MLB Player News
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Jake Mangum CF | PIT
Pirates' Jake Mangum: Swipes two bags in loss
Mangum went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.
The 30-year-old continues to produce as the Pirates' regular center fielder while Oneil Cruz (hand) is on the IL. Mangum has delivered multiple hits in three straight games, and over 21 contests since Cruz went down he's slashing .358/.388/.432 with six doubles, five steals, five RBI and 10 runs. Cruz isn't expected back until the latter part of July after the All-Star break, so Mangum has at least another week-plus to play regularly.
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Esmerlyn Valdez RF | PIT
Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Stays hot in Friday's loss
Valdez went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.
The rookie outfielder extended his hitting streak to eight games with the performance, a stretch in which Valdez is batting a blistering .552 (16-for-29) with eight extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and four homers), nine runs and 10 RBI. His current playing time in right field is coming while Oneil Cruz (hand) and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) are on the shelf, but it's going to be hard for manager Derek Shelton to sit Valdez down if he's still raking when the Pirates' roster gets healthier.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Hammered by Nats
Keller (6-6) took the loss Friday, giving up five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over six innings as the Pirates were downed 9-5 by the Nationals. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Washington launched five homers in total off Pittsburgh pitching, with Keller taking the brunt of the damage. It's the first time since last August the veteran right-hander has served up three long balls in a game, and that outing came at Coors Field. Over six starts since the beginning of June, Keller has stumbled to a 6.47 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB over 32 innings while getting taken deep eight times, after he allowed just four homers in his first 12 starts of 2026. He'll try to get back on track in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against Atlanta.
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Ildemaro Vargas 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Racks up three hits
Vargas went 3-for-5 with one RBI in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings loss to the Brewers.
Vargas started at first base against left-hander Kyle Harrison and delivered a good game. While Vargas remains a regular in the lineup versus southpaws, his playing time versus right-handers has been limited lately. He hit just .100 over 23 games in June to lose out on a starting role and will likely be limited to utility duties as long as Arizona's infield is mostly healthy. Vargas is hitting .263 with a .709 OPS, seven home runs, 45 RBI, 38 runs scored and a stolen base over 273 plate appearances this season.
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Jose Cabrera SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jose Cabrera: Shaky showing Friday
Cabrera allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Friday.
Cabrera landed just 33 of 63 pitches for strikes in his shortest start yet. Through 13.1 innings over three starts, he has a 4.73 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB. The 24-year-old continues to fill in for a depleted rotation, and he'll likely get one more start before the All-Star break. That's expected to be on the road versus the Padres, but Cabrera will likely need a good performance to make a case to stay in the rotation once Michael Soroka (glute) is ready to return.
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Cooper Pratt SS | MIL
Brewers' Cooper Pratt: Logs sixth steal
Pratt went 1-for-3 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.
Pratt had gone hitless over his previous five games. The shortstop is batting just .191 with a .517 OPS, six steals, two RBI, five runs scored, one double and no home runs over his first 16 big-league contests. Pratt will need to be steadier with the bat if he's going to maintain a decent amount of playing time, though he does offer quality defense at a tough position.
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Jake Bauers 1B | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Three hits in Friday's win
Bauers went 3-for-6 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.
Bauers has a pair of three-hit efforts over his last four games. The first baseman is hitting .265 (13-for-49) over his last 15 contests, but he's also struck out 21 times in that span, as he's started to swing and miss more frequently. Overall, he's hitting .269 with an .864 OPS, 15 home runs, 52 RBI, 50 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple and five stolen bases across 77 contests as a regular in the lineup for much of the campaign.
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Brice Turang 2B | MIL
Brewers' Brice Turang: Plates insurance runs
Turang went 3-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.
Turang provided the Brewers' last runs in the game. He's on a six-game hitting streak, going 10-for-28 (.357) in that span. The second baseman is up to a .263 average and .812 OPS on the year while adding 12 home runs, 51 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 61 runs scored, 18 doubles and three triples through 82 contests. He's tracking toward career-best numbers in most power stats, though that's also come with a career-high 25.9 percent strikeout rate.
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Garrett Mitchell CF | MIL
Brewers' Garrett Mitchell: Goes yard in win
Mitchell went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.
Mitchell opened the scoring with a second-inning blast. He's homered in consecutive contests and has gone 8-for-15 with five extra-base hits and five RBI over his last four games. The outfielder is batting .265 with an .824 OPS, eight homers, 42 RBI, 37 runs scored and six stolen bases over 76 contests this season. He continues to see a strong-side platoon role in center field, though he has made seven starts versus left-handed pitchers since the beginning of June.
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Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Brewers' Kyle Harrison: Short start in Arizona
Harrison allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three over 2.2 innings to take a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Harrison labored in this outing, throwing 43 of 72 pitches for strikes before his early exit. It's just the third time he's been held to three innings or fewer in a start this season. Harrison has allowed seven runs over his last 20 innings with a 22:2 K:BB in that span. He's now at a 2.82 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 99:20 K:BB through 79.2 innings over 16 starts this season. The southpaw's next start is projected to be on the road in St. Louis.