MLB Player News

Smith didn't factor into the decision during Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Mets, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks with five strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

Smith failed to complete four innings for the first time this season, getting yanked after 86 pitches. All the damage against him came in the third, when he surrendered a three-run home run to Mark Vientos. Smith's lack of depth can be attributed to his shaky control, as he threw just 48 strikes and walked a season-high five batters. In his last three starts, Smith has allowed 12 runs (seven earned) with a 16:8 K:BB over 13.2 innings.

Tauchman went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-RBI double and a run scored during Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Mets.

Tauchman didn't have a double this season before Wednesday's contest, and the outing marked his second straight multi-hit game. Since being activated from the injured list May 23, the veteran outfielder has gone 6-for-21 (.286) with four RBI and seven runs scored.

Benintendi went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a two-RBI single, an RBI triple and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Mets.

Benintendi notched his first three-hit performance in 25 games and notched a season-high four RBI in the victory. The 30-year-old also logged his first triple since the 2023 campaign. In his last five games, Benintendi is 6-for-20 (.300) with seven RBI and three runs scored.

Povich (1-4) took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Povich opened with three scoreless frames before allowing five runs across the fourth and fifth innings. The southpaw matched a season high with nine strikeouts but struggled with his command, throwing just 56 of 96 pitches for strikes and allowing nine hard-hit balls. He'll carry a 5.29 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB across 51 innings into a road matchup with the Mariners next week.

Erceg was unavailable for Wednesday's game against the Reds due to an illness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Erceg's illness helps explain why he hasn't pitched since Saturday, especially since the Royals led by only two runs entering the eighth inning of Wednesday's contest but turned to John Schreiber rather than Erceg. The 30-year-old righty will have an extra day to recover during Kansas City's day off Thursday and could be back in action for the start of the weekend series against Detroit.

Cameron (2-1) tallied the win Wednesday against the Reds after allowing one run on six hits and two walks in 6.1 innings. He struck out two.

It was notably Cameron's fourth straight start to begin his major-league career in which he fired at least six innings while yielding one run or fewer. Although the rookie left-hander conceded a season-worst six hits and fanned a season-low two, none of his six knocks went for extra bases. Cameron will take an outstanding 1.05 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB across 25.2 frames into his next scheduled outing against the Cardinals, who have an unimposing .690 OPS versus left-handed pitching in the month of May.

Cruz (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Cruz said afterward that his mound session went well, and he's expected to begin facing live hitters Saturday. Assuming he doesn't experience any setbacks over the next several days, he seems to be on track to return when eligible Tuesday.

Rafaela went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

The 24-year-old opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when he lofted a Freddy Peralta fastball just over the fence in left-center field. Rafaela ended a 26-game homer drought with the blast, his third of the year, while the three hits tied his season high. Through 25 contests in May, he's hitting .253 (21-for-83) with five RBI and 19 runs while routinely batting at the bottom of the Boston order.

Bello came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Brewers, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

It was another abbreviated outing for Bello, who got the hook after 77 pitches (46 strikes). The right-hander has gone five straight starts without being able to complete the fifth inning, posting a 4.84 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 17:15 K:BB over 22.1 innings during that stretch, and his inability to provide any length or last long enough to quality for a win is making him increasingly difficult to roster even in deep fantasy formats. Bello will try to find some efficiency in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Angels.

Kahnle struck out two in two perfect innings Wednesday to record his seventh save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Giants.

With Will Vest having picked up saves in the first two games of the series Monday and Tuesday, Kahnle was brought in to bail out John Brebbia with runners on second and third and nobody out in the eighth inning. After escaping that jam, Kahnle stayed on the mound and dispatched San Francisco's 2-3-4 hitters in the ninth to earn his second save in May. Vest appears to be the preferred closing option for Detroit right now, but Kahnle remains in the ninth-inning mix thanks to a 1.52 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB through 23.2 innings.