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Hunter Harvey RP | CHC
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Blows first save of year
Harvey (2-3) took the loss and blew the save in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Padres, coughing up four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning.
The right-hander is having a bumpy June, giving up runs in four of nine appearances en route to a 7.71 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB in 9.1 innings. Monday's blown save was his first of the year though, and Harvey remains the Nationals' top set-up option ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan, having already racked up a career-high 23 holds. Should Washington become sellers at the trade deadline and send Finnegan to a contender, Harvey would almost certainly move into the ninth-inning role.
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Jacob Young CF | WAS
Nationals' Jacob Young: Ends drought on basepaths
Young went 0-for-3 with a run scored and his 18th stolen base of the season in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Padres.
The center fielder was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth inning, stole third base after a CJ Abrams infield single, then trotted home on a Joey Meneses knock. Young had racked up seven hits over the prior three games, and through 20 games in June he's slashing .262/.314/.354; however, Monday's steal was surprisingly his first of the month in three attempts.
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DJ Stewart RF | PIT
Mets' DJ Stewart: In line for more work
Stewart could handle the strong side of a platoon in left field with Tyrone Taylor while Starling Marte (knee) is on the injured list, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The Mets do have other options to replace Marte, including shifting Jeff McNeil to left and giving Jose Iglesias more time at second base, but some form of a Stewart-Taylor timeshare is the most likely scenario. Stewart has provided value at the plate against right-handers this season, slashing .204/.350/.372 with five homers over 140 plate appearances in that split, but Taylor is the better defensive outfielder.
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Jose Butto SP | SF
Mets' Jose Butto: Might be needed before break
Butto could make a spot start for the Mets prior to the All-Star break, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Edwin Diaz's 10-game suspension could force the team to get creative when it comes to keeping the bullpen fresh. One possibility would be to option David Peterson and Tylor Megill down to Triple-A Syracuse after their next starts, replacing them with relief arms. In that scenario, Butto and Christian Scott would be needed to make spot starts when those turns in the rotation come around again. Butto has allowed two runs or less in five of six starts for Syracuse since being sent down in May, posting a 3.06 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB through 32.1 innings over that stretch -- ratios that are almost an exact match for those he's generated at the big-league level this season.
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Christian Scott SP | NYM
Mets' Christian Scott: Could get call soon
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged Sunday that Scott has a "good chance" of being called up from Triple-A Syracuse to enter the rotation during the team's upcoming stretch of 17 games in 17 days that begins Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. "He's in play," Mendoza said.
The Mets have already confirmed their starters through Saturday, so Scott could be called up as early as Sunday's series finale versus the Astros. More likely, the Mets will allow Scott to make another start at Triple-A this week before having him join the big-league rotation for next week's series in Washington. According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, Scott has been working on his sweeper during his latest stint with Syracuse, and over three starts since his demotion in late May, he's posted a 2.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB in 13 innings.
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Ryan Weathers SP | NYY
Marlins' Ryan Weathers: Will get re-evaluated this week
Weathers (finger) will be re-evaluated later this week and could begin a throwing program, MLB.com reports.
The southpaw is currently rehabbing at the Marlins' complex in Jupiter after being pulled from his June 7 start due to a strained index finger on his pitching hand. Weathers was having a breakout campaign before the injury, posting a 3.55 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 67:20 K:BB through 71 innings, and if he gets cleared to throw before the weekend, he could still rejoin the big-league rotation before the All-Star break.
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Lance Lynn SP | STL
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Sharp in third win
Lynn (3-3) allowed a run on four hits over 6.2 innings Monday, striking out five and earning a win over Atlanta.
Lynn turned in four shutout frames before coughing up a solo homer to Austin Riley in the fifth inning, but he was otherwise nearly untouchable. It was a much-needed rebound for Lynn, as he registered an unsightly 7.90 ERA over 13.2 innings in his previous three outings. He earned his first win since May 21 with his longest outing since April 16, lowering his season ERA to 3.86 with a 78:30 K:BB through 16 starts. Lynn's next outing lines up for this coming weekend at home against the Reds.
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Ian Anderson RP | ATL
Braves' Ian Anderson: Next rehab start to come Sunday
Anderson (elbow) threw three innings with Atlanta's Florida Complex League affiliate Monday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three, and his next rehab start will come Sunday with a different affiliate, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The right-hander has been sitting 92-95 mph with his fastball during two appearances in the FCL, and the organization is pleased with his progress so far. "Reports are good, he feels good, all the numbers are good," manager Brian Snitker said Monday. Anderson is in the final stages of his recovery from April 2023 Tommy John surgery, but Atlanta seems likely to let him get fully built up in the minors before considering him for the big-league rotation. The team has yet to announce which level he'll be sent to for his next outing.
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Ryan Helsley RP | BAL
Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Stumbles but secures save
Helsley allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning Monday, striking out two and earning a save against Atlanta.
Helsley loaded the bases with just one out but managed to escape with a save in the 4-3 win. It was the second time this month he's allowed multiple runs in an appearance, and the third time in his last 13 outings. Despite the recent shakiness, Helsley has converted 27 consecutive save chances since blowing his first opportunity of the year. He owns a 2.83 ERA and a 42:15 K:BB through 35 innings.
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Ben Brown RP | CHC
Cubs' Ben Brown: Could be nearing mound work
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that he's hopeful that Brown (neck) will be cleared to resume throwing off a mound at some point later this week, MLB.com reports.
Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list June 11 with a left neck strain, only for reports to surface a few days later suggesting that the right-hander might be dealing with a stress reaction. After the Cubs sought out multiple medical opinions, however, the original diagnosis of a neck strain has held up, and Brown was cleared to resume throwing last Tuesday. According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Brown played catch three times this past week and threw from 90 feet Friday, leaving Counsell optimistic that the rookie may be ready to take another meaningful step forward this week by getting back on the mound. Montemurro notes that Brown was told when he received his diagnosis that he was about one month into what's described as a "two-to-three-month burnout period" for the neck injury, though that timeline won't affect his potential return date from the IL and only relates to how long he might be physically feeling the effects of the injury. Assuming Brown is able to complete a bullpen session this week, he would still likely have a chance at completing his throwing progression and returning from the IL before the All-Star break.