MLB Player News

Sims allowed one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.

With Alexis Diaz presumably unavailable after throwing 42 pitches across back-to-back days, Sims was brought in for a save opportunity. He was unable to close out the win and was replaced by Justin Wilson, who nailed down his first save. Sims has a 4.43 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 26 outings (20.1 innings) in 2024.

Marte is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Marte was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Nationals due to a right knee issue, but the 35-year-old outfielder was able to make the trip to London. He started in Saturday's 7-2 loss, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first inning. With Marte beginning Sunday's game in the dugout, the lefty-hitting DJ Stewart will start in right field and bat fifth against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker.

Diaz was not brought in to close out Saturday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.

Lucas Sims opened the ninth inning before departing with two runners on base, giving way to Lucas Sims, and then Justin Wilson picked up the save. Presumably, Diaz was not used because he threw 42 pitches over the previous two days while working in back-to-back appearances leading up to Saturday's game.

Cincinnati manager David Bell said Saturday that Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) visited a specialist, who advised five days of additional rest, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Encarnacion-Strand had met with team doctors June 5 and was given the green light to take the next step in his rehab progression, but the injured first baseman opted for a second opinion. Bell is hopeful Encarnacion-Strand can resume his progression following the current rest period and begin swinging a bat "in the next couple of weeks." This development pushes out a potential return at least another two weeks.

Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk Saturday in an 11-3 win against the Yankees.

Hernandez produced just enough power to poke a solo shot to the right-field porch in the fifth inning, giving Los Angeles a 3-2 lead. The veteran utility man made his third straight start at third base, and he's notched an extra-base hit in each of those games, going 3-for-10 with two doubles and Saturday's homer along with three walks. Max Muncy (oblique) is on a slow ramp-up and figures to be out of action beyond next week, so Hernandez could be in for relatively consistent playing time in the short term.

Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Rockies.

Carpenter got the Cardinals back within a run with his seventh-inning blast, but they couldn't build on it. Both of his homers this season have come over his last nine games. The designated hitter is at a .200/.294/.317 slash line with five RBI, six runs scored, one double and no stolen bases through 68 plate appearances. Carpenter has seen steadier playing time at designated hitter with Alec Burleson filling in as an outfielder due to the absence of Lars Nootbaar (oblique).

Kittredge (0-3) allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one over one inning to take the loss and a blown save Saturday versus the Rockies.

Kittredge surrendered an RBI single to Brenton Doyle and a two-run home run to Ezequiel Tovar in the seventh inning, just half a frame after the Cardinals had rallied ahead. St. Louis didn't have another rally in it, leaving Kittredge with the loss. He'd pitched four scoreless innings to begin June before Saturday's slip-up. On the year, he has a 3.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB with three blown saves and 17 holds through 28 innings. Kittredge remains an important high-leverage reliever, but JoJo Romero has been the Cardinals' most effective setup man and Ryan Helsley remains locked in as closer.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, a walk, six RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 11-3 rout of the Yankees.

Hernandez got the scoring started Saturday with a solo shot to center field in the second inning. He added an RBI on a fielder's choice in the sixth before busting the game open for Los Angeles with a 424-foot grand slam in the eighth. Hernandez went just 2-for-16 over his first four games in June, but he's turned scorching hot since, going 7-for-13 with two homers and nine RBI across his past three contests. Hernandez is putting up big numbers in his first campaign with the Dodgers, slashing .262/.331/.500 with 15 homers, 47 RBI, 38 runs and four steals through 278 plate appearances.

Stone (7-2) earned the win over the Yankees on Saturday, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six batters over 5.2 innings.

It looked like Stone could be in for a rough outing after he allowed singles to the first two batters he faced in the first inning, but he recovered to retire Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo without allowing a run to score. The right-hander allowed New York to plate one run in each of the following two frames, but he was able to navigate through 5.2 innings with just those two runs on his ledger. Stone needed some help when he departed with two outs and the bases full of Yankees in the sixth, and Alex Vesia provided that assistance by getting Anthony Volpe to fly out to end the threat. Stone has recorded a victory in seven of his past 10 starts and has given up more than two runs just once during that span. He's shining in his first full big-league season, recording a 2.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 53:21 K:BB through 67.2 innings.

Blackmon went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs and a stolen base in a 6-5 win against the Cardinals on Saturday.

Blackmon catalyzed Colorado's offense from the leadoff spot, scoring the team's first run following a first-inning single and crossing the plate again after hitting a double and stealing third base in the seventh. The veteran outfielder has been swinging a hot bat of late, notching three multi-hit performances over his past four contests and going 9-for-16 overall during that span. Blackmon has also swiped a bag in each of his past two games and already has five thefts this season, more than he has collected in any campaign since he swiped 12 bags in 2018.