MLB Player News
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Aaron Judge RF | NYY
Yankees' Aaron Judge: Leaps past DiMaggio
Judge went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and scored an additional run during Friday's win over the Red Sox.
After tying the legendary Joe DiMaggio with 361 career home runs Thursday, Judge didn't waste any time hitting No. 362 by sending a Lucas Giolito fastball 468 feet into the Boston night during the first inning. Now in sole possession of fourth place on the Yankees' all-time HR leaderboard, Judge needs just three more long balls over New York's final 15 games to record his third 50-homer season in the last four years.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Two punchouts in save No. 23
Bednar struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning to collect his 23rd save of the season Friday against the Red Sox.
Bednar had a three-run lead to work with when he entered in the ninth inning, but the 30-year-old reliever didn't give up an inch en route to tallying his sixth save in a Yankees uniform. After collecting a save in each of his last three appearances, it appears Bednar has emerged as the preferred ninth-inning option for manager Aaron Boone down the stretch.
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Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Tosses six hitless frames
Gil (4-1) earned the win Friday against Boston after pitching six scoreless, no-hit innings and allowing four walks while collecting four strikeouts.
After missing the entire first half with a strained lat, Gil saved his best performance of the year for a late-season rivalry matchup against the Red Sox. A high pitch count forced him to come out of the game despite his no-hit bid, but not before he extended his streak of allowing two runs or less across at least five innings to seven starts. The 27-year-old owns a 1.89 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 38 frames in that span and will aim to keep things rolling in Minnesota next week.
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Chris Bassitt SP | BAL
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Fans six in no-decision
Bassitt didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-1 win over the Orioles, giving up one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out six batters across five innings.
An RBI single from Jackson Holliday in the third inning represented the only blemish on Bassitt's line Friday. However, the 36-year-old will have to settle for a no-decision, as most of the run support supplied by Toronto's offense didn't come until he was taken out of the game. He'll take a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP -- the lowest that either number has been since July 23 -- into his next start against the Rays next week.
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Michael Lorenzen SP | COL
Royals' Michael Lorenzen: Handed 11th loss
Lorenzen (5-11) took the loss Friday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks over three innings against Philadelphia. He struck out three.
Lorenzen surrendered just one run across the first two innings but gave up three in the third and was pulled after surrendering three straight doubles to open the fourth inning. The veteran right-hander has lost his past three starts and has a 6.18 ERA in six outings since returning from an oblique injury in mid-August.
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Christopher Morel 1B | MIA
Rays' Christopher Morel: Clubs three-run homer
Morel went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-4 loss against the Cubs.
Morel gave Tampa Bay an early 3-0 lead with his first-inning homer, but the Rays were mostly quiet the rest of the afternoon. The 26-year-old sees most of his starts against left-handed pitching, and he's excelled in that platoon role since the beginning of August with a .288/.323/.525 slash line, though he also has a 46.8 percent strikeout rate during that stretch.
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Shane Baz SP | BAL
Rays' Shane Baz: Lasts just 2.1 frames
Baz (9-12) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over 2.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.
The right-hander threw only 37 of 67 pitches for strikes as he delivered his shortest outing of the campaign. Baz had a decent start to the season with a 4.33 ERA and eight wins through his first 17 outings, but he has a 1-9 record and a 6.49 ERA across his past 12 starts. A tough matchup with the Blue Jays is likely on tap for his next turn through the rotation.
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Mitch Garver C | SEA
Mariners' Mitch Garver: Restores lead with homer
Garver went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Angels.
The Angels tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the seventh inning, but Garver restored the Mariners' lead in their half of the frame. This was his ninth homer of the year and his first since Aug. 18 versus the Phillies. The veteran catcher is at a .212/.301/.356 slash line with 29 RBI, 27 runs scored and three stolen bases over 269 plate appearances this season. Garver is seeing steady usage in a short-side platoon role between catcher and designated hitter.
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Converts 35th save
Munoz struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Angels.
Munoz got the job done on a tidy 12 pitches (eight strikes). After the Mariners' skid in early September, Munoz has successfully shaken off the rust by logging four scoreless innings and three saves over the last five days. That heavy workload could leave him unavailable for a save opportunity Saturday. Munoz is now 35-for-42 in save chances this season while adding a 1.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 75:25 K:BB over 57.1 innings as one of the steadiest relievers in the majors.
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Luis Castillo SP | SEA
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Another quality start Friday
Castillo allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over six-plus innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Angels.
Castillo has logged consecutive quality starts after a brutal stretch from Aug. 2 to Sept. 1 during which he went winless over six starts with a 7.31 ERA across 28.1 innings. The rebound has helped the Mariners get back on track as they continue to battle for the AL West lead. Castillo is now at a 3.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 149:46 K:BB through 167.1 innings over 30 starts this season. The veteran right-hander is projected to make his next start at Kansas City.