MLB Player News

Valencia went 4-for-5 with two home runs, an additional run scored and four total RBI in Tuesday's 14-0 win over the Orioles.

Valencia was just recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Monday, and in his first game action since then, he made quite the impression. The rookie homered in his first MLB at-bat back on July 9, and he now has four long balls in only seven games in the majors. Valencia is unlikely to keep up this torrid pace, though he has hit 17 homers in 81 games with the Mud Hens, so the 26-year-old has some definite pop in his bat. With Jake Rogers having been DFA'd on Tuesday, the Tigers seem set to ride with Valencia as the backup to Dillon Dingler for the rest of the season.

Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Reds.

The star third baseman produced a run nearly single-handedly in the fifth inning of an eventual 6-5 win for Cleveland, reaching on a one-out single, swiping second and third off the battery of Chase Burns and Tyler Stephenson, and then coming home on a Chase DeLauter sacrifice fly. Ramirez, who stole his first bags since returning from a hand injury July 22, is up to 26 steals on the season in just 78 games. After an 0-for-4 showing in the nightcap, he carries a .235/.332/.399 slash line with 10 homers, 35 RBI and 45 runs.

Pasquantino was removed from Tuesday's game against the Twins with right hand soreness.

Pasquantino's hand forced him out of Tuesday's contest in the ninth inning after he'd gone 0-for-3 with a strikeout. If his injury causes him to sit out additional games, Jac Caglianone would likely take over as Kansas City's first baseman while Tyler Tolbert mans right field.

Williams (10-6) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Reds, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out 12.

The right-hander has struck out double-digit batters in four straight outings, with Tuesday's dozen establishing a new season high, but Williams' offense gave him no help in a 2-0 loss. During that dominant four-start stretch, Williams has delivered a stunning 45:2 K:BB over 27 innings with a 3.00 ERA and 0.63 WHIP, but he somehow has just a 1-2 record to show for it.

Seymour will pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Casey Legumina during Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

In his last turn through the rotation Thursday in Toronto, Seymour gave up just two earned runs in six innings out of the bullpen while working behind Legumina. The Rays will stick with the pairing again Wednesday, which should aid Seymour's chances of coming away with a win than if he were being used as a traditional starter.

Smith recorded his 30th save of the season in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Reds, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

The right-hander wasn't at his sharpest, needing 18 pitches (nine strikes) to preserve a 6-5 lead, but Smith was able to get the job done. He continues to lead the majors in saves, with his 30 putting him two ahead of the Rays' Bryan Baker, and through 10.2 innings in July, Smith sports a 0.84 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB.

Caminero went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and a double in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Texas.

Caminero drove in the only Rays run of the night with an RBI triple that scored Yandy Diaz in the sixth. The 23-year-old also notched his 18th double of the campaign in the fourth inning. The powerful third baseman is in the midst of a homer drought with no long balls over his past 10 games, though he's batting .317 with four doubles and Tuesday's triple during that stretch. On the season, Caminero is now slashing .285/.373/.550 with 29 home runs and 64 RBI in 464 plate appearances.

Legumina will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher in Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Legumina gave up one run on two hits and two walks over two innings during his previous outing as an opener last Thursday in Toronto. He'll presumably cover the first inning or two of Wednesday's contest before Ian Seymour takes over in bulk relief.

Cecconi didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Reds, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

The Guardians staked Cecconi to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the right-hander fell apart in the fourth, allowing back-to-back doubles to Nathaniel Lowe and Tyler Stephenson to lead off the frame before getting the hook after 84 pitches (52 strikes). Cecconi has failed to complete five innings in three straight outings, stumbling to a 7.50 ERA during that stretch while serving up three long balls in 12 innings. He'll try to rally in his next start, which is currently lined up to come at home this weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Festa (shoulder) will undergo a season-ending double surgery Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Festa will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right shoulder to address his impingement, and he will also receive a second operation on his pectoral muscle to address neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms. The two surgeries will ensure that he misses the remainder of the season, though it's unclear whether his absence will extend into the 2027 campaign.