MLB Player News

Hudson did not factor into the decision in a loss to Atlanta on Saturday, allowing five runs on three hits and four walks over 2.2 innings while striking out one.

Hudson allowed the leadoff man to reach in each of his first two innings of work but was fortunate to draw double play balls on both occasions to help him escape unscathed. Things would begin to unravel for the right-hander in the third, however, as he issued walks to three of the first five batters he faced before eventually surrendering a two-out grand slam to Matt Olson. Hudson has now issued three or more walks in each of his last three starts for Colorado (dating back to June 28) and owns an 8:13 K:BB over that stretch. He's also failed to make it through five innings in each of his last two outings, though both of those have come at Coors Field.

Fried did not factor into the decision in a win over Colorado on Saturday, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings while striking out nine.

Fried struggled out of the gate, allowing at least three baserunners in each of the first three innings, leading to five runs coming across for Colorado -- though only four would be charged to the lefty due to one of the runners advancing on a passed ball. Fried did generate 12 whiffs on the night en route to recording his highest strikeout total since June 4 against the Red Sox. However, he's now allowed four or more runs in back-to-back starts since returning from the injured list and has issued at least three walks in five of his last seven outings (dating back to June 17).

Amaya went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's 3-1 win over the White Sox.

Amaya is now riding a modest two-game hitting streak, but it's been a struggle overall for the catcher. He has just a .588 OPS through 83 games, which is a 100-point drop from his figure last season as a rookie. The 25-year-old was a fairly well-regarded prospect on his way up to the majors, but that has yet to translate to significant offensive success. Amaya should continue to see regular playing time, however, as journeyman Christian Bethancourt is the only other catching depth currently on the MLB roster.

Hodge (1-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the White Sox. He struck out one.

Hodge continued his strong play and earned the first win of his MLB career Saturday. The 23-year-old rookie has a 2.36 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 30 strikeouts across his first 26.2 innings. The Cubs have gone with veteran Hector Neris as their closer this season, but he's on a one-year contract, meaning Hodge could potentially take over in 2025. The young righty has shown the stuff to be an effective closer at this level.

Hoskins went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 1-0 win against the Reds.

The game was a pitcher's duel from start to finish, as the teams combined for just five hits, no walks and one run. Hoskins accounted for both the only extra-base hit and the only run of the matchup with his solo shot in the eighth inning. The long ball was his 20th of the campaign, an amount he's reached in each of his five full MLB campaigns. The slugger has gone deep five times over his past 13 contests.

Gorman went 3-for-4 in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Royals.

Gorman was the only Cardinal with multiple hits Saturday, but they were all singles. He lost his grip on a starting role to begin August, but he's bounced back to feature in the lineup in five straight games, including once against a left-handed pitcher. Gorman has gone 6-for-18 in that five-game span, though he's still struck out five times. The second baseman is at a .206/.276/.410 slash line with 19 home runs, 50 RBI, 42 runs scored, six stolen bases and 15 doubles over 104 contests.

Martinez allowed one hit and no walks while striking out seven batters over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Saturday.

Martinez allowed just two batters to reach base over his seven innings, yielding a single to Gary Sanchez in the fourth frame and hitting Sanchez with a pitch in the seventh. His brilliance didn't earn him a victory, though, as Brewers starter Tobias Myers went toe-to-toe with Martinez, recording 7.1 scoreless innings of his own. Martinez had been working primarily as a reliever until recently, and over two starts since rejoining the rotation Aug. 5, he's tossed 12 scoreless frames while giving up five hits and posting a 12:0 K:BB. Given that success, it's logical that he'll stick in the rotation, and he's tentatively slated to face the Royals at home next week.

Fernandez (1-4) allowed three runs on four hits over one-third of an inning, taking the loss Saturday versus the Royals.

Fernandez got the Cardinals out of trouble with two outs in the sixth inning, but he was on the hook for three of the four runs the Royals scored in the seventh. The right-hander had pitched well for most of June and into July, but he's now given up 11 runs (10 earned) over his last 10 innings dating back to July 10. He's at a 3.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 48:21 K:BB through 50.2 innings this season. While he has a save and 10 holds, it's unlikely he sees much high-leverage work as long as his struggles persist.

Williams earned a save against the Reds on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Williams was activated from the injured list July 28 and had to wait nearly two weeks to get his first save chance. The right-hander's opportunity Saturday wasn't an easy one, as he faced the heart of Cincinnati's order with just a one-run lead. Williams wasn't phased by any pressure, as he struck out the side on 18 pitches. Trevor Megill was excellent as Milwaukee's closer during most of the time Williams was out and is approaching a return from a back injury, but he's going to slide back into a setup role upon his activation. Williams has already shown that he's back in fine form, allowing just one run over four innings while posting an 8:1 K:BB through four outings.

Encarnacion went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Tigers.

Encarnacion has hit fairly well since joining the Giants' roster, batting .286 over eight games. He's added a 2:8 BB:K, with both walks coming over his last two games. The 26-year-old has seen time in right field and at designated hitter, and he's seemingly passed Marco Luciano on the depth chart despite Luciano's stronger prospect pedigree. Encarnacion shouldn't be relied on for speed, but his power is a plus -- he has a homer and two doubles over 30 plate appearances.