MLB Player News

Merrill went 1-for-3 with a three-run triple, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

The All-Star break looks to have been exactly what Merrill needed to reset. He hit just .167 with a .560 OPS in his last 20 games before the break, but he's come out of the pause batting .279 with five extra-base hits and 15 RBI over his last 16 contests. The outfielder has a .266/.324/.418 slash line on the year while adding eight home runs, 47 RBI, 39 runs scored, one stolen base, 14 doubles and four triples over 79 games.

Laureano went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

Laureano has gone 3-for-12 with two extra-base hits and two RBI over his first three games with the Padres after he was flipped from the Orioles at the deadline. He's taken over as San Diego's starting left fielder, bumping Gavin Sheets and Bryce Johnson into full-time reserve roles. Laureano is up to 16 homers, 48 RBI, 48 runs scored, four stolen bases and a .288/.351/.535 slash line through 302 plate appearances this year. His power could take a hit in San Diego, but he's made enough contact this year to remain a productive part of his new team's lineup.

Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

Cronenworth opened the scoring when he took Andre Pallante deep in the fourth inning. This was Cronenworth's first home runsince July 5 versus the Rangers. Over the 23 games between long balls, he hit a mere .227 with a .623 OPS. The infielder has a .235/.344/.388 slash line with nine homers, 34 RBI, 38 runs scored and two stolen bases across 87 contests this season. The Padres were busy at the trade deadline but didn't acquire a middle infielder, so Cronenworth is likely to maintain a starting role at second base, though he made cede some at-bats to Jose Iglesias when the Padres face a left-handed pitcher.

Suarez allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.

The Padres didn't appear to be in need of their closer for much of this game, but Adrian Morejon created a disaster in the ninth inning, allowing two runs while failing to record an out. Suarez took over with the bases loaded and allowed one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly before slamming the door to earn his 32nd save of the year. Suarez has earned both of the Padres' saves since the trade deadline, so it looks like he's still ahead of Mason Miller in the closer hierarchy. On the year, Suarez has maintained a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB, and he's been charged with just two runs over 12 innings since the start of July.

Cease (4-10) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out nine over five scoreless innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Cease threw 59 of 90 pitches for strikes in this outing. While he wasn't particularly efficient, he put together a dominant effort to earn his first win since June 21. He showed no ill effects after taking a comebacker off the head in his previous start. The right-hander posted a 5.67 ERA over 27 innings across his five starts in July, one of which was a scoreless outing. Cease has posted a 4.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 162:48 K:BB through 123.1 innings over 23 starts this season. His next start is lined up to be at home versus the Red Sox.

Pallante (6-8) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Padres.

Pallante posted seven innings of one-hit ball in his last start, but he wasn't able to replicate it Sunday. It was a decent outing, aside from the two-run home run Jake Cronenworth hit in the fourth inning to open the scoring. Pallante is now at a 4.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 80:40 K:BB through 122 innings over 22 starts this season. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Cubs.

Blackburn (shoulder) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings Saturday in his rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse.

Blackburn has now compiled a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts between stops with Syracuse and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. He's been on the shelf since July 3 due to a right shoulder impingement but has been fully stretched out for over a week now, as he built up to 87 pitches in his previous rehab start before tossing 93 on Saturday. His delayed activation from the 15-day injured list seems to be a result of the Mets buying some time to decide whether he'll be part of the rotation or bullpen upon his return, and Blackburn's odds of returning as a starter may have increased after Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Giants. Frankie Montas was battered for seven earned runs in four innings in the loss and now holds a 6.68 ERA over seven starts on the season, perhaps putting him at risk of losing his spot in the rotation.

Megill (elbow) threw about 22 pitches in a live batting practice session Sunday at Citi Field, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Megill has now reached another major milestone in his recovery from a right elbow sprain by facing hitters for the first time since landing on the injured list June 17. The right-hander will likely throw another two-inning simulated live BP on Thursday and perhaps another sim game after that before the Mets map out a minor-league rehab assignment for him. The Mets will presumably let Megill get stretched out for a starting role during his assignment, but it's unclear if the big club will actually have a spot available for him in the rotation by the time he's eligible for activation in the middle of August.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Bohm (rib) fielded ground balls and hit in the batting cage prior to Sunday's game against the Tigers, MLB.com reports.

Thomson noted that Bohm is pain-free as he works his way back from a fractured left rib and is drawing closer to beginning a rehab assignment. Since Bohm was placed on the injured list July 19, the Phillies have been getting by with a combination of Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa at third base.

Suzuki went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Orioles.

Suzuki came into the contest 0-for-8 with three strikeouts over his last three games, but he managed to snap out of his mini slump with his first two-hit effort since July 18. Despite the recent downturn in production, the outfielder is still having a strong season with 26 home runs, 82 RBI and an .822 OPS across 107 games. The homers and RBI are both new career bests for Suzuki.