MLB Player News

Ashcraft (5-3) took the loss Saturday against Atlanta, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out five.

Ashcraft fired 61 of his 86 pitches for strikes Saturday, but he might've been too aggressive in pounding the zone. The 26-year-old right-hander was knocked around for a season-worst nine hits and tied a season high in runs allowed, though he was still able to pitch at least five innings for the 12th time in 13 starts this year. Ashcraft will bring a strong 3.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 86:17 K:BB over 79.2 frames into his next scheduled outing at home against the Marlins.

Freeman was removed from Saturday's game against the Brewers in the bottom of the sixth inning after he was hit by a pitch in the helmet, Kelsey Wingert-Linch of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports.

Freeman was hit in the side of the helmet with a 98 mph cutter from Jacob Misiorowski, who was visibly upset that the pitch got away from him. Freeman was able to walk off the field under his own power. Prior to leaving, he was 0-for-2 at the plate with the hit-by-pitch. Sterlin Thompson came on to pinch run for Freeman.

Strider (4-1) notched the win Saturday against the Pirates, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out three.

Pittsburgh tagged Strider, who fanned a season-low three, for three doubles Saturday, plating three runs across the fourth and fifth frames. The 27-year-old right-hander has now given up three runs in five of his first seven starts this year, and he's also walked multiple batters in each outing. Strider will carry a middling 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 43:19 K:BB over 36 innings into his next scheduled outing in New York against the Mets.

Walker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Reds.

The 24-year-old took Nick Lodolo deep in the fifth inning, snapping a brief 10-game power drought. Walker has strung together three straight multi-hit efforts, boosting the breakout star's slash line on the season to .301/.362/.559 through 61 contests with 16 homers, 10 steals, 43 runs and 46 RBI.

Liberatore didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Reds, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

The Cardinals grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but Liberatore promptly gave up back in the top of the third before getting tagged for two more runs the following frame, eventually getting lifted after 84 pitches (47 strikes). It's the fourth time in his last five trips to the mound that he's allowed at least three earned runs, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.18 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through 24.1 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is set to come on the road next weekend in Minnesota.

Dunn went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Getting the start in left field against southpaw Matthew Liberatore while Dane Myers covered center field, Dunn delivered his third straight multi-hit performance while swiping his third bag of the season. The 27-year-old has seized a regular role in the Cincinnati outfield by batting .324 (23-for-71) over his last 17 games with one homer, two steals, four RBI and 10 runs.

Lodolo didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals, giving up four runs on nine hits and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out three.

The southpaw got tagged for three runs in the second inning and another in the fifth on a Jordan Walker solo shot, but Lodolo actually left the mound with the Reds nursing a 5-4 lead, only for the bullpen to blow it late. Lodolo has lasted at least five innings in five of six starts since making his season debut in early May due to blister issues, managing a 5.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 25:14 K:BB over 32.2 innings while serving up eight homers. He'll look to produce a sharper outing in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Marsh went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the White Sox.

Marsh launched a solo shot in the sixth inning, marking the first time this season he's homered in consecutive games. He's riding a five-game hitting streak to open June, going 10-for-20 during that stretch with three multi-hit efforts. The 28-year-old leads the majors with a .335 batting average this year while adding seven long balls, 28 RBI, 31 runs scored and five steals across 223 plate appearances.

The Mets announced Saturday that Polanco's rehab assignment has been halted due to ankle soreness.

Polanco began a rehab assignment last week and was expected to be nearing a return to the Mets' lineup, but he reported soreness in his ankle Saturday and will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has dealt with Achilles and wrist issues this season, and he's now managing yet another injury. Polanco has been limited to 61 plate appearances across 14 games this season, and he's slashed an underwhelming .179/.246/.286 with one home run and two RBI.

Fitzpatrick (elbow) has been diagnosed with a left UCL strain and will get a second opinion to determine if he needs Tommy John surgery, MLB.com reports.

Fitzpatrick was removed from Friday's game against the Rockies after he appeared to suffer the elbow injury while warming up for the seventh inning. The rookie left-hander has appeared in five games out of Milwaukee's bullpen this season, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts across 6.2 innings. Fitzpatrick is now looking at an extended absence after being placed on the 15-day injured list earlier Saturday.