MLB Player News

Liberatore (3-5) allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Liberatore got through three innings with little trouble, but Arizona piled on six runs in the fourth. He allowed back-to-back home runs to LuJames Groover and Ketel Marte to cap that rally. Liberatore's decent start to the year has fallen apart in June -- he's allowed 22 runs (18 earned) across 15.2 innings over his four starts this month. He's now at a 5.56 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 70:29 K:BB in 77.2 innings through 16 starts overall. The southpaw is tentatively projected to make his next start at Atlanta, which is not a matchup that offers much bounce-back potential.

Groover went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, two walks and a second run scored in Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Cardinals.

Groover went deep in the fourth inning for his first big-league homer. This is also his first multi-RBI performance in 13 contests in the majors. The infielder has hit .186 with a .588 OPS, four RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and a 5:8 BB:K since his June 5 debut. He is currently occupying a part-time role, though he should continue to play regularly versus left-handed pitchers while in the majors.

Marte went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Cardinals.

Marte's blast capped a six-run fourth inning for the Diamondbacks. He's hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, going 18-for-52 (.346) in that span with two homers, seven RBI and five doubles. The second baseman is now hitting .265 with a .780 OPS on the year, and he's added 13 homers, 47 RBI, 42 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples and a stolen base over 76 contests while working mainly out of the leadoff spot.

Bratt allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three over three innings in a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Wednesday.

This was Bratt's major-league debut, and he performed well in a short start. The left-hander is still building up after a back injury sidelined him at Triple-A Reno for the first half of June. He had a 2.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB over 44.1 innings with Reno. If Bratt gets another turn through the rotation, it's projected to be at home versus the Giants next week. He's unlikely to be fully stretched out for that game after throwing just 54 pitches (36 strikes) in his Arizona debut.

Steer went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Brewers.

Steer made things interesting in the eighth inning, putting the Reds within one run with a two-run blast off Craig Yoho. While the 28-year-old slugger has gone just 10-for-68 in June, six of those hits have been home runs, including three in his past seven games. On the year, Steer is slashing .240/.319/.434 with 13 homers, 33 RBI, 45 runs scored and three steals across 301 plate appearances.

Bauers went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Reds.

Bauers launched a solo shot in the third inning and later scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the seventh. While the 30-year-old is hitting a modest .246 through 20 June contests, he's still made an impact with eight extra-base hits, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored during the month. On the year, he's slashing .271/.377/.508 with 14 homers, 48 RBI, 45 runs scored and five steals across 276 plate appearances.

Contreras went 3-for-3 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Reds.

Contreras was a pest all night, reaching base in each of his five plate appearances while launching a two-run homer in the third inning. Over his past five games, the 28-year-old has gone deep twice while posting three multi-hit efforts. For the year, he's slashing .302/.365/.427 with eight long balls, 48 RBI, 45 runs scored and a stolen base across 323 plate appearances.

Lowder (3-5) took the loss against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Lowder allowed three runs on two homers in the third inning but was otherwise able to keep the Brewers in check, generating 13 whiffs on 100 pitches and departing one out shy of a quality start. While the 24-year-old has lost back-to-back decisions, he's posted a solid 3.66 ERA through four outings since returning from the injured list June 7. He owns a 4.81 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 48:29 K:BB across 58 innings this season and lines up for a road rematch with the Brewers next week.

Drohan did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Reds, allowing five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 4.1 scoreless innings.

Drohan kept the Reds off the board but labored throughout, generating just six whiffs on 98 pitches while failing to go deep enough to earn a potential win. He still managed his first scoreless outing since transitioning to a starting role June 1, holding opponents to three earned runs or fewer in four of five games during that stretch. He'll carry a 3.12 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB across 52 innings this season into a home rematch with the Reds next week.

Kuhnel earned the save in Wednesday's 6-5 win against the Reds, allowing one hit and two walks with no strikeouts over 1.1 scoreless innings.

With Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe both unavailable, Kuhnel was called upon to thwart a late comeback by the Reds. He recorded the final out of the eighth inning before escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth with a game-ending double play. The 31-year-old has now gone 2-for-3 in save chances for Milwaukee, though he's yielded runs in four of seven appearances with the club. For the year, he's collected six saves and five holds to go along with a 4.18 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB across 32.1 innings between the Athletics and Brewers.