MLB Player News

Blanco (6-2) got the win over the Giants on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out eight over six innings.

Blanco matched his season high with eight strikeouts. His lone blemish on the night was allowing a solo home run to Brett Wisely in the third inning. It was an encouraging bounceback effort from the 30-year-old after allowing eight runs and combining to strike out eight over his prior two starts coming into Tuesday's game. Blanco now owns a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 67:28 K:BB in 70.2 innings and lines up for an enticing matchup against the White Sox early next week.

Devenski (2-1) didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win Tuesday against the Cubs.

Devenski entered the game with the Rays down 2-1 and retired the side on 14 pitches. He then managed to earn the win after Brandon Lowe delivered a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom half of the frame. Devenski has pitched very well since returning from the injured list May 25, maintaining a 2.25 ERA with a 0.88 WHIP and an 8:4 K:BB across eight innings.

Kwan went 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.

The 26-year-old outfielder just keeps raking. Kwan has hit safely in seven straight games since returning from a hamstring injury at the end of May, batting a blistering .520 (13-for-25) over that stretch, and the only thing keeping him from leading the majors with his .380 batting average is the time he missed due to the injury, as he doesn't yet have enough plate appearances to qualify. Kwan's 3-for-7 performance on the basepaths is a bit troubling, but with four homers and 38 runs through 39 contests, he's on pace for career highs in both categories.

Lowe started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 15-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Lowe, who had been held out of the starting lineup against the previous three left-handed starters the Rangers faced, was in the starting nine against lefty James Paxton. In those previous three games, Ezequiel Duran started at first base, but he was used at shortstop while Josh Smith was given a break and Corey Seager (hamstring) was unavailable. It's unclear if Lowe's start Tuesday signals that he's back in against lefties, or if it was a special case to give Smith a rest day.

Clase gave up a run on two hits and struck out two in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his 20th save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Reds.

He made things interesting with two outs in the ninth, allowing an RBI single to Jonathan India and then plunking Blake Dunn to bring the winning run to the plate, but Clase got TJ Friedl to line out to Brayan Rocchio to end the threat. The right-hander has converted seven straight save chances, putting him one ahead of the Yankees' Clay Holmes for the AL lead in the category, and despite getting tagged for runs in each of his last two appearances, Clase sports a dazzling 0.84 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 34:3 K:BB through 32.1 innings on the season.

McKenzie (3-3) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in a 5-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out four.

The right-hander got a quick hook after 75 pitches (43 strikes) with the Guardians ahead 3-2, but the bullpen and offense were able to secure McKenzie's first win since April 19. He's failed to complete six innings in any of his last four trips to the mound, but on the bright side, he kept the ball in the yard Tuesday after serving up eight homers over his three prior outings. McKenzie will take a 4.10 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 65:38 K:BB through 68 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Mariners.

Duran started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 15-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Duran started in place of the injured Corey Seager (hamstring), who missed a fourth consecutive game. Josh Smith has served as the primary fill-in when Seager's been unavailable this season, but Smith was given a break Tuesday. Duran produced a run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning then popped his second home run of the season in the seventh. He has a modest seven-game hit streak (8-for-25, seven RBI) and hit safely in 14 of the previous 16 games. The Rangers maintain that Seager's injury is not serious and are not considering a stint on the IL.

Crawford (2-6) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk over six innings as the Red Sox fell 4-1 to the Phillies. He struck out eight.

The right-hander got very little support from his offense or defense, but the difference in the game was the two solo shots Crawford served up to Kyle Schwarber. The quality start was Crawford's sixth of the season, but his first in over a month, while the eight Ks were a season high. Since beating the Giants on May 1, he's gone 0-5 in seven starts with a 5.40 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB in 40 innings. Crawford will try to get back in the win column in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Yankees.

Garcia went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Yankees.

Garcia has three steals over his last seven games, but he's gone just 5-for-32 (.156) in that span. He surged at the plate over the second half of May, but it appears he's leveled off again. The third baseman is slashing .251/.299/.373 with 16 steals, five home runs, 36 RBI and 43 runs scored over 66 contests out of the leadoff spot for the Royals.

Fermin hit a solo home run in Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Yankees.

Fermin's blast in the eighth inning was the lone bright spot for the Royals in the blowout loss. The catcher has hit safely in his last seven games, going 7-for-20 (.350) with four RBI in that span. He doesn't see a lot of playing time, but with Salvador Perez getting more games at designated hitter or first base, there's been room for Fermin to play more often, especially versus southpaws. For the season, Fermin is slashing .300/.347/.409 with two homers, 13 RBI, 17 runs scored and six doubles over 118 plate appearances.