MLB Player News

Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday in a loss to the Angels.

Dalton Rushing swatted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to bring the Dodgers to within two runs, and Ward followed with a solo shot to move his team even closer. However, the Angels scored the final seven runs of the game to turn the outcome into a blowout. Still, Ward extended his recent run of good form -- he's notched an extra-base hit and at least one RBI in each of his past three games. He's not quite an everyday player in the absence of Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring), but given that he's started in left field each of the past three times Los Angeles has faced a right-handed starter, Ward appears to be set for pretty steady playing time for as long as Hernandez remains out of action.

Smith picked up the save Sunday against the Cubs. He struck out one over a perfect inning.

Smith shut the door in Sunday's low-scoring affair, retiring the side in order in the 10th inning to secure his first career save and a Giants victory. The right-hander's save opportunity came about with Caleb Kilian, Erik Miller and Keaton Winn already having been deployed in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Smith likely won't see save chances regularly, though the 26-year-old could work his way into more high-leverage opportunities if he continues to pitch well.

Assad allowed a hit and a walk while striking out five over 6.1 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 2-1 loss to San Francisco.

With Jameson Taillon (hamstring) exiting with no outs in the second inning, Assad was called upon to eat innings and did so brilliantly. His five strikeouts marked a season high, and the right-hander now owns a 4.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across 32.1 innings over nine appearances (three starts). If Taillon requires a stint on the injured list, Assad is a logical candidate to step into the rotation.

McDonald did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.

McDonald was largely able to stifle the Cubs offense, as three of the opposition's four hits came in the third inning when Moises Ballesteros drove in the club's lone run. Aside from a seven-run outing May 22 against the White Sox, McDonald has been effective since being recalled and inserted into the rotation at the start of May. The 25-year-old will take a 2-3 record with a 4.15 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB across 39 innings (seven starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday in a home rematch with the Cubs.

Rushing went 4-for-4 with a three-run home run and a double in Sunday's 13-5 loss to the Angels.

Rushing recorded a hit in each of his at-bats, highlighted by a three-run homer off Jose Soriano in the sixth inning. It marked Rushing's first long ball since April 20. Fueled by a huge April, the 25-year-old is slashing .287/.363/.564 with eight homers, four doubles, 21 RBI and 18 runs across 113 plate appearances. Playing time can be difficult to come by with Shohei Ohtani entrenched at designated hitter and Will Smith behind the plate, though Rushing could see increased opportunities if Smith's neck injury results in additional absences or a stint on the injured list.

Abrams went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's 5-1 loss to Arizona.

Abrams provided the Nationals' only offense, leading off the second inning with a solo shot off Michael Soroka that briefly tied the game. The homer was his second in the last three games and is part of a great stretch, as he's hit .299 since April 29. Abrams' full season line stands at a splendid .286/.380/.534 with 14 homers, 49 RBI, 41 runs and nine steals across 279 plate appearances.

Sheehan (3-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings against the Angels. He struck out two.

Sheehan worked a scoreless first inning but labored through a 35-pitch second inning, prompting the Dodgers to pull the 26-year-old after he recorded just one out in the frame. Entering Sunday's contest, the right-hander posted a 3.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 26:5 K:BB across 27 innings over his previous five starts. Sheehan will carry a 4.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 64:16 K:BB across 59.1 innings (12 starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for next Sunday against the White Sox.

Carroll went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-1 win against Washington.

Carroll set the tone immediately, launching a solo shot off Cade Cavalli in the first inning to give Arizona an early cushion. The young star's power has been explosive lately, as Sunday's blast gives him three home runs over his last six games. Carroll's season line of .285/.375/.553 with 10 homers, 15 doubles, eight triples, 31 RBI, 41 runs and seven steals across just 264 plate appearances represents another season of legitimate five-category production.

Fermin went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an RBI double in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Mets.

Fermin drove in all of the Padres' runs, highlighted by a two-run homer on a center-cut fastball from Sean Manaea in the fifth inning. The backstop has now homered in consecutive games after failing to go deep in his first 45 appearances of the season. Despite hitting a lowly .147 with a .488 OPS in 126 plate appearances, Fermin has continued to operate as San Diego's primary catcher, especially with Luis Campusano (toe) sidelined since May 7.

Cavalli (3-4) took the loss Sunday against Arizona, surrendering four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out two across five innings.

Cavalli was undone by the long ball Sunday, serving up homers to Corbin Carroll in the first inning and Gabriel Moreno in the fifth that accounted for a majority of the damage. More concerning for fantasy managers was the lack of swing-and-miss stuff, as he managed just two strikeouts across five innings after entering Sunday with 74 punchouts across 64.2 innings. Cavalli now owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 76:25 K:BB across 69.2 innings and is scheduled to face Seattle in his next start.