MLB Player News

Donovan went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Giants.

Donovan continued to rake Thursday, posting his fourth three-hit game of the campaign and his third multi-hit performance in his last four contests. The outfielder's two-run blast in the first inning gave the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead, while his two-out, RBI single in the fifth added what would prove to be a pivotal insurance run. Donovan is up to seven long balls on the season, with three coming this month and two coming over his last three games. He's batting .299 in June with 11 RBI and seven runs scored.

Helsley picked up the save over the Giants on Thursday, allowing one hit and one walk over one inning while striking out two.

Helsley took over in the ninth to protect a one-run lead and proceeded to walk the leadoff man while also coughing up a single three batters later. However, the right-hander rebounded nicely, striking out Matt Chapman to stop the late rally and earn his league-leading 25th save of the season. Helsley has converted each of his last four save opportunities, though he's also issued at least one walk in three consecutive outings.

Pallante (3-3) picked up the win over the Giants on Thursday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks over 5.1 innings while striking out five.

Pallante cruised through the first two innings before failing to retire four of the first five batters he faced in the third, leading to three runs coming home for San Francisco. The right-hander would get tagged for another two runs in the sixth, marking the second time in his last four that he's coughed up at least five runs. Pallante also matched his season high with three walks and failed to make it through six innings for the fourth consecutive outing. Despite those struggles, he's now won three of his last five starts.

Winn (3-8) took the loss against the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing five runs on five hits and one walk over 2.2 innings while striking out two.

Winn ran into trouble immediately, allowing a walk and a hit in the first two at-bats before going on to surrender three runs in the opening frame. He would go 1-2-3 through the second inning but once again failed to retire the first two batters to begin the third, leading to another two runs coming home for St. Louis. The right-hander has now surrendered five or more runs in five of his last six starts and has lost his last five decisions (spanning six starts). He currently holds a 10.38 ERA this month (three starts) after posting an 18.36 ERA through three starts in May.

Taylor went 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Rockies.

It's been a brutal season for Taylor, as evidenced by the fact that this was his first multi-hit game. The utility man capitalized on reaching base three times by swiping two bags after entering Thursday with just one steal this season. Taylor is still slashing a putrid .131/.230/.192 on the campaign, but he's at least shown some signs of life of late, going 5-for-15 over his past six contests.

Smith went 1-for-5 with a solo home run against Colorado in Thursday's 5-3 victory.

Smith hit one of three Los Angeles long balls Thursday, bashing a 451-foot solo shot to center field in the fourth inning. It was the catcher's 11th home run of the campaign, which leads NL backstops. Across the majors, only three catchers have more homers than Smith this season, and only two (Adley Rutschman and William Contreras) have topped Smith's 45 RBI.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's 5-3 win against the Rockies.

Ohtani began the game with a solo shot to center field for the seventh leadoff home run of his career. The superstar slugger has racked up four homers over his past five contests and has notched nine RBI during that span. Ohtani leads the National League and ranks third in MLB with 21 home runs overall this season.

Freeman went 2-for-5 with a solo home run Thursday in a 5-3 win against Colorado.

Freeman accounted for the Dodgers' final run of the contest with his fourth-inning solo shot to center field. The veteran first baseman is up to 11 long balls on the season, with five of them coming in June. Freeman has added to his standout month with a .354 average, 12 RBI, 17 runs, two stolen bases and a 14:10 BB:K through 18 games.

Blach (3-5) allowed five runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out two batters over four innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Thursday.

Blach was hit hard in the start -- five of the 10 hits he allowed, including three homers, went for extra bases. It was the first time this season he's served up three homers in an outing, and the five runs he allowed were the second-most he's surrendered in a start this season. Blach is off the fantasy radar given his home park and the fact that he's compiled a 5.13 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB over 54.1 innings this season.

Phillips earned a save against the Rockies on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Phillips cruised to the save on 11 pitches, punching out two of the three batters he faced. It was the fifth straight scoreless and hitless outing for the closer, who has allowed an earned run in only two of his 21 appearances this season. Phillips is 12-for-12 in save chances this season -- he's the only MLB closer with that many saves who remains perfect in save opportunities.