeal will be limited with a tough matchup against the Mets on tap for next week.
-
Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Drives in four in loss
Mountcastle went 3-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI and one run scored in Friday's 15-8 loss to the Giants.
Mountcastle had Robbie Ray's number, delivering all three hits over the first five innings of the game. Since returning from a Grade 2 hamstring injury, Mountcastle has gone 21-for-73 (.288) with five extra-base hits and 12 RBI over 19 contests. The first baseman has reclaimed a starting role in the lineup and is up to a .258/.294/.365 slash line with four homers, 16 doubles, 27 RBI, 26 runs scored and three stolen bases over 71 games this season.
-
Jackson Holliday 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jackson Holliday: Records 13th steal
Holliday went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 15-8 loss to the Giants.
Holliday has posted consecutive multi-hit efforts after going eight games without one. The infielder is batting a paltry .173 (17-for-98) over 25 contests in August, adding just four extra-base hits, six RBI and three steals. For the season, he's posted a lackluster .244/.306/.378 slash line with 15 homers, 13 steals, 49 RBI, 60 runs scored, 18 doubles and two triples across 126 contests. Baltimore continues to put him in a position to succeed as the leadoff hitter, but he's still looking for long-term consistency.
-
Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Lifts homer in loss
Mayo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 15-8 loss to the Giants.
Since his homer Aug. 15 versus the Astros, Mayo had gone just 4-for-39 (.103) with a 3:16 BB:K over 10 contests. The infielder was able to snap his power drought Friday, but he hasn't posted a multi-hit effort since Aug. 6 versus the Phillies. Mayo is up to six homers, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, one stolen base and a .189/.268/.335 slash line over 60 contests this season. While his playing time has been steady this month, the lack of reliable production makes the 23-year-old tough to roster in redraft formats.
-
Dean Kremer SP | BAL
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Hammered in loss
Kremer (9-10) allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out one over three innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Friday.
Kremer had a terrible first inning for the second outing in a row, as the Giants were able to get to him for four runs in the opening frame. He wasn't able to settle in, giving up two more runs in the second and another run in the third before his exit. Kremer showed promise with a pair of strong starts in mid-August, but he's allowed 14 runs (13 earned) in eight innings over his last two starts to wash out that progress. For the season, he has a 4.52 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 128:40 K:BB through 155.1 innings over 27 appearances (26 starts). Kremer is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Dodgers as the Orioles move to a six-man rotation with the return of Tyler Wells (elbow).
-
Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Another three-hit effort
Jung went 3-for-4 with one run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Athletics.
Jung has hit safely in six straight games, and four of those have been multi-hit efforts. He's starting to turn things around after struggling for most of August -- even with the recent surge, he's batting a modest .268 (19-for-71) over 22 contests this month. On the season, he's at a .253/.299/.387 slash line with 12 home runs, 49 RBI, 40 runs scored and four stolen bases through 105 games.
-
Michael Helman SS | TEX
Rangers' Michael Helman: Lifts third homer
Helman went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 5-2 win over the Athletics.
Helman has gone 4-for-13 with two homers and four RBI over five games since he was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. He appears to be handling a short-side platoon role in center field, though he also offers extra insurance as a reserve infielder and bench bat. This year, he's batting .250 with three homers, eight RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base over 28 plate appearances in the majors.
-
Jonah Heim C | ATH
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Goes yard in win
Heim went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a second RBI and a walk in Friday's 5-2 win over the Athletics.
Heim opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and added his solo shot in the fifth to put the Rangers ahead for good. The homer was his first since July 25. Heim has been a little steadier at the plate lately, going 10-for-28 (.357) with five RBI over his last nine games. Kyle Higashioka has done enough to maintain the starting role behind the dish, and Heim's other path to playing time at designated hitter is only open as a short-side platoon spot, as Joc Pederson has also swung a hot bat lately. For the season, Heim is batting .222 with a .620 OPS, 10 homers, 40 RBI, 30 runs scored, 13 doubles and three stolen bases over 372 plate appearances.
-
Shawn Armstrong RP | CLE
Rangers' Shawn Armstrong: Secures five-out save
Armstrong walked one over 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the save in Friday's 5-2 win over the Athletics.
Armstrong's steady pitching in August looks to have vaulted him to the top of the Rangers' closing hierarchy. He's earned the team's last two saves, though chances haven't been plentiful in recent weeks. Phil Maton has blown three saves in his last five appearances, which has opened the door for Armstrong to get more closing opportunities. After Friday's outing, Armstrong is on an 11.2-inning scoreless streak with a 13:3 K:BB in that span. He's at a 2.43 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB through 59.1 innings this season while adding five saves, 10 holds and three blown saves.
-
Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Delivers quality start in win
Leiter (9-7) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.
Leiter had some struggles with short starts earlier in August, but he closed out the month with a pair of wins, both of which were quality starts. He's also racked up at least seven strikeouts in five of his last eight outings. For the season, the right-hander is now at a 3.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 118:59 K:BB through 121.2 innings over 24 starts. The 25-year-old is projected to make his next start at Arizona.