MLB Player News

Cease (7-7) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and two walks over 3.2 innings as the Padres fell 7-0 to the Rangers. He struck out five.

The right-hander got no help from his offense, but Cease created his own problems by serving up six extra-base hits, including a pair of homers by Nathaniel Lowe. Cease has been tagged for four runs or more in three of his last four starts, walking multiple batters each time. He'll take a 4.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 130:32 K:BB through 102 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Mena has joined the Diamondbacks' taxi squad and appears in line to make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged Mena's presence in the clubhouse Tuesday and said that "if that does come up [Wednesday], [Mena] deserves the opportunity," per PHNX Diamondbacks. Mena is a 21-year-old right-hander who was traded to Arizona over the winter. He has spent the entire 2024 season to date with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89:38 K:BB over 82.2 innings spanning 16 starts. A road matchup against the Dodgers represents a tough landing spot, and most will want to wait and see how the youngster fares before considering him for a fantasy roster.

Riley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Giants.

The third baseman took Hayden Birdsong deep in the second inning to open the scoring on the night. Riley's bat has woken up in a big way over the last few weeks -- since June 14, he's slashing .356/.441/.780 in 68 plate appearances with seven of his 10 homers on the year and 12 of his 32 RBI.

Lopez came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander blanked San Francisco through four innings but was far from efficient, and when he served up back-to-back solo shots to begin the fifth, Lopez got the hook after 101 pitches (57 strikes). He's walked four batters in two straight trips to the mound, while the 4.1 innings represented his shortest start of the year. Despite the recent stumbles, he still hasn't given up more than three earned runs in an outing in 2024. He'll take a 1.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 87:31 K:BB through 83.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Phillies.

Ramos went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Atlanta.

His ninth-inning shot off Jesse Chavez gave the Giants an insurance run. After a slump in the second half of June, Ramos is heating up again, racking up multiple hits in three straight games. The 24-year-old is slashing an impressive .298/.373/.524 through 217 plate appearances in the majors this season with 11 homers, two steals, 23 runs and 38 RBI, and he's solidified his spot as San Francisco's starting center fielder.

Doval struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 15th save of the season in a 5-3 win over Atlanta.

The 26-year-old right-hander was in peak form, whiffing Adam Duvall with a 100.6 mph cutter to end the game. Doval blew his last save chance Friday, though, and consistency has been an issue for him all year -- through 33.2 innings, he's posted a 4.28 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB, a significant step backward from his ratios the prior two seasons.

Birdsong (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The runs came on back-to-back solo shots by Austin Riley and Sean Murphy in the second inning, but Birdsong otherwise shut the door over 87 pitches (57 strikes). The rookie right-hander hasn't exactly been dominant to begin his big-league tenure, serving up three homers and issuing five free passes in 9.2 innings, but he's giving an injury-depleted Giants rotation some length. Birdsong lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Cruz struck out one over a scoreless inning and picked up a hold in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Yankees.

The Yankees erased most of the Reds' 5-0 lead in the middle innings before Cruz and closer Alexis Diaz shut down New York's final six batters in order. The hold was Cruz's team-leading 16th. After a rocky first month-and-a-half, Cruz has settled in, pitching to a 2.08 ERA with 26 strikeouts over the last 17.1 innings (20 appearances).

Stephenson started at catcher, batted fifth and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Yankees.

Stephenson's availability to play was thrown into doubt after the Reds transferred him from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list. The transfer gave the Reds the option to not activate Stephenson for Tuesday, but the catcher was ready to go.

McCarthy was not in Tuesday's starting lineup against Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller.

McCarthy had been a regular against righties, but his playing time is set to take a hit, as the Diamondbacks welcomed back Alek Thomas from a hamstring injury. Thomas' injury, which kept him out for the last three months, resulted in more playing time for McCarthy. He hits lefties better than Thomas, but the righty-hitting Randal Grichuk (.817 OPS against lefties) should be the primary fill-in for Thomas against southpaws.