MLB Player News

Friedl went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Monday's 14-3 win over the Rangers.

Friedl returned to the lineup after getting Sunday off. He was back at leadoff, which was a good place to be Monday. The two batters behind him, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, went a combined 6-for-8 with three home runs, a double and 10 RBI. In addition to scoring twice, Friedl swiped his first bag of the season. He's looking to put an injury-marred 2024 behind him and should register double-digit thefts if given good health. He stole 27 bases in 138 games in 2023 before falling back to nine over 85 games in 2024.

Candelario started at third base and went 1-for-5 Monday's 14-3 win over Texas.

Candelario, who has started all four games thus far, was moved mid-game to first base when Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) was removed after being hit by a pitch. Imaging came back negative, but Encarnacion-Strand may not be ready to go Tuesday. If so, it's likely Candelario starts at first base Tuesday, with Santiago Espinal entering the lineup at third.

Steer went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Monday's 14-3 win over the Rangers.

Steer, who served as the designated hitter, was in the starting lineup for a second straight day, which indicates his lingering shoulder discomfort presents no limitations other than when it comes to playing the field. Monday's hit was his first of the season. Steer had gone 0-for-10 before a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Walker walked one and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning during Monday's 7-2 win over the Astros.

It wasn't a save situation, but it was still reassuring to see Walker on the mound after back tightness had him shut down over the weekend. Camilo Doval picked up a save Sunday in his absence, but Walker should get the bulk of the ninth-inning work for the Giants after a breakout 2024 campaign that saw him post a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 99:18 K:BB over 80 innings.

Swanson went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, a walk, two total runs and three total RBI in Monday's 18-3 thrashing of the Athletics.

Swanson homered for the second straight game, swatting a solo shot to center field in the first inning. The veteran shortstop plated two additional runs on a sixth-inning double. Following a slow start to the campaign, Swanson has gone 4-for-9 with four RBI over his past two contests.

Busch went 3-for-6 with a home run, two total runs and four total RBI against the Athletics in an 18-3 win Monday.

Busch was one of four Chicago players with three or more hits in the offensive onslaught. He hit the first homer of the game for Chicago, knocking a two-run shot to right-center field in the first inning. The long ball was the first extra-base hit of the season for Busch, who had gone just 4-for-18 at the plate prior to Monday's big performance.

Kelly hit for the cycle against the Athletics in an 18-3 win Monday, going 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a double, two walks, three runs and five RBI.

Per ABC 7 Chicago, Kelly became the first MLB player in history to hit for the cycle in the month of March and just the 17th catcher to accomplish the feat. The plodding backstop got the most difficult hit in the cycle in his final plate appearance, ricocheting a hit off the center-field wall in the eighth inning and reaching third base after the ball rolled on the outfield grass. The triple was just the third of Kelly's 10-year big-league career. He had gone 1-for-6 over two starts prior to Monday's explosive performance.

Tucker went 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, four total runs and three total RBI in Monday's 18-3 win over the Athletics.

Tucker and Carson Kelly both had four hits for Chicago on a night when the team exploded for 18 runs. The star outfielder capped the outburst with a 417-foot solo shot in the ninth inning to notch his third straight game with a homer. Tucker has been everything the Cubs could have hoped for when they traded for him last December. Through seven games, Tucker is slashing .323/.400/.742 with three long balls, four doubles, six runs, 10 RBI and a stolen base.

Romano allowed one hit during a scoreless ninth inning in Monday's 6-1 win over the Rockies. He struck out two.

Although it was not a save situation, it's worth noting Romano was warming up when it was a 4-1 game in the eighth inning before Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos both homered to add some insurance runs. Monday was a strong bounce-back performance for Romano, who gave up two runs while blowing a save on Opening Day against the Nationals. The hard-throwing right-hander's usage also suggests he remains first in line in Philadelphia's bullpen at the moment when it comes to save opportunities.

Castellanos went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-1 win over the Rockies.

After Philadelphia broke through with a four-run seventh inning, Castellanos went back-to-back with Max Kepler for a couple of solo shots to help tack on some insurance runs in the eighth frame. Through 13 at-bats in the very early stages of the campaign, the veteran slugger is batting .308 with four walks to go with Monday's round-tripper.