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Nico Hoerner 2B | CHC
Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Two hits, stolen base in loss
Hoerner went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Hoerner singled and scored in the second inning and then singled and stole second in the fourth. The 27-year-old has been moved from leadoff to sixth in the batting order but is enjoying a modest seven-game hit streak that has included five steals. On the year, he is hitting .257 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 55 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 448 plate appearances.
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Michael Busch 1B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Homers again in loss
Busch went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Busch hit a two-run homer in the first inning and singled in the fifth. He has gone just 6-for-33 in his past 10 games, but three of those hits have left the park. On the season, the first baseman is hitting .260 with 15 home runs, 43 RBI and 52 runs scored across 392 plate appearances.
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Mookie Betts SS | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Targeting return during road trip
The Dodgers are hopeful that Betts (hand) will be ready to return from the 10-day injured list during their next road trip, which begins Aug. 12 in Milwaukee, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Betts has been out since mid-June after suffering a fracture in his left wrist/hand, but he took batting practice with the team Wednesday. The Dodgers will begin their next road trip in Milwaukee with a four-game set with the Brewers before playing three games in St. Louis. If the timeline holds true, Betts will likely begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the coming days.
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Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Nationals' Kyle Finnegan: Earns 29th save
Finnegan earned the save against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Finnegan was called upon to protect a 6-2 lead with two outs in the eighth inning and allowed two inherited runs to score before converting the four-out save on 18 pitches. The closer rebounded from a disastrous outing Monday to secure his sixth straight save attempt. He ranks third in the majors with 29 saves and owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:14 K:BB across 45.1 innings.
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Davidjohn Herz SP | WAS
Nationals' DJ Herz: Strikes out six in win
Herz (2-4) earned the win against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing one unearned run on two hits and one walk with six strikeouts over five innings.
Herz opened with four scoreless frames before Sal Frelick reached on an error and came around to score with two outs in the fifth. The rookie was pulled after 77 pitches and has completed six innings just once in 10 starts, but he has yielded two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five outings. On the season, he owns a 4.27 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 59:13 K:BB across 46.1 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Giants next week.
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Aaron Civale RP | CHC
Brewers' Aaron Civale: Allows five runs in loss
Civale (2-8) took the loss against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts over four innings.
Civale allowed four two-out runs in the first inning and then surrendered a solo homer in the third. His velocity was down on each of his offerings, and he generated only five swinging strikes on 80 pitches. The 29-year-old hasn't recorded a win since April 9 and will bring a 5.14 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 108:37 K:BB into a home matchup with the Reds next week.
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Brandon Sproat SP | MIL
Mets' Brandon Sproat: Promoted to Triple-A
The Mets promoted Sproat from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Sproat is coming off one of the best performances of his young career, striking out 13 batters -- including the final 11 he faced -- in Friday's 7-3 loss to Double-A New Hampshire. Over 11 starts with Binghamton, Sproat produced an impressive 2.45 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 77 punchouts over 62.1 innings. He'll now look to keep it up at the Triple-A level and put himself in consideration for a promotion to the Mets.
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Ryan Helsley RP | BAL
Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Earns 34th save
Helsley earned the save against the Cubs on Saturday, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Helsley was summoned to protect a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning and did so on just nine pitches. He rebounded from a blown save Thursday and surpassed Emmanuel Clase for the major-league lead in saves with 34. On the season, the 30-year-old owns a 2.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 54:19 K:BB across 47.2 innings.
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Ranger Suarez SP | BOS
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Unlikely to return when eligible
Suarez (back) is expected to throw a bullpen session either Sunday or Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Suarez is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list Wednesday and the left-hander will take the first step toward being activated when he throws his first bullpen session. There was optimism from the Phillies that Suarez would be able to return during the team's four-game series in Arizona that begins Thursday, but that now seems unlikely. The left-hander was placed on the IL with lower-back soreness last week and considering Philadelphia is five games up on Atlanta for first place in the NL East, the team will likely be cautious in its efforts to get him back.
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Jameson Taillon SP | TOR
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Logs quality start in no-decision
Taillon did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals, allowing one run on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts over six innings.
Taillon allowed a solo home run in the first inning and then rattled off five straight scoreless frames. The 32-year-old was ultimately let down by his bullpen, but he responded from a rough outing Monday to secure his eighth quality start in his past 10 games. On the season, Taillon owns a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 86:22 K:BB across 110.2 innings and lines up for a favorable matchup with the White Sox next week.