MLB Player News
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Carson Whisenhunt SP | SF
Giants' Carson Whisenhunt: Set for major-league debut Monday
Whisenhunt is expected to be called up from Triple-A Sacramento to start Monday's contest versus the Pirates in San Francisco, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Whisenhunt will be making his major-league debut Monday, stepping into one of the rotation spots that opened up after the Giants optioned Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A and placed Landen Roupp (elbow) on the injured list. The 24-year-old has posted a 4.42 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 86 strikeouts over 97.2 innings in 18 starts at Triple-A this season. With an impressive showing against the Pirates, Whisenhunt could stick around with the Giants for multiple turns through the rotation.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Notches save Sunday
Pagan struck out one batter in a perfect inning and earned a save against Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Pagan threw 10 of 13 pitches for strikes and made quick work of the Rays' 2-3-4 hitters to close out the 2-1 victory. It was his seventh straight scoreless appearance, and he's allowed just two runs over 18.2 frames (0.96 ERA ) since the start of June. Pagan owns a 2.64 ERA with a 53:14 K:BB and 22 saves over 44.1 innings.
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Brady Singer SP | CIN
Reds' Brady Singer: Fans eight in win
Singer (8-8) yielded a run on three hits and a walk over 7.1 innings Sunday, striking out eight and earning a win over the Rays.
Singer was outstanding Sunday, rolling through seven shutout frames before Taylor Walls knocked a solo shot in the eighth. Singer threw 67 of 97 pitches for strikes and forced 16 whiffs, tying his season best. It was his first scoreless start since his season debut March 31. His dominant outing snapped a 0-4 skid over his previous six appearances. During that losing streak, he posted a 6.18 ERA. Singer dropped his season ERA to 4.60 with a 101:43 K:BB across 109.2 frames. His next outing is projected to be at home against Atlanta.
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Oneil Cruz CF | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Drives in two runs
Cruz went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's win over Arizona.
Cruz knocked an RBI single in the third inning and added an RBI double in the sixth. It was his third multi-hit performance over his last five games, and he has four extra-base hits during that span. It's been a streaky year for Cruz, but he's gone 10-for-32 (.313) since the All-Star break. For the year, he's slashing .221/.322/.428 with 34 extra-base hits and 44 RBI through 397 plate appearances.
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Zac Gallen SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Falls to Pirates
Gallen (7-12) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out five and taking a loss against Pittsburgh.
Gallen ran into some trouble early, allowing a run in the second inning and two in the third. Arizona couldn't bring a run home against Paul Skenes and the Pirates' bullpen, leading to Gallen's third consecutive loss. Gallen has given up at least four runs in seven of his last nine outings, registering a 6.24 ERA during that span. His season ERA is up to 5.60 alongside a 121:47 K:BB through 127 frames. Gallen's name has been floated around as a potential trade piece, but he's currently projected to take the mound on the road against the Athletics next weekend.
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Paul Skenes SP | PIT
Pirates' Paul Skenes: Fans nine in win
Skenes (6-8) yielded three hits and a walk over six shutout frames Sunday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Diamondbacks.
Skenes was his usual dominant self in Sunday's victory and turned in his second straight scoreless outing. The only real threat he faced was in the fourth inning when Arizona had runners on second and third with one out, but Skenes retired the next eight batters consecutively to end his day. He tossed 62 of 99 pitches for strikes and generated 20 whiffs, including seven with his sweeper and six with the fastball. Skenes now owns a ridiculous 1.83 ERA with a 146:32 K:BB through 133 frames. In his final eight starts before the All-Star break, he went 0-3 despite a 1.77 ERA, but he has earned a win in each of his two outings since. Skenes has produced an unreal 1.28 ERA over his last 14 appearances (84.1 innings). He's lined up to start in Colorado next weekend.
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Brad Lord RP | WAS
Nationals' Brad Lord: Garners another start
Lord is slated to start Monday's game against the Astros in Houston, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Lord had been pitching out of the bullpen since the middle of May before he re-entered the rotation last week, filling the spot that previously belonged to Shinnosuke Ogasawara and Trevor Williams (elbow). Though he was limited to 50 pitches in his previous start last Tuesday versus the Reds, Lord cruised through four innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and zero walks. He'll likely push his pitch count up to the 60-to-70 range Monday, and another strong effort should give Lord some more security in the Washington rotation.
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Nick Allen SS | HOU
Braves' Nick Allen: Contributes base hit in loss
Allen went 1-for-3 with a single in Sunday's 8-1 loss to Atlanta.
Allen picked up his 47th consecutive start Sunday, but despite enjoying a stable role, he's struggled to provide much meaningful fantasy value this season. In addition to batting just .227 on the season, Allen has been a non-factor in most of the counting categories, contributing zero home runs, six stolen bases, 25 runs and 18 RBI over 95 games. The 26-year-old probably profiles best as a utility infielder, but his excellent defense at shortstop along with the lack of appealing alternatives within the organization should be enough to keep him atop the depth chart in Atlanta.
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Zack Wheeler SP | PHI
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Falls to Yankees
Wheeler (9-4) took the loss Sunday against the Yankees, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.
It's the first time since May 29 that Wheeler's failed to make it through six innings -- the right-hander had worked to a 1.57 ERA in six starts (40 innings) prior to Sunday. Overall, Wheeler's ERA sits at 2.56 with a 0.89 WHIP and 122:20 K:BB across 21 starts (133.2 innings) this year. He'll look to get back on track in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week at home against the Tigers.
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Hurston Waldrep SP | ATL
Braves' Hurston Waldrep: In mix to start Tuesday
Waldrep was scratched ahead of his most recent scheduled start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and could be recalled to enter the Atlanta rotation Tuesday in Kansas City, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
While Waldrep hasn't yet joined Atlanta's taxi squad and remained with Gwinnett as of Sunday, the right-hander could still easily meet up with the big club Monday. Though the newly acquired Erick Fedde looks like a good bet to assume one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation, Waldrep appears to be a strong candidate to fill the other spot on the heels of a strong run at Gwinnett of late. Over his last six outings in Triple-A, the 23-year-old has submitted a 2.41 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 28:15 K:BB in 33.2 innings.