MLB Player News

Cruz went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and an additional RBI in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Dodgers.

Cruz came up a triple shy of the cycle, logging his second three-hit game in a row since returning from an illness. The shortstop has gone 12-for-24 (.500) with three extra-base hits over six contests in August. Cruz is up to a .262/.315/.473 slash line with a career-high 18 homers, 59 RBI, 54 runs scored, 24 doubles and 11 stolen bases over 103 games this season.

Keller (10-6) allowed seven runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings Friday, taking the loss versus the Dodgers.

Keller gave up home runs to Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani before the Dodgers added four more runs off singles. Keller has worked only four innings in each of his two August starts, but this one wasn't abbreviated by weather. The seven runs he allowed were a season high, inflating his ERA from 3.20 to 3.56. He's added a 1.22 WHIP and 123:38 K:BB over 136.1 innings across 23 starts. Keller will look to bounce back in a projected road outing versus the Padres.

Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

Hernandez's August heater continues -- he's hit safely in seven straight games, going 11-for-28 (.393) with three home runs, four doubles and two steals since the calendar flipped to August. His steal Friday was his sixth of the year, one shy of his total from 160 contests last season. Hernandez has added a .269/.333/.499 slash line with 25 homers, 24 doubles, 75 RBI and 62 runs scored over 114 games.

Rojas went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reported Friday that Mookie Betts (hand) will shift to right field when he returns Monday, so Rojas will remain in competition with Nick Ahmed and Amed Rosario for playing time at shortstop. Rojas has started two straight games since he returned from the injured list himself after missing two weeks with a forearm injury. For the season, Rojas has been a steady batter, hitting .270 with a .713 OPS, three home runs, 23 RBI, 22 runs scored, six steals and 17 doubles over 215 plate appearances. As long as he can avoid a slump, Rojas appears to be in line for the bulk of the action at shortstop.

Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

Hernandez went 14-for-57 (.246) during a 16-game homer drought, which he snapped with a fifth-inning blast Friday. The utility man is up to seven homers this year. He hasn't hit consistently or for much power this year with a .209/.276/.333 slash line, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored and 11 doubles over 89 contests. Despite Hernandez's flaws, he's seen a starting role at third base lately, though he'll likely move to a short-side platoon role once Max Muncy (oblique) completes a rehab assignment.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

Ohtani's blast sparked a five-run rally for the Dodgers in the third inning. He's gone just 6-for-30 (.200) over seven games in August, but three of his knocks in that span have been homers, giving him 35 on the year -- one ahead of Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna for the National League lead. Ohtani is slashing .302/.389/.622 with 83 RBI, 87 runs scored, 32 steals, 29 doubles and four triples over 113 contests this season.

Freeman went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, a walk, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

Freeman did a bit of everything in his second consecutive multi-hit effort. The homer was his first since July 21. The first baseman has gone 6-for-15 with four RBI over four games since returning from an absence due to a personal issue. Overall, Freeman is sporting a .292/.396/.503 slash line with 17 homers, 71 RBI, 66 runs scored, six steals, 28 doubles and two triples across 108 contests.

Flaherty (9-5) allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out 10 over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Pirates on Friday.

Flaherty allowed a solo shot to Oneil Cruz and a three-run home run to Joey Bart in the fifth. This was the first time in his last five starts that Flaherty gave up more than two runs, but the Dodgers gave him ample run support. The right-hander is now at a 2.97 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 150:21 K:BB through 118.1 innings over 20 starts between the Dodgers and the Tigers. Flaherty is projected for a tough road outing in Milwaukee for his next start.

Rogers (2-4) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win Friday over the Tigers.

The Giants' bullpen is in flux following the team's shock decision Friday to option Camilo Doval to the minors. Rogers wasn't asked to handle a save situation Friday, but he pitched the ninth inning in a tied game, which is another common situation for closers to handle. That may have been a product of Ryan Walker pitching on four of the previous five days, as it's likely to be Walker who sees the bulk of the ninth-inning duties while Rogers -- who has often struggled in save situations in his career -- remains in a setup role. For the season, Rogers has a 3.04 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 38:3 K:BB with 25 holds and one save in two chances. Jordan Hicks and Taylor Rogers are also in the high-leverage mix, and the former's prior closing experience could make him a dark-horse candidate for saves.

Ray allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven over six innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers on Friday.

Ray delivered his longest outing of the season and earned his first quality start, though it wasn't exactly a dominating performance. He threw 66 of 105 pitches for strikes and avoided giving up a home run for the first time since his season debut July 24. Ray is now at a 3.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 28:9 K:BB over 20.1 innings through four starts. He's projected for a tougher home outing versus Atlanta next week.