MLB Player News

Contreras went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in an 8-1 victory versus the Angels on Saturday.

Contreras was handed a seven-game suspension Thursday for his role in a dust-up between Boston and Washington on Tuesday, but the veteran first baseman is able to continue playing during his appeal. That paid off big time for Boston, as Contreras clubbed a three-run homer in the first inning Saturday to give the team a lead they didn't relinquish. Contreras wasn't among the players announced for the AL All-Star team Saturday, but he's certainly put up worthy numbers in the first half. Through 85 games, he's slashing .285/.378/.536 with 19 home runs, 56 RBI, 44 runs and two stolen bases.

Aldegheri (3-4) took the loss against Boston on Saturday, allowing three runs on one hit and four walks while striking out two batters over four innings.

Aldegheri gave up all of his runs in the first inning, when he walked two of the first three batters he faced before Willson Contreras tagged him for a three-run homer. Following that blast, the lefty hurler allowed only three more baserunners (on two walks and an error) and no more runs, but the damage was enough to send him to the loss. The four walks were a season worst for Aldegheri, though he's issued three free passes on two occasions and has a poor 4.5 BB/9 on the campaign. Grayson Rodriguez (back) is nearing the end of his stint on the IL, and Aldegheri is a candidate to be removed from the rotation when Rodriguez returns.

Gray (10-1) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Gray gave up a solo homer to Josh Lowe in the second inning but otherwise kept the Angels off the scoreboard. The veteran righty needed just 70 pitches (48 strikes) to complete six frames and record his seventh straight quality start. Gray has been filthy during that stretch, posting a 1.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB across 45.2 innings. He was somewhat shockingly omitted from the announcement of All-Star teams Saturday, but that shouldn't lessen the impact of his performance so far on what has been a disappointing first half for Boston. Among qualified AL hurlers, Gray ranks second in ERA (2.61), 10th in WHIP (1.10) and first in wins (10).

Civale (5-6) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Marlins on Saturday.

Civale has now lost five straight starts, including all four since he returned from shoulder tendinitis. The right-hander has given up 16 runs (15 earned) over 16.2 innings since coming off the IL. On the year, he has a 5.10 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB through 72.1 innings over 15 starts. He's projected to make his next start on the road versus the White Sox.

Tolbert went 2-for-2 with a pair of stolen bases in Saturday's loss to the Phillies.

The Royals were mostly shut down by Philadelphia starter Jesus Luzardo, but Tolbert knocked two singles off the left-hander and stole a base after each hit. He was the only KC batter with multiple hits in the defeat. Tolbert hasn't gotten a lot of playing time of late -- his start Saturday was just his fourth over the Royals' past eight contests. While he's slashing a modest .243/.310/.243 with no extra-base hits on the season, he's made the most of his opportunities on the basepaths, stealing nine bags in 11 attempts.

Wacha (5-6) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Wacha kept the Phillies off the board for three frames before back-to-back homers by J.T. Realmuto and Gabriel Rincones in the fourth plated Philadelphia three runs. Wacha allowed one more run in the sixth on an Alec Bohm solo blast. The veteran hurler had previously gone three straight outings without allowing a long ball and hadn't yielded more than two home runs in an outing this season, and he's posted a HR/9 of less than 1.0 each of the past two campaigns, so his inability to keep the ball in the park Saturday is likely more of an aberration than a concerning development. Wacha will look to bounce back in his next start, which is lined up to be a matchup versus the Mets in New York.

Rodriguez (back) allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks while striking out five across 5.1 innings during his rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Rodriguez looked strong in his second rehab start, tossing 56 strikes on 78 pitches while inducing five groundouts. The 26-year-old southpaw looks to be just about fully stretched out and could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list to make his next start with the Angels. Ryan Johnson and Sam Aldegheri are the likeliest candidates to get moved out of the rotation once Rodriguez returns.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI in Saturday's 10-8 win over the Rays.

Alvarez bookended Saturday's game in dramatic fashion, first launching a first-inning solo shot and later blasting a walk-off, two-run jack in the ninth. The All-Star slugger now has a trio of three-hit games in his past four outings and four multi-homer efforts on the year. Through 388 plate appearances, Alvarez is slashing a robust .324/.433/.645 with 29 long balls, 16 doubles and 67 RBI.

Rasmussen took a no-decision Saturday against the Astros, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out two.

Rasmussen was never quite able to fully settle in following a two-run first inning, later giving up three more runs across the fourth and fifth frames. Not only did the two punchouts match a season low, but the 30-year-old right-hander coughed up more runs Saturday alone than he did in his previous five starts combined, surrendering just three during that stretch. Rasmussen will look to bounce back against the Yankees in his next scheduled start, still holding a strong 2.78 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 96:17 K:BB over 97 innings.

Brown took a no-decision Saturday against the Rays, allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out three.

The Tampa Bay bats took it to Brown early and often Saturday, tagging the hurler for at least one run in each of the first four innings. It was perhaps the worst outing of 2026 for the 27-year-old right-hander, who surrendered season highs in both runs and hits while fanning a season-low three. Brown will try to get back on track his next time out in Texas, where he'll take a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB over 29.1 innings.