MLB Player News

Profar went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's win over the Yankees, and David O'Brien of The Athletic reports that Atlanta manager Brian Snitker could consider leaving the veteran outfielder in the leadoff spot even after Austin Riley (abdomen) returns to the lineup.

In three games since Riley landed on the IL, Profar has hit at the top of the order and reached base six times, while Ronald Acuna has dropped down to third and gone 3-for-11 with three extra-base hits. Riley typically hits third, but he could find himself lower in the order when he gets healthy. "I kind of like [Acuna] there," Snitker said after Friday's game. "I like that top three right there [with Matt Olson batting second], I think that's pretty good. I've always envisioned [Acuna] being that guy. We'll see, but I don't think Austin's gonna care where he hits either." Since returning to the lineup in early July following an 80-game PED suspension, Profar is slashing .288/.302/.538 with four doubles, three homers, eight RBI and nine runs in 12 contests.

Manaea came away with a no-decision in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Reds, allowing one run on one hit and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Making his first start and second appearance of the season after a lengthy recovery from a spring oblique strain and then elbow trouble in June, Manaea was sharp but got lifted after only 69 pitches (42 strikes), as the Mets prioritize his long-term health and having him available for a playoff push later in the year. The decision to give the 33-year-old lefty the hook cost New York, as the bullpen immediately coughed up a 2-1 lead. Manaea should get stretched out enough to at least work five innings and qualify for a win in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Angels.

Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a two-run home run in Friday's 8-4 win over the Mets.

Starting at DH and batting seventh, Stephenson socked the fourth of Cincinnati's four homers on the night by taking Alex Carrillo deep in the sixth inning. The blast snapped a 21-game homerless drought for Stephenson, as the 28-year-old backstop went into the All-Star break slashing just .176/.275/.221 during that slump. On the season, he sports a .727 OPS with seven home runs and 29 RBI in 55 contests.

Lodolo (7-6) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings in an 8-4 victory over the Mets. He struck out seven.

It was lucky 7s all around for Lodolo to begin the second half, as he racked up 32 called or swinging strikes on 97 pitches (62 total strikes) en route to his third straight quality start and 12th of the season. The 27-year-old southpaw hasn't given up more than three runs in a start since June 11, posting a 2.34 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 34:7 K:BB over his last six outings and 34.2 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Nationals.

Sheehan is slated to start Saturday's game against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

After tossing 4.1 innings in bulk relief behind starter Shohei Ohtani in his most recent appearance July 12, Sheehan will pick up his third start of the season with the Dodgers for his first outing of the second half. Over his three big-league appearances to date, Sheehan has maintained a tidy 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB in 13.1 innings, but he could nonetheless find himself at risk of losing his spot in the rotation once Blake Snell (shoulder) likely returns from the 60-day injured list in late July or early August.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that May will be used out of the bullpen in Monday's game against the Twins as part of a pitching tandem with Shohei Ohtani, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

May's upcoming relief appearance will be his first at the big-league level since 2020, though Roberts suggested it would be a "one-off" arrangement. Though May doesn't appear to have lost his spot in the rotation, the Dodgers are hoping that working behind Ohtani will yield better results for the 27-year-old, who was roughed up for seven earned runs on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings against the Giants in his final start before the All-Star break. Roberts said that the Dodgers are planning to limit Ohtani to three innings Monday, so May should be well positioned to come away with a win if he's able to exit the relief appearance with Los Angeles in the lead.

Verlander (0-8) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on nine hits and two walks over 2.2 innings as the Giants fell 4-0 to the Blue Jays. He failed to strike out a batter.

All the damage off Verlander came in the second inning as Toronto batted around, but the 42-year-old righty couldn't keep traffic off the basepaths in his other two frames either. It's the first time he's recorded zero strikeouts in a start since July 2, 2017, and his 16-start winless streak to begin the season has set a new Giants franchise record. It's looking increasingly likely that 2025 will be the end of the road for the future Hall of Famer, but Verlander will keep looking for career win No. 263 when he takes the mound next week in Atlanta.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani will be limited to three innings in his start Monday against the Twins and will be piggybacked by right-hander Dustin May, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Over his five outings since making his Dodgers debut as a pitcher June 16, Ohtani has been followed in bulk relief by Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski or Emmet Sheehan, but Monday's contest will mark the first time that May has pitched behind him. After tossing a season-high three scoreless frames in his most recent appearance July 12 in San Francisco, Ohtani will replicate that workload Monday as the Dodgers continue to have him build up gradually coming off his September 2023 Tommy John surgery.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Angels.

The ball was flying out of Citizens Bank Park, with the two teams combining for six homers, and Harper led the charge for the Phillies by taking Jake Eder deep for a three-run blast in the third inning before adding a solo shot off Jose Fermin in the eighth. Harper has 12 homers in 69 games on the season, but he's caught fire in July -- over 12 contests on the month he's slashing .333/.429/.690 with nine of his 14 hits (six doubles, three home runs) going for extra bases.

McLain went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-4 win over the Mets.

McLain launched a two-run homer in the fourth inning to give Cincinnati the lead and later doubled and scored in the seventh. The first half of the season was a grind for McLain, but he hit .287 during the month of June and got himself on a run just before the All-Star break. McLain has hit safely in six of seven contests, including multiple hits in the last three, going 9-for-28 (.321) with two homers, two doubles, three RBI and six runs.