MLB Player News

Lukes went 3-for-6 with a two-run homer during the Blue Jays' 7-5 extra-innings win over the Phillies on Saturday.

Lukes was responsible for the Blue Jays' game-winning runs in the 11th inning, with his fly ball to center field clearing the wall for a two-run homer. It was just the sixth long ball of the season for the 31-year-old outfielder, with his last homer coming July 12 against the Padres. Lukes has a .697 OPS with one steal, 21 RBI and 17 extra-base hits over 298 plate appearances this season.

Lugo (5-7) earned the win against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Lugo was pretty effective against a formidable Cubs lineup, tossing 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes while hanging on for a quality start after giving up his third run of the game in the sixth inning. Saturday's outing marked the 36-year-old right-hander's fourth quality start in his past five outings as well. Lugo will carry a pedestrian 4.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 104:46 K:BB over 134.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Angels in Anaheim.

Scherzer did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four across 5.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.

Scherzer turned back the clock in Philadelphia, keeping the Phillies off the board for the first five innings. His punchout of Kyle Schwarber in the sixth was his fourth of the game, and it moved Scherzer up to 10th on the all-time leaderboard with 3,516 career strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson. Unfortunately for Scherzer, the good times were short-lived after he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, leading to the right-hander being pulled. In what is likely Scherzer's last season, he needs 18 more strikeouts to match Gaylord Perry for ninth on the all-time Ks leaderboard. Scherzer's next start is scheduled for next week at the Rogers Centre against the Yankees.

Guerrero (hamstring) returned to action Saturday evening against the Phillies and homered in his first at-bat against Aaron Nola.

Guerrero has been nursing hamstring and back issues in the midst of a terribly disappointing season. The homer Saturday night was his seventh of the season -- all on the road. With two hits in his first four plate appearances Saturday night, his slugging percentage remains paltry at .359.

Williams is in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup with Seattle.

Williams will make his first appearance with the big-league club since May 27 after being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Friday. With Taylor Walls (back) scratched from Saturday's lineup, Williams will take over at shortstop and bat ninth for Tampa Bay. In 33 plate appearances with the Rays, the 23-year-old has batted .100/.156/.133 with three RBI this season.

Tampa Bay scratched Walls from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners due to lower-back tightness, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Walls was penciled in for a fifth consecutive start at shortstop but will instead hit the bench due to the back issue. Carson Williams will replace Walls at shortstop and bat ninth for Tampa Bay.

Urena (7-8) took the loss Saturday, coughing up four runs on four hits and three walks over 2.1 innings as the Angels were routed 7-0 by the Marlins. He struck out two.

The rookie right-hander faced the minimum six batters through the first two innings, but the wheels came off in the third, and Urena got the hook after just 50 pitches (30 strikes) in his shortest appearance since moving into the rotation in mid-April. The rough outing ended a streak of three straight quality starts for Urena, and he allowed just three earned runs total over his last five outings. He'll take a 2.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 97:55 K:BB through 101.2 innings into his next start, which is set to come at home next week against the Rangers.

Bennett (7-5) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were downed 7-3 by the A's. He struck out five.

After an impressive beginning to his career, big-league hitters may have figured Bennett out. The left-hander has been tagged for at least three runs in four straight outings, stumbling to a 5.09 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 23 innings. He has worked at least five frames in all 13 of his starts for Boston, however, and with the team's pitching depth depleted by trades and injuries, his spot in the rotation seems secure even if his performance continues to regress. Bennett lines up to make his next start on the road next weekend in Pittsburgh.

Tampa Bay announced that Legumina will open Saturday's matchup with the Mariners, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

With original starter Griffin Jax (elbow) sidelined as a late scratch, the Rays will turn to Legumina as the opener for Saturday's affair. Legumina, who was a Mariner earlier this season before being dealt to Tampa Bay, will make his second appearance against his former team this year. This will be the 29-year-old's fifth start of the campaign. Through 48.1 innings this season, the right-hander owns a 4.28 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB in 38 appearances.

Tampa Bay scratched Jax from his scheduled start against the Mariners on Saturday due to right elbow discomfort, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv.

The Rays will resort to a bullpen game after scratching Jax from the second game of a three-game set with the Mariners due to discomfort in his right elbow. Tampa Bay named Casey Legumina its opener for Saturday's affair. Jax owns a 6-9 record with a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 100:30 K:BB in 91.2 innings this season.