MLB Player News

Junk (4-5) earned the win Thursday against the Mariners, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out five over five innings.

Making his first start since May 25 after returning from the injured list, Junk was surprisingly stretched out to 79 pitches (48 strikes). He allowed Josh Naylor to score on his own throwing error in the second inning, while his only earned run came on a Randy Arozarena solo homer in the fifth. Prior to landing on the injured list, Junk owned a 4.80 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 11 starts. Thursday's command was shaky with a season-high four walks, but this performance represents a strong finish to the first half of the campaign.

Singer (3-9) allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 7.1 innings in a loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.

Singer was excellent, covering a season-high 7.1 frames on just 89 pitches. He entered the eighth locked in a scoreless pitchers' duel, but the Phillies were finally able to get to him for a run before he departed with one out. That lone tally proved to be enough for Philadelphia to pull out the win and send Singer to his third straight defeat. Nonetheless, the outing was a positive one and extends a strong stretch by the veteran hurler, who has now given up two or fewer earned runs in six of his past seven starts. Assuming he doesn't get called upon to pitch out of the bullpen this weekend, Singer will enter the All-Star break with an overall 4.72 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 76:31 K:BB across 89.2 frames spanning 18 starts.

Whisenhunt (2-0) allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Thursday.

Whisenhunt threw 57 of 87 pitches for strikes. Both runs against him came on a Willi Castro home run in the fourth inning. Whisenhunt has impressed in his two major-league outings this season, winning both while allowing four runs over 10.2 innings, though his 6:6 K:BB would be a limiting factor if he gets a longer look with the big club. With Trevor McDonald and Landen Roupp both struggling since the start of June, it's possible Whisenhunt eventually gets a longer look in the rotation.

Machado went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Machado missed Wednesday's game after fouling a ball off his foot a day prior, but he looks no worse for wear now. The third baseman accounted for the Padres' lone run and two of their three hits in Thursday's loss. For the season, he's batting .193 with a .701 OPS, 19 homers, 52 RBI, 45 runs scored, 16 doubles and two stolen bases over 90 contests. Machado has trended up slightly of late, hitting .257 (18-for-70) with seven homers, 17 RBI and a 15:20 BB:K over his last 20 games.

Duran earned a save against the Reds on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over one scoreless inning.

Duran entered in the ninth inning tasked with protecting a fragile 1-0 lead. The veteran closer allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base via a single and a hit-by-pitch, but he was able to slam the door by retiring the following three hitters, including two by strikeout. Duran has converted seven straight save opportunities, posting a dominant 17:1 K:BB over 10 innings spanning 10 appearances in that span. He's headed to -the All-Star Game having gone 23-for-24 in save chances with a 1.42 ERA so far this season.

Canning (1-7) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five without walking a batter over 4.2 innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Diamondbacks.

Canning's performance wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough compared to Merrill Kelly's seven innings of one-run ball. Canning threw 48 of 74 pitches for strikes in the contest. He has bounced between starts and bulk-relief appearances lately, allowing 10 runs over 18 innings across his last five games (two starts). For the season, the right-hander has a 6.47 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 55:30 K:BB across 55.2 innings through 13 appearances (10 starts).

Luzardo (8-4) earned the win over Cincinnati on Thursday, allowing two hits and issuing two walks while striking out 11 batters over seven scoreless innings.

Luzardo allowed only one baserunner to reach scoring position and racked up 20 whiffs en route to 11 punchouts. The left-hander completed seven frames for just the third time this season while recording his 10th quality start. Luzardo has won four of his past six outings, posting a minuscule 1.45 ERA with a 52:14 K:BB across 37.1 innings during that span. In the very likely event that he doesn't pitch again this weekend, he'll wrap up a strong first half with a 3.51 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 136:35 K:BB across 110.1 frames spanning 19 starts. His strikeout total currently ranks fourth in the majors.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Padres.

Arenado provided the last run of the game when he took Yuki Matsui deep in the sixth inning. This was Arenado's third homer in his last nine games, though he's also struck out 11 times in that span while batting .294 (10-for-34). Overall, the third baseman is hitting .243 with a .718 OPS, 11 homers, 38 RBI, 40 runs scored, 16 doubles and three stolen bases over 87 contests this year.

The Diamondbacks recalled Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Waldschmidt will make his return to the big leagues after being optioned on June 15. In his last 15 games in Triple-A, the 23-year-old slugged just .192/.250/.269 with no homers and one RBI. With Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) on the 10-day IL and likely facing a 4-to-6 week absence, Waldschmidt could have a decent path to playing time in center field. In order to make room on the active roster for Waldschmidt, Arizona designated Pavin Smith for assignment.

Sewald struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Padres.

Sewald had allowed at least one baserunners in each of his previous seven outings, but he created no drama Thursday to convert his 21st save of the year. The veteran reliever has earned seven of those saves since the start of June, but he's also allowed seven runs over 11.2 innings during that span. For the season, he has a 4.36 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 37:8 K:BB across 33 innings.