MLB Player News
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Oneil Cruz CF | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Rips two homers
Cruz went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Sunday's win over the Mets.
Cruz has struggled heavily throughout June, but he finally broke out of a slump Sunday. His two-run shot in the first inning snapped his 14-game homerless drought before he added another two-run blast in the seventh. He's up to 15 home runs on the season, though just three of those have come during his last 25 games. Cruz is slashing .210/.321/.419 with 26 extra-base hits and 35 RBI through 74 games.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Phillies' Matt Strahm: Escapes with save
Strahm allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning while earning a save over Atlanta on Sunday.
Strahm was in charge of finishing off the 2-1 victory and ran into some trouble. However, he forced a Stuart Fairchild flyout with runners on the corners to end the contest. Strahm now has five saves this season, including three since June 14. He owns a 3.78 ERA with a 37:9 K:BB through 33.1 frames. Orion Kerkering tossed a scoreless eighth inning with three strikeouts Sunday, and Jordan Romano did not make an appearance after yielding four runs Saturday.
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Matt Waldron SP | SD
Padres' Matt Waldron: Entering rotation Monday
The Padres will call up Waldron from Triple-A El Paso to start Monday's game in Philadelphia, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
After making 26 starts for the Padres in 2024, Waldron will be joining the Padres for the first time this season. He spent the early part of the season on the injured list while recovering from an oblique strain, but he's been making regular turns out of the Triple-A rotation since late May and owns a 5.24 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 22.1 innings with El Paso. While those numbers don't necessarily make the knuckleballer deserving of a promotion, the Padres were short on alternatives to fill the fifth spot in the rotation due to Ryan Bergert (forearm) recently joining Yu Darvish (elbow), Michael King (shoulder) and Joe Musgrove (elbow) on the injured list. Darvish is the closest of that quartet to returning from the IL, but since his timetable is still somewhat vague, Waldron could be needed to make multiple turns through the rotation before the All-Star break.
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Ranger Suarez SP | BOS
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Fans eight in win
Suarez (7-2) yielded a run on four hits and a walk over seven innings Sunday, striking out eight and earning a win over Atlanta.
Suarez was tagged with a solo home run by Sean Murphy in the second inning but was otherwise dominant in the rivalry matchup. Suarez did not allow another runner to reach scoring position and forced 14 swinging strikes, including seven with his cutter. He's thrown at least seven innings in five straight outings, registering a 1.26 ERA during that stretch. Suarez owns a terrific 2.00 ERA with a 67:17 K:BB through 72 innings this season. He's currently in line to face the Reds at home next weekend.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Takes loss in quality start
Strider (3-6) yielded two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against Philadelphia.
Strider worked through four shutout frames before the Phillies broke through and scored a pair in the fifth inning. He was handed the tough-luck loss after Atlanta's offense managed only one run. Strider threw 56 of 95 pitches for strikes and forced 10 whiffs, including seven with his slider. Strider had racked up 29 punchouts during a three-start winning streak before Sunday's outing. He now owns a 3.86 ERA with a 57:20 K:BB across 49 innings. Strider is in line for a home matchup against the Orioles next weekend.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Rockies' Thairo Estrada: Three base knocks and steal in win
Estrada went 3-for-5 with a steal and one RBI in Sunday's 4-3 extra-innings win at Milwaukee.
The Colorado second baseman notched his second three-hit performance of the weekend when he laced a clutch RBI single in the 10th to give his team a 3-2 lead. After collecting the hit, Estrada picked up his first steal of the season when he swiped second off Brewers closer Trevor Megill. Estrada is now slashing .292/.323/.393 with a homer, 13 RBI and six runs scored across 96 total plate appearances.
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Tyler Kinley RP | ATL
Rockies' Tyler Kinley: Secures save Sunday
Kinley earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 extra-innings win against the Brewers, pitching a clean inning with two strikeouts.
After Kyle Farmer knocked home the automatic runner in the top of the 11th, Kinley succinctly wrapped the game on 12 pitches, nine of which were strikes, in the bottom of the frame. The 34-year-old was able to notch his first save since June 6, while Seth Halvorsen, who had recorded Colorado's previous three saves, pitched a scoreless ninth to force extras. Kinley now sports a 6.75 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 35:24 K:BB across 36 total innings.
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Victor Vodnik RP | COL
Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Blows saves, tallies win
Vodnik (3-2) blew the save and picked up the win in Sunday's 4-3 extra-innings victory at Milwaukee. He allowed one unearned run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout over one inning.
Vodnik was called upon in the 10th frame after the Rockies scored a run in the top of the inning. The 25-year-old suffered his third blown save of the season when he allowed the automatic runner to score on a wild pitch; however, he bagged the win when Colorado subsequently took the lead in the top of the 11th. Vodnik was afforded this save opportunity after Seth Halvorsen pitched a scoreless ninth to push the contest into extras. Through 23.2 total innings, Vodnik has pitched to a 2.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 22:12 K:BB.
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Zander Mueth SP | PIT
Pirates' Zander Mueth: Returns from IL
Mueth (undisclosed) struck out two and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks Wednesday in his return to the Single-A Bradenton rotation after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.
Mueth made just two starts for Bradenton before landing on the IL on April 13 due to the unspecified injury. He was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 12, and after tossing four innings over a pair of starts, he made his way back to Bradenton. The 20-year-old righty boasts a power arsenal, but finding the strike zone has proven difficult for him through his first two-plus seasons in the professional ranks. Over 84 career innings, Mueth has walked 57 of the 385 batters he has faced (14.8 percent).
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German Marquez SP | SD
Rockies' German Marquez: Tosses 5.2 frames in no-decision
Marquez allowed two runs on three hits and three walks over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Sunday at Milwaukee. He struck out five.
The only blemishes on the veteran right-hander's performance were two solo homers, and he allowed two or fewer earned runs for the fourth consecutive outing. Over that span, Marquez has pitched to a 1.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB across 20.1 frames while allowing three long balls. Through 83.1 total innings, the 30-year-old now sports a 5.62 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 61:27 K:BB. Marquez is currently slated to make his next start in Colorado's home series next weekend against the White Sox.