MLB Player News

Murphy went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Saturday in a 7-6 win against St. Louis.

Murphy clubbed a huge homer in the eighth inning, driving in three runs on a shot to left field to give Atlanta a one-run lead. It was the third long ball in the past two days for the veteran catcher and his seventh home run across his past 11 contests. The power surge has pushed Murphy to 16 homers and 38 RBI on the campaign, numbers more than good enough to nail down a spot atop the catching depth chart on most teams. However, talented rookie Drake Baldwin has 11 homers and 32 RBI along with an .840 OPS (slightly better than Murphy's .837 mark), so it will be interesting to see how the team divvies up playing time between the two moving forward. Murphy has started five of Atlanta's past six contests, though one of those starts came at DH, and Baldwin also logged one start at DH during that span.

Nola (ankle, rib) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday in Clearwater, Florida, per MLB.com.

Nola is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday and next Saturday. The veteran right-hander is working his way back from a right ankle sprain and subsequent stress fracture in his right rib, and the expectation is that he'll be able to re-enter Philadelphia's rotation at some point in early-to-mid August. Given that he'll have been on the shelf for over two months once the All-Star break begins, Nola is likely to require several minor-league rehab starts.

Fedde allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one batter over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Saturday.

Fedde struggled from the outset, serving up two solo homers and three total runs over the first two innings. He settled down a bit thereafter but couldn't complete five frames, as he was pulled with two runners on base and two outs in the fourth. Fedde has struggled mightily over his past four starts, giving up 20 runs and surrendering six long balls over 14.2 innings during that stretch. The Cardinals were said to be considering removing the right-hander from the rotation in favor of Michael McGreevy following his previous start, and Fedde's tepid performance Saturday gives St. Louis further reason to move in that direction.

Iglesias earned a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, striking out one batter over one perfect inning.

Iglesias was tasked with preserving a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he did so with ease, retiring all three batters he faced on 11 pitches. After a rough first two-plus months of the campaign -- Iglesias held a 6.75 ERA as recently as June 5 -- the veteran reliever has rebounded with 14 straight scoreless outings, during which he's posted a 17:1 K:BB across 12.2 frames. At one point it seemed Atlanta could be moving on from Iglesias at closer, but the right-hander has a save each of the past two days and appears to be back in control of the ninth-inning role.

Bummer allowed three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out one batter over two innings in a no-decision as an opener against St. Louis on Saturday.

Bummer was tabbed to open the bullpen game for Atlanta and gave the team two innings. While he was able to keep the ball in the strike zone, throwing 21 of 33 pitches for strikes and issuing zero free passes, he was tagged for three runs in the second frame, with two of the runs coming on a Nolan Gorman homer. It's not yet clear how Atlanta plans to fill the rotation spot that opened when Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) landed on the injured list in early July, so Bummer could be called upon to fill the same role after the All-Star break, though the team figures to eventually settle upon a traditional starter.

Ritter went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Reds.

Ritter continues to get regular run with Ezequiel Tovar (oblique) sidelined, but he's struggled to find a rhythm at the plate. Ritter did manage his first career home run with a two-run blast in the third inning Saturday, which is his first extra-base hit since June 27. Tovar has begun a rehab assignment, so Ritter's regular playing time is likely to decrease significantly coming out of the All-Star break.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after Saturday's 5-4 loss to San Diego that Bohm (ribs) is doubtful to play in Sunday's series finale, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Bohm was hit by a pitch in the left ribs during the second inning Saturday, though he was able to stay in the game for another two frames. Thomson said after the contest that Bohm didn't get an MRI, but he explained that Bohm is "pretty sore," adding that the injury may have affected the third baseman's swing. Sunday is the final game of the first half for Philadelphia, so if Bohm sits out, he'll have five full days to recover before the start of the second half Friday. Edmundo Sosa took over at third base following Bohm's exit and could start at the hot corner Sunday.

Bart went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Saturday against the Twins.

Bart was in the lineup for only the second time in the last six games, and he has struggled to find a rhythm at the plate since returning from the injured list June 17. Across 14 games, he's gone only 10-for-45 with four RBI and one extra-base hit. The Pirates have a strong incentive to give Henry Davis consistent playing time across the second half, so Bart's playing time could continue to diminish.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Padres.

Harper has gone 7-for-20 (.350) with four walks and five extra-base hits over the first five games of the Phillies' road trip out west. The first baseman also logged his first steal since May 21 versus the Rockies, though he missed time due to wrist inflammation in the gap between steals. Harper is now at a .260/.372/.448 slash line for the year while adding 10 homers, nine thefts, 35 RBI, 36 runs scored and 17 doubles across 67 contests.

Realmuto went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Padres.

Realmuto has posted a trio of three-hit efforts in July, going 14-for-33 (.424) across nine games this month. He's added three RBI and four doubles, but he hasn't hit a home run since May 21 in Colorado. The catcher is at a .264/.322/.376 slash line with five homers, 31 RBI, 35 runs scored, five stolen bases, 16 doubles and one triple across 78 games. While his power looks to be in full decline, he's still making steady contact overall.