MLB Player News
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Juan Mejia RP | COL
Rockies' Juan Mejia: Struggles, still wins
Mejia (1-4) allowed two earned runs on three hits across one inning but still earned the win Friday against the Giants. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.
Mejia was called upon to hold the Rockies' deficit to one run in the ninth inning, but he allowed four of the first six batters he faced to reach base. The offense bailed him out with a walk-off home run, but Mejia's recent struggles continued with the outing. He's allowed at least one earned run in three straight appearances, totaling five earned runs allowed across 2.2 innings. Mejia is still being used in high-leverage situations, though his potential share of save chances is murky.
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Nate Lowe DH | CIN
Reds' Nathaniel Lowe: Hit streak reaches eight games
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-3 loss Atlanta.
Lowe's fourth-inning home run extended a hit streak to eight games. During the streak, Lowe has gone 11-for-30 (.367) with four doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and six runs scored. He's getting regular playing time against right-handers while Reds manager Terry Francona shuffles the starting lineup to cover for injured third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back). Lowe is slugging at a career-high .570 percent with 18 of his 33 hits going for extra bases.
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J.J. Bleday LF | CIN
Reds' JJ Bleday: Clubs eighth homer
Bleday went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 8-3 loss to Atlanta.
The 28-year-old outfielder took Grant Holmes deep to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and get Cincy on the board. Bleday continues to swing a hot bat, and over his last 16 games he's slashing .311/.411/.607 with four of his eight homers on the season, as well as one steal, 11 runs and 15 RBI.
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Chris Paddack RP | TEX
Reds' Chris Paddack: Remains winless
Paddack (0-7) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings as the Reds fell 8-3 to Atlanta. He failed to strike out a batter.
The veteran right-hander is 0-2 with Cincinnati after an 0-5 start to the year with Miami. Paddack tossed 52 of 86 pitches for strikes Friday before exiting, and since being picked up to patch a hole at the back of the Reds' rotation, he's managed a 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 8:7 K:BB in 15 innings over three starts. Rhett Lowder (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment next week and may only need one outing before coming off the IL, but that still leaves Paddack to handle at least one more start, which is set to come at home next week against the Royals.
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Michael Harris CF | ATL
Braves' Michael Harris: Drives in three in Friday's win
Harris went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Friday's 8-3 win over the Reds.
He was caught stealing for the first time this season, but it was otherwise another productive effort from Harris. The center fielder has three multi-hit performances in the last four games and six in the last 10, boosting his slash line on the season to .308/.333/.535 with 13 homers, three steals, 27 runs and 36 RBI in 55 contests.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. RF | ATL
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Goes yard again Friday
Acuna went 1-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run in Friday's 8-3 win over the Reds.
The star outfielder led off the game by crushing a Chris Paddack hanging curve 429 feet to left-center field. It was only Acuna's fourth homer of the season, but two of them have come in the last two games. Since making a mid-May return from a hamstring strain, Acuna's slashing .194/.370/.389 with a 10:11 BB:K to go with three steals, seven runs and eight RBI in 10 contests.
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Grant Holmes SP | ATL
Braves' Grant Holmes: Early exit in no-decision
Holmes didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-3 win over the Reds, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander got handed a 4-0 lead before he took the mound for the bottom of the second inning, but Holmes wasn't efficient enough to stick around and collect the win, getting lifted after 80 pitches (52 strikes) with the tying runner on base for Cincy. Holmes put together a bumpy May, going 1-1 in five starts with a 4.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB over 24.2 innings. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Blue Jays.
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Corbin Burnes SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Faces live hitter
Burnes (elbow) threw to a hitter Friday for the first time post-surgery, MLB.com reports.
The rehabbing Burnes faced the rehabbing Jordan Lawlar (wrist), marking the first time either player has faced a live opponent during their respective recoveries. Next up for Burnes is another batting practice session Tuesday. The right-hander is expected to return midseason, likely following the All-Star break.
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Jordan Lawlar LF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Takes live at-bats
Lawlar (wrist) took live at-bats Friday, MLB.com reports.
Lawlar took live at-bats for the first time since suffering a fractured right wrist in early April, facing off against the rehabbing Corbin Burnes (elbow). Pending the outcome of Friday's activity, Lawlar could play in a complex game Saturday. He's projected to rejoin the Diamondbacks during the second week of June.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Collects three hits, two RBI
Moreno went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.
Moreno has been swinging the bat well lately, going 16-for-43 (.372) over his last 11 contests. He's added 10 RBI and three stolen bases in that span, providing some unexpected five-category coverage from the catcher position. On the year, Moreno is hitting .268 with a .745 OPS, three home runs, three steals, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored and eight doubles across 126 plate appearances.