MLB Player News

Leiter (4-6) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Padres.

It wasn't an outright bad performance, but Leiter's pitch count got up early, and he was pulled at 85 pitches (54 strikes) after running into trouble in the fourth inning. He's fallen short of the five-inning mark in three of his last five starts while allowing 16 runs with a 21:10 K:BB over 23.1 innings in that span. Overall, Leiter has a 4.32 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 63:34 K:BB across 75 innings through 15 starts this season. The 25-year-old is projected to make his next start in Houston.

Smith (3-7) yielded five runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against Colorado.

Smith served up a leadoff shot to Mickey Moniak in the first inning and allowed another run in the second. Smith then worked through a pair of quick frames before the Rockies plated four more runs in the fifth inning, with three being charged against the right-handed rookie. He posted a 2.37 ERA through his first 13 starts of the year but now owns a 4.20 ERA across 83.2 frames. Smith has been tagged with 22 runs (21 earned) in just 15.1 innings over his last four appearances, leading to four consecutive losses. He'll look to snap the streak in his next outing, which is projected to be at home against the Guardians.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Sunday that Sanchez has been diagnosed with a moderate PCL sprain in his right knee, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mansolino didn't offer up a timeline for Sanchez's return from the 10-day injured list, but given that his knee sprain isn't viewed as mild, the 33-year-old backstop seems unlikely to be ready to play when he's first eligible for activation at the start of the second half. Sanchez became the fourth Orioles catcher to hit the IL, joining Adley Rutschman (oblique), Maverick Handley (concussion) and Chadwick Tromp (back). None of the injured backstops have resumed baseball activities, so Jacob Stallings and the newly acquired Alex Jackson appear poised to serve as Baltimore's catching tandem though at least the All-Star break.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said prior to Sunday's 7-2 win over the Guardians that Enns will make his next appearance out of the bullpen, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Enns limited the Athletics to one hit over five shutout innings in his first start with the Tigers on June 26, but he ended up losing his spot in the rotation after he was blown up for eight runs (seven earned) over four innings in his second start Thursday in Washington. Hinch has yet to announce a replacement in the rotation for Enns, but Keider Montero is expected to be called up from Triple-A Toledo on Monday and will either start or serve as a bulk reliever in Detroit's series opener versus the Rays, per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Enns will be available in relief Monday, but the Tigers aren't heading into the game with the plan of having him cover multiple innings.

Rasmussen took a no-decision in his start during Sunday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Twins, striking out two while allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks over two innings.

Though the Rays didn't make a formal announcement regarding their plans for Rasmussen heading into the day, the right-hander ended up serving as a glorified opener in his shortest start of the season in terms of both innings and pitches (32). Tampa Bay called up Joe Boyle from Triple-A Durham ahead of Sunday's contest and used him in bulk relief behind Rasmussen, with the righty giving up one unearned run over five innings. The Rays' exact plans for Rasmussen moving forward aren't known, but because he's already accrued 89.1 innings on the season and is only two years removed from the third major right elbow surgery of his career, it wouldn't be surprising if Boyle piggybacks Rasmussen in his next turn through the rotation next weekend in Boston. With a 7-2 record, 2.82 ERA and 1.01 WHIP through 18 outings, Rasmussen has thus far been a screaming value for his draft-day investors, but if 2-to-4-inning starts become the norm for him, he would lose a significant amount of fantasy appeal.

Buxton went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Rays.

Buxton led off the game with a 414-foot blast for his 20th home run of the year. It's the second time he's reached the 20-homer mark in his MLB career and first since 2022. The veteran outfielder later singled and swiped second base in the third inning before scoring a run in the 10th. Buxton owns a .270/.334/.544 slash line with 34 extra-base hits and 16 steals through 314 plate appearances.

Bichette went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Angels.

Bichette's solo home run in the fourth inning marked his 100th hit of the season, and he later came around to score the game-winning run in the sixth. The shortstop has now hit safely in three straight starts since returning from a sore right knee and has logged at least one hit in 11 of his past 13 contests. For the season, he's slashing .270/.310/.427 with 12 homers, 51 RBI, 41 runs scored and four steals across 394 plate appearances.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's extra-inning win over Minnesota.

Diaz started the day 0-for-3 before singling and scoring a run in the eighth inning. He then ripped an RBI double and scored again in the 10th. After six straight games with multiple hits in late June, Diaz has produced four multi-hit performances over his last 11 appearances. The veteran slugger is now slashing .289/.345/.472 with 33 extra-base hits and 52 RBI through 84 games.

Boyle struck out seven and allowed one unearned run on two hits and one walk over five innings of relief in Sunday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Twins.

Called up earlier in the day after delivering a 1.73 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 96:31 K:BB in 73 innings with Triple-A Durham on the season, Boyle wasn't immediately inserted into the Tampa Bay rotation. Instead, manager Kevin Cash essentially deployed Boyle as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen behind right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who was limited to two innings as an opener. Considering Rasmussen underwent an internal brace procedure -- the third major elbow surgery of his career -- in July 2023 and is already up to 89.1 innings on the season, the Rays could look to manage his workload in the short term by deploying him in tandem with Boyle. Even though Boyle's role is somewhat in flux at the moment, the dominance he's displayed in the minors and in his two appearances (one start) in the big leagues (0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 14 strikeouts in 10 innings) makes him worthy of picking up in most leagues where he's available.

Ryan did not factor in the decision during Sunday's extra-inning loss to Tampa Bay. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings while striking out eight.

Ryan punched out the side in the first inning and retired the first six batters he faced before Taylor Walls popped a solo shot to begin the third. The Rays scored another run on a Jonathan Aranda single in the fourth. Ryan forced 21 whiffs Sunday, his second-most of the season, with 12 coming on the fastball. He's given up three or fewer runs in 12 of his last 13 outings, posting a terrific 2.33 ERA and 88:18 K:BB during that stretch. His season ERA sits at 2.76 alongside a 116:21 K:BB across 104.1 frames. Ryan is in line to face the Pirates at home next weekend.