MLB Player News

Estrada went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and three total runs scored in Friday's 10-5 win over the Rockies.

Estrada's fifth-inning blast put the Giants ahead for the first time in the contest, and they held the lead the rest of the way. The second baseman had gone 4-for-22 (.182) over his previous six contests, though he had a pair of extra-base hits in that span. Estrada is up to an acceptable .250/.274/.435 slash line with seven homers, 24 RBI, 21 runs scored, eight doubles, one triple and one stolen base through 175 plate appearances in a starting role this season.

Hjelle (1-1) allowed three hits and struck out one without walking a batter over two scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Rockies.

Hjelle was in the game when the Giants rallied ahead in the fifth inning, and they kept the lead the rest of the way. The right-hander has been decent in May, allowing two runs on 11 hits with a 14:0 K:BB over 10 innings across his last seven appearances. He's at a 2.81 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 17:1 K:BB through 16 innings this season as a multi-inning relief option for the Giants. Hjelle's also added two holds, but he has little chance of seeing consistent late-inning work.

Black allowed four runs on six hits and struck out two without walking a batter over three innings in a no-decision versus the Rockies on Friday.

Black was tagged for three runs in the first inning and gave up a solo home run to Jordan Beck in the second. This was Black's shortest of three major-league starts so far, likely due to the poor first run through the lineup. He's now at a 7.71 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB over 11.2 innings. The 24-year-old may have a chance to gain traction in the Giants' rotation while Keaton Winn (forearm) is on the injured list, though it's also possible Black gives way to Blake Snell (thigh) next week given the former's middling results so far for the Giants.

Fairchild went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers.

Fairchild has driven in a run in each of his last three games. All three of his homers this season have come since April 30, though his playing time remains sporadic as a short-side platoon option all around the outfield. He's slashing a mediocre .213/.292/.350 with 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, five stolen bases and two doubles over 90 plate appearances in 2024.

Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers.

Stephenson has four multi-hit efforts over his last five games, and each of those two-hit games has included one knock for extra bases. His homer Friday was his second of the month and fifth of the season. The catcher is up to a .264/.342/.472 slash line with 14 RBI, 18 runs scored, one stolen base and seven doubles through 120 plate appearances on the year.

Montas gave up three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one over five innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.

Montas gave up a leadoff blast to Mookie Betts in the first inning and a two-run home run to Shohei Ohtani in the third. The Reds were able to erase that damage after Montas exited, but the Dodgers rallied in the late innings. Given the opponent, this was an acceptable start from the right-hander. He's still at a pedestrian 4.37 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 25:15 K:BB through 35 innings over eight starts this season. Montas' next start is projected to come at home versus the Padres, when he'll look for his first win since April 3.

Heyward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a hit-by-pitch in Friday's 7-3 win over the Reds.

Heyward returned from a back injury that cost him nearly seven weeks. He delivered a big hit with his eighth-inning blast, which was his first homer in five games this season. The outfielder has added four RBI and four runs scored. Heyward is likely to command at least a strong-side platoon role in right field, which he excelled at with a .269/.340/.473 slash line over 374 plate appearances in 2023.

Betts went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Friday's 7-3 win over the Reds.

Betts' last two homers have been of the leadoff variety, and they're his only two long balls in May. He's hitting .283 this month, dropping his season-long batting average to a still-stunning .341 through 47 contests. Betts has added eight homers, 29 RBI, 40 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 11 doubles and three triples over 218 plate appearances while serving as the everyday leadoff hitter.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-3 win over the Reds.

Ohtani reclaimed a share of the major-league lead in homers with his 13th long ball of the year, which came off Frankie Montas in the third inning. Over his last 12 games, Ohtani's slugged six homers with 12 RBI and seven multi-hit efforts. He's slashing an electrifying .358/.426/.676 with 32 RBI, 36 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 16 doubles and a triple through 204 plate appearances while occupying the No. 2 spot in the Dodgers' stacked lineup.

Paxton allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out two without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision versus the Reds on Friday.

Paxton did fine, though he gave up solo home runs to Stuart Fairchild and Tyler Stephenson to account for two of the three runs on his line. After posting just one quality start over five outings in April, Paxton has settled in with three in a row to begin May. The southpaw has done well at run prevention this year with a 2.84 ERA despite a 1.38 WHIP and 24:24 K:BB through 44.1 innings over eight starts. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Diamondbacks.