MLB Player News

Diaz (3-1) got the win during Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Pirates but also blew the save. He did not allow a run on one hit, one walk and one strikeout over 1.1 innings.

With the Mets leading 1-0, Diaz entered the game with two outs in the eighth and allowed a walk and the go-ahead hit. After Francisco Lindor gave his team the lead, Diaz came back out and pitched a clean ninth to pick up his third win. The 30-year-old returned from his 10-game suspension Saturday, and he picked up the save. With Sunday's outing, he hasn't allowed a run in his last six appearances and has lowered his ERA to 4.26.

Busch went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels.

Busch has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with four extra-base hits across his last seven games. His homer provided the Cubs' last runs in the seventh inning of Sunday's win, though he also generated a run despite grounding into a double play in the fifth. The corner infielder is at a .264/.359/.457 slash line with 11 homers, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored and one stolen base across 301 plate appearances this season. Busch isn't strictly limited to a strong-side platoon role, but he'll still sit against some southpaws.

Neris struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels.

Neris was credited with the save after Luke Little loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning. Neris struck out Zach Neto on four pitches to end the threat. This is the second stretch of the season in which Neris has avoided giving up a run over five consecutive appearances, with this scoreless streak at 4.1 innings. He has a 9:2 K:BB in that span, and for the season, the closer is up to 12 saves with a 4.06 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 33:22 K:BB across 31 innings.

Wesneski (3-5) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over 6.1 innings, earning the win Sunday over the Angels.

Wesneski had allowed eight runs over nine innings across his previous two starts, but he took advantage of a favorable matchup Sunday to earn his first win since April 25. The right-hander is now at a 3.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB through 56.1 innings over 23 appearances (six starts). Wesneski is likely to remain in the rotation as the Cubs continue to navigate a rough stretch of injuries, and he's tentatively projected for a road start in St. Louis his next time out.

Lindor went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a walk in Sunday's win over the Pirates.

Lindor delivered a clutch hit off Aroldis Chapman with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth to give his team the win Sunday. Lindor continued his resurgence that has covered the last two months, during which he is hitting .277/.335/.492 with 10 homers, 34 RBI and 12 stolen bases over his last 58 games. After a forgetful April, the four-time All-Star has 22 multi-hit games since the beginning of May, which is tied for the fifth-most in MLB in that span.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kelly (shoulder) isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until after the All-Star break, the Associated Press reports.

Kelly tossed a pair of scoreless innings in his first two rehab appearances for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and Friday before rejoining the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He tossed a simulated inning Sunday, but Roberts noted that the right-hander wasn't sharp, as he hit two batters during the outing. Roberts hasn't indicated that Kelly will be shut down, so the 36-year-old will presumably link back up with a minor-league affiliate during the upcoming week to make another rehab appearance or two before the Dodgers entertain his return to the bullpen after the break.

Kershaw (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game Sunday in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reports. "It was good to see him throw two innings. We accomplished what we wanted to," manager Dave Roberts said after Kershaw's workout.

Kershaw has resided on the injured list all season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last November, but he looks like he could be ready to make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers at some point within the next month. The 36-year-old had previously made a three-inning rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 19, but he was then shut down from throwing for the next week after experiencing lingering soreness in his shoulder. According to Roberts, Kershaw is in line to resume his rehab assignment next Saturday, likely with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kershaw is expected to cover three innings in that outing, and he's likely to require at least two rehab starts beyond that one before the Dodgers bring him back from the 60-day IL.

Chapman (1-4) blew a save and was tagged with Sunday's loss to the Mets. He allowed two runs on two hits, three walks and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.

Chapman entered with a one-run lead in the ninth but loaded the bases and gave up a go-ahead two-run single to Francisco Lindor. Chapman was erratic with his control as he matched his season high with three walks and threw 40 pitches, his third-most in an outing in his career. The veteran has been the Pirates' closer since David Bednar went down with an oblique injury, but this is now three straight outings in which he has given up at least one run.

Hayes went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Mets.

Hayes reached base in three of his four at-bats Sunday, as he also reached on an error in addition to a pair of singles. Hayes now has a multi-hit game in four of his last eight contests, with three steals in that span. The power numbers continue to plague Hayes though, as he's slugging a poor .299 for the season. The 27-year-old has 11 extra-base hits through 270 plate appearances this season and will need to pick those numbers up in order to have a larger fantasy impact.

Ortiz did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the Mets. He threw six shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out five.

Ortiz is making a strong case to keep a spot in the Pirates rotation, especially with Bailey Falter recently hitting the IL with arm discomfort. Ortiz was given his second start of the season Sunday, and for the second time he hurled six impressive frames as the opener. The 25-year-old is pitching to a 2.95 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 61 innings in his third big-league season.