MLB Player News

Friedl went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Wednesday's 9-2 victory versus St. Louis.

Both Friedl and teammate Jonathan India went deep twice in the contest as Cincinnati completed a three-game sweep. It was the first multi-homer performance of the campaign for Friedl as he continued a recent power surge that has seen him slug four homers over his past eight games. Prior to that span, Friedl had gone deep five times across his first 37 contests of the campaign.

India went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in a 9-2 win against the Cardinals on Wednesday.

India tormented St. Louis starter Kyle Gibson, touching up the veteran hurler for a three-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth. The power outburst came on the heels of a rough stretch for India during which he batted a paltry .138 with only one homer over his previous 24 contests. In fact, the second baseman had been in a five-game, 0-for-20 slump prior to breaking out Wednesday.

Gibson (7-5) took the loss against Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out six batters over 4.2 innings.

Gibson was particularly hurt by the long ball, as the Reds scored their first six runs by way of four homers, including two by Jonathan India. Prior to Wednesday, Gibson had been pretty good at keeping the ball in the park, posting a 1.0 HR/9 on the season and surrendering just two homers over his previous six starts. Gibson's problem with home runs Wednesday may thus prove to be just an aberration, and he'll look to bounce back in his next start, which tentatively lines up to be at home against Milwaukee.

Manager Brian Snitker said after Wednesday's 13-2 win over the Giants that Soler (hamstring) will not play in Thursday's series finale in San Francisco, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Soler injured his hamstring while running to first base in the fourth inning of Wednesday's contest, and while the overall concern level regarding his injury seems low, Atlanta will take a cautious approach and hold him out for at least one game. The slugging outfielder is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday, per Toscano, which will help Atlanta determine if Soler will need to miss any more time.

Spiers pitched 2.2 innings in bulk relief Wednesday against the Cardinals, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four batters.

Spiers didn't actually enter the contest until the fourth inning, as Emilio Pagan was able to cover two scoreless frames as the opener and Sam Moll followed with a perfect inning. When Spiers came into the game, the Reds had already built a 4-0 lead, and they extended that to 7-0 through five frames. That may have given Spiers a bit too much comfort, as he allowed four straight hits resulting in a pair of runs to begin the sixth. The right-hander was at least able to bounce back by striking out the final two batters he faced before exiting the contest having thrown 60 total pitches. Spiers had worked as a traditional starter in his eight previous appearances prior to Wednesday, but it's unclear if he'll move back to that role his next time out or again work behind an opener.

Taillon (8-7) took the loss against Cleveland on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings.

Taillon got through three scoreless frames before the Guardians touched him up for two runs in the fourth. Cleveland scored twice more in the fifth, and the Cubs' offense managed only one run in the contest to send Taillon to his seventh loss of the campaign. The right-hander had a nice run of successful outings between mid-June and late July, but over his past four starts he's given up at least four earned runs on three occasions to push his season ERA up to 3.62.

Lindor went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two total run scored in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Athletics.

Lindor logged multiple hits for the fourth game in a row and the sixth time during his active eight-game hitting streak. He also snapped a power drought with his first homer since July 25. The star shortstop is up to a .263/.336/.465 slash line, 23 homers, 69 RBI, 79 runs scored, 24 stolen bases and 30 doubles across 120 contests, providing well-rounded production out of the leadoff spot.

Alonso went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and a two-run double in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Athletics.

This was Alonso's first four-hit game this season. The first baseman has gone 17-for-61 (.279) with six homers and 15 RBI over his last 16 contests, though he also has an unsettling 27 strikeouts in that span. For the season, he's up to a .246/.329/.475 slash line, 26 homers, 68 RBI, 68 runs scored, 27 doubles and three stolen bases over 120 games.

Peterson (7-1) allowed an unearned run on three hits and four walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Athletics.

This marked Peterson's sixth time going at least six innings this season, and it was one of his strongest performances this year. The one concern that remains is his high walk rate -- he's issued at least three walks in five of his last six starts and has a 4.3 BB/9 this season. Peterson has managed to post a 3.04 ERA despite a 1.39 WHIP and 56:34 K:BB through 71 innings over 13 starts on the year. He's projected for a tougher home start versus the Orioles early next week.

The Rockies placed Diaz on outright waivers Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

After slashing .270/.315/.378 with 36 RBI across 327 plate appearances, Diaz is now available for any team willing to pay the remaining $1.5 million on his contract for 2024. If he goes unclaimed, the Rockies may keep him on the active roster or outright him to Triple-A Albuquerque, at which point Diaz would have the right to reject the assignment and enter free agency.