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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn: Slugs homer in loss
O'Hearn went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Saturday in a loss to the Cubs.
O'Hearn's long ball was huge at the time, as it turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead. However, the Pirates' bullpen couldn't hold the advantage, and two Chicago runs in the eighth inning led to a Cubs win. O'Hearn just returned from a six-week stay on the injured list Friday and went 0-for-2 in his first game back after entering late in the contest. He's expected to see action at first base and designated hitter for Pittsburgh down the stretch.
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Paul Skenes SP | PIT
Pirates' Paul Skenes: Sharp despite yielding two homers
Skenes completed seven innings Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters in a no-decision against the Cubs.
Skenes struggled a bit early, giving up a solo homer in both of the first and third innings. However, those were the only hits he allowed during those frames, and the All-Star hurler finished his outing with four straight scoreless innings. Overall, Skenes allowed only six baserunners and was very efficient, needing just 82 pitches (53 strikes) to complete seven innings. He was in line for the win upon his departure, but a late letdown by the Pirates' bullpen spoiled that bid. Though Skenes again didn't do much in the strikeout department, this was a strong performance against a tough offense after he gave up five runs over 5.1 frames the last time he faced the Cubs. Skenes will carry a disappointing 3.78 overall ERA into his next start, which is projected to be at home against Milwaukee.
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Tim Mayza RP | PHI
Phillies' Tim Mayza: Opening Saturday's contest
Mayza will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Saturday's game in Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Mayza will make his fifth start of the season, but he has yet to record more than six outs in any of his 54 appearances to date and will likely be limited to 1-to-2 innings. The Phillies don't have an obvious bulk reliever available behind Mayza, but Grant Holman hasn't been used since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sept. 1 and could be called upon to pitch multiple innings once Mayza exits.
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Ryan Zeferjahn RP | CHC
Cubs' Ryan Zeferjahn: Registers one-out save
Zeferjahn notched a save against the Pirates on Saturday by striking out the only batter he faced.
Chicago took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning and began the ninth with Ryan Rolison, who had already completed one frame, on the mound. Rolison gave up an infield single followed by two outs, and manager Craig Counsell then turned to Zeferjahn, who struck out Bryan Reynolds on six pitches to slam the door shut. The save was Zeferjahn's second over his past three outings dating back to Sept. 5, and no other Cubs reliever has logged a save during that stretch. Jacob Webb and Daniel Palencia have both had their share of struggles lately, so Zeferjahn could be sneaking into the closer mix late in the campaign, though it's too early to say he's the team's primary ninth-inning option.
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Clay Holmes SP | CHC
Cubs' Clay Holmes: Narrowly misses quality start
Holmes allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out six batters over 5.2 innings versus Pittsburgh in a no-decision Saturday.
Holmes cruised through five scoreless frames but ran into trouble in the sixth. In that inning, the right-hander allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, with the big blow being a three-run blast off the bat of Ryan O'Hearn. The rough frame not only ended Holmes' bid for a win, but it also spoiled his chance at his eighth quality start. The 33-year-old was dominant over his final four outings in August, allowing just one run over 25 innings, but he's begun September by giving up 11 runs (10 earned) across 10 frames in his first two appearances. He's lined up to next take the mound in Cincinnati.
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Hunter Goodman C | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Belts 38th homer
Goodman went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in Saturday's loss to the Tigers.
Goodman put the game's first runs on the board with a three-run blast to left field in the third inning. That was his only hit of the game, and the All-Star backstop still hasn't logged a multi-hit performance since Aug. 28. Goodman has slowed down a bit in the power department of late, going deep just twice over his past 15 games. However, he still leads all backstops with 38 long balls, which is also tied for fourth overall in MLB.
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Owen Caissie RF | MIA
Marlins' Owen Caissie: Exits with hamstring tightness
Caissie was removed from Saturday's game against the Dodgers due to right hamstring tightness, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The 24-year-old walked and scored in the bottom of the second inning, but Esteury Ruiz then hit for Caissie the following frame. He dealt with a right calf injury earlier in the season, though the injuries seem unlikely to be related. Caissie is slashing .220/.288/.412 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, 45 runs scored and a 27:123 BB:K across 330 plate appearances in his first season with the Marlins.
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Jordan Romano RP | COL
Rockies' Jordan Romano: Blows save chance Saturday
Romano blew a save against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks over one inning.
Colorado held a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Rockies' bullpen couldn't hold the advantage. Jaden Hill allowed five straight batters to reach base without getting an out, and Romano couldn't do much better, walking the first two batters he faced before giving up a two-out, two-run triple. The veteran reliever had a stretch of nine appearances without giving up an earned run from mid-August to early September, but over his past three outings he's blown two saves while giving up four earned runs across 2.2 frames. Colorado doesn't have many reliable options in its bullpen, so Romano probably isn't in imminent danger of losing his closer role.
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Aiva Arquette SS | MIA
Marlins' Aiva Arquette: Shelved again at Double-A
Arquette (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Pensacola on Saturday.
It's Arquette's third trip to the injured list this season after previously dealing with a thumb injury and undergoing core muscle surgery earlier in the campaign. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Arquette has slashed .272/.326/.459 with 12 homers, 48 RBI, 44 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and an 18:62 BB:K across 291 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A this season.
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Tanner Gordon RP | COL
Rockies' Tanner Gordon: Tagged for 10 hits in no-decision
Gordon allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out five batters over four innings in a no-decision against Detroit on Saturday.
Of the Tigers' 10 hits against Gordon, four -- including a Kevin McGonigle solo homer -- went for extra bases. It was the second time this season the righty hurler has surrendered double-digit hits and the ninth time he's yielded at least four earned runs. Gordon had a promising two-start stretch to end August during which he gave up just two runs over 12 innings, but since then he's allowed nine runs across his subsequent two outings spanning 8.2 frames. He'll carry a season-long 5.55 ERA into his next start, which is tentatively slated to be a matchup versus San Diego at Coors Field.