MLB Player News

Cruz will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Cruz has turned in a 5.30 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 52.2 innings this season, and he'll now be called upon to make his first start of the campaign in what will likely be a bullpen game for Cincinnati. Only seven of Cruz's 61 appearances have lasted more than an inning, so he'll presumably be taken out of the game after recording the first three outs.

Swanson went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and run, and two walks in Tuesday's 9-5 victory over Pittsburgh.

The Chicago shortstop extended his team's lead to 5-2 when he launched a 421-foot, two-run homer off Jared Jones in the fourth inning. Swanson later collected an additional RBI when he worked a bases-loaded walk against reliever Ben Heller. The 30-year-old has found a groove in August, hitting .276 (21-for-76) with three homers, 16 runs scored, 18 RBI and seven steals across 23 games after batting a paltry .219 through July 31.

Steele (5-5) earned the win Tuesday against the Pirates, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

Both runs scored in the opening frame, as Pittsburgh sent seven batters to the plate while Steele labored through 19 pitches. However, the 29-year-old cruised through the next four innings, not allowing a runner to reach second. With this 93-pitch performance, the Chicago southpaw collected his fifth win in his last 10 starts. Over that span, he has pitched to a 2.97 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB across 57.2 innings. Steele is currently slated to face the Pirates again in his upcoming turn in the rotation next week.

Cruz went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-5 loss to the Cubs.

The 25-year-old drew a start at designated hitter and collected his second four-hit performance of the season, with his first being a 5-for-5 effort on Aug. 2. Cruz has been red hot in August, hitting .383 (31-for-81) with a home run, a triple, eight doubles, 11 RBI and nine runs scored across 22 games. Overall, he is now slashing .271/.328/.473 with 18 homers and steals apiece in 488 plate appearances this season.

Jones (5-7) took the loss Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.

The Pittsburgh right-hander looked rusty in his return from a lat injury, pitching in the big leagues for the first time since July 3. Jones allowed multiple home runs for just the fourth time out of 17 starts this season, yielding two-run long balls to Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson. If looking for a silver lining in this 83-pitch outing, it is that Jones' velocity appeared healthy, as he averaged 97.2 mph on his fastball (compared to 97.3 mph on the season). The rookie flamethrower will look to bounce back in his next start, currently lined up as a rematch against the Cubs in Chicago next week.

Crews went 2-for-4 with a steal, a double and one run scored in Tuesday's 4-2 win versus the Yankees.

The Washington rookie posted his first career hit in the second inning, roping a double to left off Gerrit Cole. Crews wasn't finished though, knocking an infield single in the sixth before swiping the first bag of his MLB career. The 22-year-old has all the makings of a future star after slashing .265/.340/.455 with eight homers and 10 steals across 238 plate appearances at Triple-A Rochester. He should get full playing time in the Nationals outfield while Alex Call (foot) is on the injured list and could seize control of a lineup spot if he plays well.

Finnegan earned the save in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Yankees, allowing a run on three hits and no walks over 1.1 innings with no strikeouts.

The Washington closer entered the eighth with two outs and a runner on third and escaped cleanly thanks to a Giancarlo Stanton groundout. However, the ninth started ominously for Finnegan, as he yielded a leadoff double to Jazz Chisholm but managed to finish the game, laboring through 24 pitches in the inning. Despite struggling with a 7.30 ERA across 12.1 innings since the All-Star break, Finnegan remains cemented as the Nationals closer while the team is out of playoff position and eyeing 2025.

Junis did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Athletics, striking out three across four perfect innings.

With multiple Reds starters on the shelf, Junis earned his first start since April 2 and cruised through four frames while generating eight whiffs on 43 pitches. Although the 31-year-old hasn't reached 50 pitches in an appearance this season, he owns a 3.19 ERA and 1.02 WHIP and tentatively lines up to face the Brewers on Sunday.

Corbin (4-12) earned the win Tuesday against the Yankees, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing two hits and two walks. He struck out six.

With this 104-pitch effort, the 35-year-old has posted consecutive wins for the first time since Aug. 2023. Corbin generated a convincing 13 whiffs en route to his six punchouts, as the Yankees lineup was flummoxed by his slider and sinker, which caused five swings and misses apiece. Despite another rough year from the veteran southpaw, he was serviceable in August while going 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB in 26.1 innings across five starts. Corbin is tentatively scheduled to make his first start of September against the Marlins in Miami next week.

Castellanos went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Astros.

Castellanos pounced on a hanging curveball from Justin Verlander to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead in the third inning. The outfielder has hit safely in eight of his past 10 games, tallying three multi-hit efforts with two long balls and 10 RBI in that span. On the season, he's hitting .250 with 18 homers, 71 RBI and 63 runs scored across 545 plate appearances.