MLB Player News
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Shane Bieber: Falls short of quality start
Bieber came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Astros, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander served up a two-run shot to Carlos Correa in the first inning and dealt with traffic on the basepaths in every inning he worked, but Bieber kept Toronto in the game until finally exiting after 94 pitches (53 strikes) with two on and two out in the sixth after allowing an RBI double to Yainer Diaz. Since his dazzling Blue Jays debut Aug. 22 in Miami, Bieber has had a little trouble with his command within the strike zone, posting a 16:3 K:BB over three starts and 17 innings but also a 5.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He'll look to tighten things up in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Orioles.
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Michael Helman CF | TEX
Rangers' Michael Helman: Goes yard again
Helman went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Brewers.
Helman launched a grand slam in Monday's series opener and followed it up with another homer Tuesday night. His fifth-inning homer off Chad Patrick tied the contest. In the six games leading up to his pair of homers, Helman went 2-for-18 (.111). He has five long balls this season.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Collects late hit
Witt went 1-for-4 in his return to the lineup Tuesday against the Guardians.
The Royals managed just five hits in the game as they were blanked by the Guardians. Witt's base knock came in the ninth to put runners on the corners, but his team was unable to capitalize. Now that he's feeling better, Witt should be back to being a lineup fixture, especially with the Royals still clawing at a wild-card spot.
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Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Labors against MIL
Leiter didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts across 4.2 innings.
Leiter's seven hits allowed were his most in 12 starts, and his four Ks were his second fewest during that stretch. Tuesday's outing snapped a streak of three consecutive quality starts. The 25-year-old has a 3.81 ERA and 130:64 K:BB across 132.1 innings this season. He's on track to face the Astros his next time out.
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Bryan Abreu RP | HOU
Astros' Bryan Abreu: Blows save Tuesday
Abreu gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning Tuesday, getting charged with his fifth blown save of the season in a 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out two.
Called in to protect a 3-1 lead, Abreu loaded the bases on two walks and a single before serving up a two-run single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa with one out. It was the right-hander's first blown save in five chances since taking over the closer mantle from Josh Hader (shoulder) in early August, but it may only have been a matter of time before Abreu faltered -- he's been tagged for multiple runs in three of his last four appearances, bumping up his ERA on the season from 1.47 to 2.49.
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Cade Smith RP | CLE
Guardians' Cade Smith: Picks up 12th save
Smith secured his 12th save of the season with a scoreless inning Tuesday, allowing one hit while striking out two in a 2-0 win over the Royals.
Smith was summoned after Joey Cantillo began the inning by allowing a leadoff base hit. A Bobby Witt single put runners on the corners with one out before Smith fired back with consecutive strikeouts to end the game. He's converted his last five saves and now has multiple strikeouts in each of his last three appearances. Smith's had another productive campaign, posting a 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB in 64.2 innings.
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Cody Bellinger LF | NYY
Yankees' Cody Bellinger: Closing in on 30 homers
Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 12-2 loss to the Tigers.
The 30-year-old slugger took Casey Mize deep in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a brief 2-0 lead before the wheels began to come off. Bellinger is up to 28 long balls on the season as he marches toward his first 30-homer campaign since 2019, and over his last 20 games he's slashing .333/.398/.615 with six home runs, 14 runs and 17 RBI.
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Joey Cantillo RP | CLE
Guardians' Joey Cantillo: Pitches into ninth inning
Cantillo (5-3) got the win over the Royals on Tuesday after tossing eight scoreless frames while allowing just four hits and no walks. He struck out five.
Cantillo was phenomenal in what was just his third start of at least six innings pitched in his young career, and the second such start in his last two outings. Cantillo came back out for the ninth but was pulled after 92 pitches following a leadoff single by Kyle Isbel. Cantillo's velocity was notably up across the board, and he didn't issue a walk for the first time in his last seven appearances. Over his last four major-league starts, Cantillo owns a 1.09 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. He lines up for a road start against the Tigers next week.
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Aaron Judge RF | NYY
Yankees' Aaron Judge: Belts 44th homer
Judge went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 12-2 loss to the Tigers.
The perennial MVP candidate got the Yankees on the board in the first inning by taking Casey Mize deep. It was Judge's 44th long ball of the season, and he sits two RBI short of his fourth career campaign with 100 or more. It took Judge a little while to find his form after returning from an elbow strain in early August, but over his last 12 games he's slashing .317/.491/.634 with four homers, three steals, five RBI and 13 runs.
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Will Warren SP | NYY
Yankees' Will Warren: Quality start wasted Tuesday
Warren came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 12-2 loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander made only one real mistake over 91 pitches (59 strikes), which resulted in a two-run homer by Parker Meadows in the fifth inning, and Warren left the mound with the score tied 2-2 before the Yankees' bullpen melted down in the seventh. It was his first quality start since Aug. 11 and his sixth of the season, and Warren continues to supply New York with reliable outings, posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB over 36.1 innings since the beginning of August. He lines up to make his next start in a crucial AL East road matchup this weekend against the Red Sox.