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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Launches first homer of 2025
Steer went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a strikeout in Sunday's 8-2 loss to the Brewers.
Steer was able to launch a 379-foot solo blast off Chad Patrick in the top of the fifth inning, notching his first long ball of the year. The 27-year-old is off to a slow start in 2025, batting just .083 with the aforementioned home run, three RBI and two runs scored over 24 at-bats in seven games.
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Carson Spiers SP | CIN
Reds' Carson Spiers: Ineffective versus Brewers
Spiers (0-2) pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three batters on his way to a loss in Sunday's 8-2 defeat to the Brewers.
Spiers was able to pitch two scoreless frames before running into trouble in the third inning. He surrendered three hits and two runs in the frame before the wheels fell completely off in the fourth. After giving up back-to-back singles to open the inning, Spiers was pulled from the game, and both of the runners later came around to score. The right-hander has now given up five runs over 9.1 innings in two starts this season, and with Andrew Abbott (shoulder) eligible to return to the rotation Saturday, it's unclear if Spiers will make another start or transition into being a bullpen arm.
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Jose Alvarado RP | PHI
Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Nabs second save
Alvarado tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Dodgers.
Alvarado faced the top of the Dodgers' order in the ninth and needed just 10 pitches to lock down his second save of the season. The southpaw has been sharp, posting a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB over five innings. With Jordan Romano pitching in the seventh, Alvarado appears to be the preferred option for save opportunities at the moment.
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Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Nationals' Kyle Finnegan: Converts third save
Finnegan earned the save in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks, tossing a scoreless ninth inning while allowing one hit and striking out one.
Finnegan was called upon to protect a 5-4 lead in the ninth and worked around a Corbin Carroll double to secure his second save in as many days. The closer has now converted all three of his save opportunities this season, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 3:3 K:BB across four innings.
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Brice Turang 2B | MIL
Brewers' Brice Turang: Extends hit streak in win
Turang went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Reds.
Turang was able to launch a ground-rule double over the head of Gavin Lux in the bottom of the third inning, later coming around to score on a single from Christian Yelich. The second baseman also added a single and another run scored in the following frame. Turang now owns a 10-game hit streak to open the 2025 campaign, batting .325 with two home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored and two stolen bases to this point.
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Andrew Painter SP | PHI
Phillies' Andrew Painter: Pitching for Single-A club Friday
Painter is scheduled to make his first start of the season Friday with Single-A Clearwater, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The Phillies' top pitching prospect, Painter was deemed fully healthy for spring training but didn't see any Grapefruit League action as the organization aimed to ramp him up slowly coming off July 2023 Tommy John surgery. Painter stayed back in Florida at the conclusion of big-league spring training and has been throwing simulated games of late, but he'll now get a chance to test himself in an uncontrolled setting when he reports to the Phillies' Single-A affiliate. The Phillies anticipate Painter being ready to join the big-league rotation at some point this summer, but he'll first need to get some reps at the minor-league level before receiving a call-up. He'll likely be limited to around two innings Friday and will gradually increase his pitch count in subsequent outings while also eventually moving on to Double-A Reading and/or Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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Jackson Chourio LF | MIL
Brewers' Jackson Chourio: Two homers in win
Chourio went 2-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI and a strikeout in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Reds.
Chourio delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning before later adding a three-run homer in the following frame and a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh. After going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts Opening Day versus the Yankees, the outfielder has now secured at least one hit in nine consecutive games, batting .317 with three home runs, four doubles, nine RBI and six runs scored over that stretch.
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Bryan Reynolds LF | PIT
Pirates' Bryan Reynolds: Not yet ready to play outfield
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said prior to Sunday's 5-4 11-inning win over the Yankees that Reynolds isn't expected to begin a throwing program until later this week while he manages right triceps soreness and will remain limited to serving as a designated hitter for the time being, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Reynolds, who went 1-for-5 with two RBI on Sunday, has served as the Pirates' DH for six straight games. The Pirates aren't concerned that the injury will be a long-term concern for Reynolds, and his fantasy outlook shouldn't change dramatically in the short term while he's available to fill the DH spot. Rather than Reynolds himself, his injury has had a more negative effect on the fantasy value of Andrew McCutchen, who has made just a pair of starts in right field in the Pirates' last six games. The Pirates likely aren't eager to give McCutchen regular playing time in the outfield, so he's expected to continue sharing right field with Jack Suwinski until Reynolds completes his throwing program.
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Chad Patrick RP | MIL
Brewers' Chad Patrick: Secures first career win
Patrick (1-0) earned the win after tossing 5.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out four in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Reds.
Patrick got over the hump for his first career major-league win after throwing 4.2 scoreless innings Tuesday against the Royals. The right-hander was nearly spotless Sunday, with the only blemish on his line coming on a solo homer from Spencer Steer in the top of the fifth inning. Patrick has now allowed just one run over 10 innings in two turns in Milwaukee's rotation, and he's tentatively set to return to the mound Saturday on the road against the Diamondbacks.
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Sticks on roster
Baldwin is expected to serve as Atlanta's backup catcher after Sean Murphy (ribs) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and Chadwick Tromp was designated for assignment Sunday.
Baldwin served as Atlanta's primary backstop for the first week-plus of the campaign but struggled in his first taste of the big leagues, going 4-for-26 with a double, an RBI and three walks in seven games. The 24-year-old prospect seemed likely to return to the minors with Murphy ready to come off the IL, but Baldwin will instead retain his place on the big-league roster. That may not be a long-term move though, since Atlanta is likely to want Baldwin to get consistent reps behind the plate, and that's not expected to happen with Murphy poised to be a regular presence in the lineup.