MLB Player News

Yamamoto (9-7) allowed one run on four hits and two walks over seven innings to earn the win Monday at Cincinnati. He struck out nine.

The Japanese righty generated an impressive 21 whiffs out of 101 total pitches en route to tallying his sixth outing with nine or more Ks this season. Yamamoto collected his 12th quality start, as the only run he conceded came on a Gavin Lux groundout in the opening frame. In 116.1 total innings, the 26-year-old has pitched to a 2.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 133:39 K:BB while allowing 10 home runs. Yamamoto tentatively lines up to make his next appearance in the Dodgers' home series against the Cardinals next week.

Betts went 2-for-4 with a walk, a steal and three runs scored in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Reds.

Betts drew his sixth straight start in the leadoff spot and snapped a 30-game stretch without a steal when he stole second in the seventh inning. Since drawing his first start as the leadoff batter July 20, the former MVP has hit .231 (6-for-26) with six runs, one RBI and four walks as manager Dave Roberts seeks a way to kickstart Betts' bat. Through 425 total plate appearances, the 32-year-old is slashing .240/.313/.372 with 11 homers, 62 runs scored and 46 RBI.

The Pirates announced last week that Brannigan underwent season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Double-A Altoona initially placed Brannigan on the injured list June 14 before the Pirates determined just over a month later that he would need an operation to address his shoulder injury. The 24-year-old infielder is expected to make a full recovery in advance of the next season, but he'll finish the 2025 campaign with a .225/.329/.358 slash line to go with five home runs and nine stolen bases across 237 plate appearances with Altoona.

Rodriguez (elbow) has been conducting his rehab at the Pirates' facility in Florida and has been able to take part in low-level strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, MLB.com reports.

Though Rodriguez isn't shut down from activity entirely since landing on the injured list June 7 after experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow, he has yet to be cleared for baseball-specific workouts and thus appears to be a long way off from being activated. Rodriguez's surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, has recommended that the Pirates take a slow approach with the 25-year-old, who is less than two years removed from his elbow operation.

Oviedo (lat/elbow) struck out five and allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks over five innings in his most recent rehab start Thursday with Double-A Altoona.

Oviedo made the fifth start of his rehab assignment Thursday and came through with his lengthiest and best outing yet, tossing 63 pitches (42 strikes) while generating 10 of his 15 outs via strikeout or groundout. The right-hander is likely to move up to Triple-A Indianapolis for his next appearance, and if he's able to surpass the 70-pitch mark in that outing, he could then be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list. The Pirates don't appear to have an opening for Oviedo in the rotation at the moment, but a spot could open up if Pittsburgh elects to move at least one of Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter or Andrew Heaney ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.

X-rays on Suarez's right index finger came back negative after he was hit by a pitch during Monday's 5-1 loss to the Tigers, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. He finished the contest 1-for-3 with a base hit.

Suarez took a 96-mile-per-hour fastball from Will Vest off his dominant hand during his final plate appearance in the top of the ninth inning. Manager Torey Lovullo has labeled Suarez as day-to-day for now, but the veteran third baseman will undergo further testing Tuesday. With the Diamondbacks looking to sell ahead of Thursday's trade deadline and Suarez being one of the top bats available, his status warrants close attention.

Shugart (knee) resumed throwing off a mound last Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Shugart had been scheduled to throw a proper bullpen session later in the week, but the Pirates haven't confirmed whether or not that happened. In any event, Shugart seems to be taking steps forward in his recovery from left knee inflammation, but he'll still likely need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list.

Rodriguez (3-7) took the loss against the Tigers on Monday, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings.

Rodriguez allowed runs in four different innings, including home runs in the fourth and sixth. The long ball has become an issue for the southpaw, who's surrendered seven homers across four July outings while posting a 7.40 ERA during that span. He'll carry a 5.63 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, and 98:34 K:BB over 92.2 innings into a road matchup with the Athletics this weekend.

Manager Torey Lovullo said after Monday's loss to the Tigers that Suarez will undergo X-rays on his right hand, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Lovullo continued to say that Suarez's hand and fingers were tender to the touch, and he's viewed as day-to-day for the time being. Suarez took a 96 mph fastball from Will Vest off the right hand in the top of the ninth inning and was immediately removed from the game in favor of Blaze Alexander.

Suarez exited Monday's game against the Tigers after being hit by a pitch on the right hand in the top of the ninth inning, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Suarez took a 96 mph fastball from Will Vest off the hand and was removed from the game in favor of Blaze Alexander. On the evening, Suarez went 1-for-3 at the plate. The subject of heavy trade speculation in the three days leading up to the deadline, Suarez will presumably undergo X-rays.