MLB Player News

Smith-Shawver didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

Making just his second big-league appearance of the season, Smith-Shawver retired the first seven batters he faced before the wheels began to come off in the third inning, as four straight Minnesota hitters reached base before the right-hander coaxed a double play out of Josh Bell to escape the jam. Smith-Shawver wasn't so lucky in the fifth, getting the hook after 75 pitches (49 strikes) following a bases-loaded walk to Bell. Atlanta has indicated the 23-year-old will remain in the rotation for now as part of a six-man unit -- the team is in the middle of a three-week stretch with just one scheduled off day that takes them to Sept. 3 -- but he'll need to perform better to keep his spot. Smith-Shawver is set to make his next trip to the mound at home next week against the Dodgers.

Benge went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Padres.

The rookie outfielder opened the scoring when he sliced a Michael King sinker just inside the left-field foul pole in the fourth inning, and the Mets never looked back. Benge is up to 15 homers on the year with a .752 OPS, and that's largely been fueled by an impressive August in which he's delivered a .311/.373/.557 slash line with four home runs, nine runs and 10 RBI over 16 games.

Senga recorded his fourth save of the season in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Padres, giving up one run on two hits and a walk in one inning. He failed to strike out a batter.

The right-hander put three straight baserunners aboard with one out in the ninth to make things interesting, but Senga was able to get pinch-hitter Austin Hays to ground into a double play to escape the jam. Devin Williams (shoulder) isn't expected back until sometime in September, so Senga should continue holding down the fort as the Mets' closer for another couple weeks or so. Wednesday's run was the first he's allowed over six appearances in August, and Senga has yet to blow a save chance.

Stock didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Padres, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

While the 36-year-old right-hander was stingy, he was also inefficient, needing 83 pitches (50 strikes) to record just 13 outs. Stock has failed to complete five frames in three straight starts, walking at least three batters in each outing. Since joining the Mets' rotation at the beginning of August, he's managed a 5.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 19:11 K:BB over 16.2 innings. With none of the team's top pitching prospects throwing well in the upper minors, however, Stock's spot is likely more secure than those ratios would suggest. He'll try to last long enough to qualify for a win in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Brewers.

King (8-9) took the loss Wednesday as the Padres fell 4-2 to the Mets, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

A two-run home run by Carson Benge in the fourth inning was the only real blemish on King's line for the afternoon, but the right-hander left the mound with the Friars down 2-1 and saw his two-start win streak snapped. King has been on a roll since the beginning of July, producing quality starts in six of his nine outings with a 3.08 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 45:19 K:BB over 52.2 innings. He'll look for more run support in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Pirates.

The Cubs transferred Maton (knee) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The Cubs have yet to decide whether to build Maton up for a late-season return or shut him down for the year, though the team is expected to make a decision within the next week or so. In the meantime, the Cubs will stash him away on the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot for Gabriel Arias, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets on Wednesday.

Flores went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers.

The Pirates tried to give the red-hot Flores a breather by keeping him out of the lineup Wednesday, but the 25-year-old was summoned off the bench to pinch hit for Henry Davis in the seventh inning and took Jacob Waguespack deep to make it a 3-2 game. Two frames later, Flores homered again to tie it, this time off Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, setting the stage for Brandon Lowe's walk-off blast. Flores has gone yard five times in the last seven games, a sizzling stretch in which he's batting .435 (10-for-23) with 10 RBI.

Holmes (5-6) took the loss Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing a run on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out one.

It was a strong outing overall for Holmes, who's now given up just one run over 12 innings in his last two starts. However, he'd wind up with the loss Wednesday, as the Cubs failed to provide any support offensively in a 3-0 defeat. Overall, Holmes sports a 2.49 ERA across 12 starts (68.2 innings) between the Cubs and Mets this season with a 1.11 WHIP and 50:23 K:BB. He's currently lined up to face the Mariners on the road his next time out.

Montgomery (5-3) picked up the win Wednesday against the Tigers, giving up two hits and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The southpaw reliever worked a clean top of the ninth with the Pirates down 3-2 and got rewarded when Rafael Flores and Brandon Lowe both took Detroit closer Kenley Jansen deep for a walk-off win. Montgomery has reeled off nine straight scoreless appearances, picking up two wins and three saves in that stretch with a 0.63 WHIP and an eye-popping 17:2 K:BB over eight innings as Pittsburgh's top high-leverage option.

The Cubs claimed Arias off waivers from the Mets on Wednesday.

Arias was DFA'd by the Mets after going 0-for-5 during his brief stay in Queens, and he'll now make his way to Chicago to help bolster the Cubs' infield depth. Phil Maton (knee) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.