MLB Player News

  • Royals' Michael Wacha: Tough-luck loss in Colorado

    Wacha (5-8) took the loss against the Rockies on Friday, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven across six innings.

    The only earned run Wacha gave up was on an RBI single in the first inning, with the other two runs in the fourth being credited as unearned due to a throwing error by Michael Massey. Wacha kept Colorado in check for most of Friday's outing but still got hit with the loss as his Kansas City teammates mustered only one run. Even so, the veteran right-hander has logged quality starts in each of his three outings since the All-Star break and is up to 15 QS on the season, tied for second most in the majors behind Sandy Alcantara (16). Wacha will take a 3.51 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 138.1 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next week at home against the Twins.

  • Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Lashes double in return

    Guerrero went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's win over the Cardinals.

    With the Blue Jays down 1-0, Guerrero led off the sixth inning with a line-drive rocket off the wall in left-center field that left his bat at 112.4 mph. The 27-year-old slugger sat out Wednesday's game due to a sore hamstring, but after Thursday's off day he appears to be fully recovered. It's been a tough campaign for Guerrero, who is stuck in a 14-game homer drought and has just six long balls on the year, but Friday's hard contact offers some hope he might be able to close out the season on a high note.

  • Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR

    Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Pockets sixth win

    Hoffman (6-7) picked up the win Friday over the Cardinals, striking out two in a perfect eighth inning.

    Trade rumors continue to swirl around the right-hander, but Hoffman hasn't let them be a distraction. He's been tagged for earned runs in only one of 10 appearances in July, posting a 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB over 9.1 innings on the month as the primary setup man for closer Louis Varland.

  • Ryan Johnson SP | LAA

    Angels' Ryan Johnson: Handed sixth loss

    Johnson (2-6) took the loss Friday versus Milwaukee, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

    The right-hander held the Brewers to a single run through four innings, but the wheels fell off in the fifth when Milwaukee rallied for five runs, four of which were charged to Johnson. The 23-year-old has now surrendered 13 runs across 7.2 frames in his past two outings and has allowed at least one homer in six consecutive appearances. Johnson now has a 7.63 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 37:20 K:BB over 46 innings this season.

  • Brayan Bello SP | BOS

    Red Sox's Brayan Bello: Could return to rotation

    Bello (3-6) earned the win Friday, throwing four scoreless innings against the Dodgers. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three in a 9-4 win.

    Bello has been lights out since his return from the minors, although it's been as a reliever. In three relief appearances, Bello has allowed one run over 13.2 innings while throwing at least four innings in each outing. He's been so effective that the Red Sox are considering starting him again, per Doug Padilla of MLB.com. "We'll talk about that," interim manager Chad Tracy said. "You got, after the off day [Monday], the 16 games in a row. So once we get past that off day and the deadline, you start looking at where we can get creative with things." As a starter in 2026, Bello has a 10.35 ERA and 2.21 WHIP over eight starts (35.2 innings).

  • Pete Alonso 1B | BAL

    Orioles' Pete Alonso: Launches 23rd homer

    Alonso went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 6-4 win over the Phillies.

    He got Baltimore on the board by taking Andrew Painter deep in the first inning, Alonso's 23rd long ball of the year. The slugging first baseman has been making plenty of contact of late, but it surprisingly hasn't resulted in a lot of production -- over his last 10 games, Alonso has delivered a .302/.362/.535 slash line with a 17.0 percent strikeout rate, but that stretch has featured just two homers and three RBI.

  • Tyler Wells RP | BAL

    Orioles' Tyler Wells: Pockets fourth save

    Wells worked a perfect ninth inning Friday without striking out a batter to record his fourth save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Phillies.

    It was the veteran right-hander's first save since July 17 as the Orioles continue to go with a committee approach at closer. While Wells is the only one of the team's relievers with multiple saves since the All-Star break, four other pitchers have nabbed one each, including Andrew Kittredge and Rico Garcia. With Ryan Helsley (elbow) not expected back until late August and Felix Bautista (shoulder) still uncertain to pitch at all in 2026, Wells will remain one of the top high-leverage options for Baltimore. Over 14 appearances and 16.1 innings in July, he produced a 1.10 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB.

  • Brandon Young SP | BAL

    Orioles' Brandon Young: Escapes with no-decision Friday

    Young didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-4 win over the Phillies, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

    A J.T. Realmuto solo shot in the sixth inning chased Young from the game and cost him his 10th quality start of the season, but the right-hander was taken off the hook for his third loss when the Orioles' offense woke up in the seventh. Young hasn't been tagged with a loss since June 16, going 3-0 over his last seven starts with a 3.51 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB through 41 innings. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Angels.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Rangers' Joc Pederson: Clubs 20th homer in loss

    Pederson went 1-for-1 with two walks and a solo home run in Friday's 11-2 loss to the Astros.

    Pederson's homer in the sixth inning was his 20th of the season and marked his return to the 20-homer club. This is the seventh time in 12 seasons he's reached that threshold and comes after the low point of his career in 2025, when he hit just nine home runs with a career-low .613 OPS.

  • Blake Perkins CF | CLE

    Guardians' Blake Perkins: Shipped to Cleveland

    The Brewers traded Perkins and Craig Yoho to the Guardians on Saturday in exchange for Bo Naylor and Codi Heuer, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

    Perkins has taken a step back offensively this season, slashing .157/.250/.258 across 55 games in the majors, and he hasn't recorded a plate appearance since the Brewers called up top outfield prospect Luis Lara from Triple-A on July 7. Perkins will now get a shot at a fresh start with the Guardians, and although he'll report to Triple-A Columbus to begin his time with the organization, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Perkins could eventually find work in center field as an alternative to the struggling Petey Halpin (.535 OPS).

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