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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Rays' Taj Bradley: Struggles resurface in no-decision
Bradley did not factor into the decision in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Dodgers, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits over six innings while striking out five.
Bradley cruised through the first three innings before Shohei Ohtani reached on a catcher's interference call to lead off the bottom of the fourth and was then driven in on a double from Mookie Betts. The right-hander would go on to surrender a two-run shot to Teoscar Hernandez two batters later, along with three more runs in the following frame as the Dodgers took a 6-5 lead. Bradley has now given up three or more runs in each of his last five starts, surrendering multiple homers three times over that stretch. On a positive note, Saturday marked the first outing in which Bradley didn't issue a walk since May 20 against the Red Sox (a span of 15 starts).
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Jacob Lopez SP | ATH
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Drawing start Sunday
The Rays will recall Lopez from Triple-A Durham to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
He'll be joining the big club as a replacement in the rotation for Shane Baz (illness), who was scratched a day in advance of his scheduled start Sunday while he battles the flu. The Rays haven't indicated yet that Baz's illness is serious enough to force him to the injured list, so Lopez could be headed back to Durham following Sunday's outing. Lopez previously made a start for the Rays in 2023, but all three of his appearances for Tampa Bay in 2024 have come out of the bullpen. He holds a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 84:33 K:BB across 70.2 innings over his 17 outings (15 starts) with Durham this season.
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Rob Refsnyder DH | SEA
Red Sox's Rob Refsnyder: Heading back to bench
Refsnyder is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Refsnyder went 2-for-12 with a solo home run and an additional run while starting each of the Red Sox's last three games -- all against right-handed pitchers -- but he'll head back to the bench Sunday while righty Merrill Kelly takes the hill for Arizona. Tyler O'Neill (finger) is returning from a two-game absence and will take back his usual spot in left field, so Refsnyder's opportunities to play against right-handed pitching could be more limited moving forward while O'Neill, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu form Boston's preferred outfield arrangement. Refsnyder should still be a regular part of the lineup versus left-handed pitching.
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Tyler O'Neill RF | BAL
Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill: Back in action Sunday
O'Neill (finger) will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
He had missed the first two games of the series versus the Diamondbacks due to left fourth finger inflammation, but O'Neill has shown enough improvement to take back a spot in the outfield in the finale. Rob Refsnyder will head back to the bench to reopen a spot in the lineup for O'Neill, who had gone hitless with seven strikeouts in 11 at-bats over his last three starts before missing time with the finger injury.
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Jake Rogers C | CHW
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Productive in win Saturday
Rogers went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's 13-4 win over the White Sox.
After getting Friday off, Rogers returned with a bang Saturday to help power the offense. The 29-year-old is splitting time behind the plate with rookie Dillon Dingler, who will likely get Sunday's matinee contest. Rogers has taken a step back from 2023, when he blasted 21 home runs and posted a .730 OPS. This season, Rogers has nine long balls and a .603 OPS through 78 games, and Dingler may see his role grow down the stretch if the Tigers fall out of contention and want to take a look at younger players.
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Marcus Semien 2B | NYM
Rangers' Marcus Semien: Drives in two
Semien went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 13-5 loss to the Guardians.
Semien led off the game with a single and scored to give Texas a brief lead early. He later drove in a run in the seventh and ninth innings. Semien is up to 63 RBI over 128 games and would need a very productive final month to match the 100 RBI he had in 2023.
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Justin Slaten RP | BOS
Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Might need another outing
Boston manager Alex Cora was non-committal Saturday when asked if one rehab outing would be enough for Slaten (elbow) before returning from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Slaten threw 17 pitches (eight strikes) for Double-A Portland on Friday, giving up a run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning. Cora said Slaten was fine in terms of health but noted that the right-hander was out of rhythm. The Red Sox will evaluate him this weekend and decide if Slaten needs another rehab outing prior to being activated.
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Liam Hendriks RP | CHC
Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Third rehab outing on tap
Hendriks (elbow) will make a third rehab appearance Sunday at Double-A Portland, MLB.com reports.
Hendriks opened his rehab assignment a week ago at Triple-A Worcester with an impressive 1-2-3 outing on 12 pitches (10 strikes) , then had less successful results four days later at Portland (one-third of an inning, one walk, one hit). The report estimates Hendriks could make between six to eight relief appearances while on assignment before being activated.
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Tyler O'Neill RF | BAL
Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill: Eyeing Sunday return
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that O'Neill (finger) could return to action Sunday against the Diamondbacks, MLB.com reports.
O'Neill, who was scratched ahead of Friday's 12-2 loss, went unused during Saturday's 4-1 loss. Cora said the power-hitting outfielder is feeling better and was able to do some hitting Saturday, leaving the Red Sox optimistic that the 29-year-old will return to action for the series finale.
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Keegan Akin RP | BAL
Orioles' Keegan Akin: Snags win Saturday
Akin (3-0) allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Astros.
This was Akin's first game back from the paternity list, and he was able to capture the win after Jackson Holliday put the Orioles ahead with a three-run double in the sixth inning. Akin had been a little shaky recently, allowing five runs over 9.1 innings across his previous six appearances before welcoming his child into the world. Overall, the southpaw has a 3.46 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 79:16 K:BB while adding four holds over 65 innings this year, excelling as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen for Baltimore.