MLB Player News

Snell pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against Atlanta on Monday, allowing two hits and walking three batters while striking out 11.

Snell's excellence was on par with that of opposing starter Chris Sale, who fired seven scoreless frames with 12 punchouts. Snell didn't go quite as deep into the contest as Sale due to his 114 pitches, but he nonetheless recorded his sixth straight quality start after failing to accomplish that feat over his initial seven contests of the campaign. Snell struggled to begin his tenure with San Francisco and then missed over a month from early June to early July due to a groin strain. Since returning from that injury, the southpaw has been dominant, posting a 0.99 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 60:14 K:BB over 45.1 frames.

Sale allowed three hits and struck out 12 batters over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Monday.

Sale and Giants starter Blake Snell locked into a southpaw pitching duel that included a combined 23 strikeouts over 13.1 scoreless frames. Sale's strikeout total was a season high and marked his second consecutive contest with double-digit punchouts. The veteran lefty extended his streak of starts allowing two or fewer earned runs to 11, and he's racked up a 95:20 K:BB over 67 innings during that span. Sale has built a strong case to this point for NL Cy Young honors -- he leads qualified starters in the circuit in ERA (2.61) and ranks second in both WHIP (0.97) and punchouts (177) while tying for the major-league lead with 13 victories.

Rodgers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Monday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Rodgers gave Colorado its first lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and added a solo shot to center field in the sixth. The long ball extended the infielder's hitting streak to seven games, and he's had at least one hit in 11 of his past 12 contests. During the latter stretch, Rodgers is batting .391 (18-for-46) with two home runs, six doubles, eight RBI and eight runs scored.

Blalock allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Monday.

This was just the second major-league appearance for Blalock -- his first came was a one-inning relief cameo June 20 while he was still with Milwaukee. The righty fared pretty well in his first MLB start, holding the Diamondbacks to one run through five innings before consecutive two-out hits in the sixth resulted in two more runs crossing the plate against him. Blalock promisingly didn't walk any batters, and he induced 10 whiffs on 96 pitches. The Rockies' rotation has been hit hard by injuries of late, so Blalock figures to have earned himself at least another start, which tentatively lines up to come at home against San Diego.

Martinez earned a save against the Rockies on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.

Martinez came on in the ninth frame to protect a one-run lead and gave up a single to leadoff batter Michael Toglia. However, the righty reliever then got Jake Cave to ground into a double play before retiring Elias Diaz on a groundout to end the game. Martinez extended his scoreless streak to seven outings and notched his third save in his past four appearances. With each successful outing, he's tightening his grip on the team's closer role.

Pfaadt (7-6) earned the win over Colorado on Monday, allowing four runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out 11 batters over seven innings.

Pfaadt's control was on point in the victory, as he threw 73 of 94 pitches for strikes and didn't walk any batters. The right-hander also induced 19 swings-and-misses en route to 11 strikeouts, matching the career-best mark he previously set against Seattle on April 28. Pfaadt hasn't taken a loss in nine straight starts, and he's posted a 3.33 ERA along with a 51:7 K:BB over 54 frames during that span.

Kim went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in a 2-1 win against Pittsburgh on Monday.

It was a quiet game offensively for both sides, and Kim was the only Padre with multiple hits. The knocks didn't directly produce any runs, but the shortstop did add to his fantasy line with a stolen base in the eighth inning. Kim is up to 22 thefts on the campaign, giving him a realistic chance of reaching 30 steals for the second straight season.

Woodford (0-4) took the loss against San Diego on Monday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

If this was an audition to reclaim a rotation spot, Woodford made a strong case, as he tossed his first quality start of the campaign while holding the Padres to a single run. The right-hander was given a chance to start as a result of Marco Gonzales moving to the injured list due to a forearm strain Monday, and with Gonzales now out for the season, Woodford could take his place in the rotation. Such a move may be temporary, however, as Jared Jones (lat) has begun a rehab assignment and could be back with the Pirates within the next 10 days.

Suarez allowed one run on two hits over one inning to earn a save against the Pirates on Monday.

Suarez entered in the ninth inning with San Diego up 2-0 and made things interesting, allowing a pair of singles that resulted in one run. However, he was able to get Bryan Reynolds to line out to end the game. The run Suarez allowed was just his second over his past 11 outings, and he's recorded three wins and four saves (in five tries) while posting a 1.54 ERA and 13:2 K:BB across 11.2 frames during that span.

Musgrove gave up two hits and issued one walk while striking out one batter over 4.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Monday.

Musgrove's first big-league start since May 26 went well, as the veteran hurler allowed just four baserunners (on two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch) while throwing 43 of 63 pitches for strikes. The right-hander made only one rehab appearance (Aug. 4 with Single-A Lake Elsinore) during which he tossed just 43 pitches, which explains why he was held to a limited workload Monday. Musgrove may be kept under some level of a pitch count for another start or two, but he figures to have more of a leash his time on the mound, which is tentatively slated to take place in Colorado.