MLB Player News
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Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Strikes out side in win
Hoffman (8-4) was credited with the win Friday in a 6-5 victory over the Rangers, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.
The Blue Jays rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take their first lead of the game, but the official scorer elected to give Hoffman the win instead of the save after he cruised through the top of the ninth on 11 pitches (nine strikes). After a brutal five-walk performance against the Dodgers on Aug. 10 that came after a week-long layoff, Hoffman has been absolutely dominant, recording eight of his last nine outs via strikeout and allowing only one hit in three scoreless frames.
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Chris Bassitt SP | BAL
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Can't find plate in no-decision
Bassitt didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 win over the Rangers, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out four.
The veteran righty got only 57 of his 100 pitches over the plate as he tied his season high in free passes and walked multiple batters for the third straight start. Bassitt's control and command have slipped since the All-Star break, and he's stumbled to a 5.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB in 25.1 innings over his last five outings while serving up eight homers, including a Kyle Higashioka blast in the second inning Friday. He'll look to tighten things up in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Pittsburgh.
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Marcus Semien 2B | NYM
Rangers' Marcus Semien: Swats 14th homer
Semien went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays.
Facing the club with which he produced a career-high 45 homers and 102 RBI back in 2021, Semien flashed his old Rogers Centre power by launching a Louis Varland slider over the left-center field wall in the eighth inning. The blast ended a 20-game homerless drought for the 34-year-old Semien, who won't come close to matching those numbers in 2025 -- over 122 contests, he's on pace for the lowest OPS of his career at .652, and he has just 14 homers and 59 RBI.
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Jacob deGrom SP | TEX
Rangers' Jacob deGrom: Blanks Jays in no-decision
DeGrom came away with a no-decision in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays, scattering two hits over five scoreless innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander didn't allow a runner to get past second base in a dominant effort, as he fired 59 of 84 pitches for strikes and left the mound with a 3-0 lead. It was a strong return to form for deGrom, who had been tagged for 13 runs in 17 innings over his prior three outings. He'll take a 2.76 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 148:30 K:BB through 140.1 innings on the season into his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week in Kansas City.
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Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Punches out four in first win
Gil (1-1) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals, giving up one run on four hits and three walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Friday was a mixed bag for Gil, who walked at least three for the second time in his first three starts but set season lows in runs and hits allowed. The hard-throwing right-hander has yet to reach six frames since returning from a lat strain, and he's still searching for a rhythm with a 5.14 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB across his first 14 innings. Gil will be looking to sharpen his control the next time he takes the mound, which is set to come at home versus the Red Sox.
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Pierson Ohl RP | COL
Twins' Pierson Ohl: Hit around by Tigers in third loss
Ohl dropped to 0-3 in Friday's 7-0 loss to the Tigers after striking out one batter while giving up seven runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks in 2.1 innings.
Making his third start in five appearances with the Twins, Ohl was deployed as more of an opener but was still hit around in the abbreviated appearance. The rookie right-hander established season worsts in both runs and hits allowed, though a fielding error by Luke Keaschall in the first inning prevented more damage from being done to his ERA. Ohl has a 7.90 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over his first 13.2 innings in the majors, and his current role as a swingman doesn't give him much of a clear path to fantasy viability.
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Jake Mangum LF | PIT
Rays' Jake Mangum: Posts steal in win
Mangum went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 7-6 win over the Giants.
Mangum has been mediocre so far in August, going 8-for-36 (.222) with three steals and three RBI over his last 12 games. The outfielder continues to see steady playing time versus right-handed pitchers, though the switch hitter isn't being strictly platooned while working all over the outfield. He's now at a .278/.316/.347 slash line with two home runs, 31 RBI, 29 runs scored and 18 steals through 84 contests on the season.
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Chandler Simpson LF | TB
Rays' Chandler Simpson: Racks up three more hits
Simpson went 3-for-5 with two RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 win over the Giants.
Simpson has hit safely in eight of nine games since returning from a finger injury, and he's racked up multiple hits in four of his last five contests. The speedy outfielder has gone just 2-for-4 on steal attempts, but getting caught a few times hasn't deterred him from being bold on the basepaths. Overall, he has 34 steals on 44 attempts while slashing .307/.342/.360 across 285 plate appearances. He's added 18 RBI, 36 runs scored, 10 doubles and two triples, but he has yet to hit a home run in the majors and will likely never be a source of power.
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Junior Caminero 3B | TB
Rays' Junior Caminero: Keeps rolling with homer
Caminero went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and a second run scored in Friday's 7-6 win over the Giants.
Caminero has pummeled the ball in August -- this was his eighth homer in 13 games this month. He's up to 35 long balls on the year, which ranks sixth in the majors. The third baseman is up to a .261/.301/.536 slash line with 85 RBI, 72 runs scored, 21 doubles and five stolen bases across 117 contests as he continues to enjoy a breakout campaign.
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Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Secures 21st save
Fairbanks allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Giants.
Fairbanks continues to be in control in August. He's tossed five scoreless innings this month, earning three saves while posting a 7:0 K:BB. The closer is up to 21 saves on the year and has maintained a 2.58 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 41:15 K:BB over 45.1 innings. That matches his heaviest workload in any season in the majors, but Fairbanks is showing no signs of slowing down.