MLB Player News

Harper went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI in Friday's win over the Nationals.

After opening the season with a tough 0-for-11 streak, Harper has come alive this week, with both doubles Friday coming off left-hander Patrick Corbin. With seven hits in the last three games, Harper has boosted his batting average to .292 (7-for-24) with three homers and seven RBI.

Nola (1-1) picked up the win Friday over the Nationals, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing two hits and four walks. He struck out four.

Although Nola collected his first win of the season, he still looked relatively rusty and was lucky to be facing a weak Nationals lineup. His entire pitch arsenal looked diminished as he averaged only 91.1 mph on his fastball, down 1.6 mph from his average velocity in 2023. Nola is slated to start against the Cardinals on the road in his next outing.

Corbin (0-1) took the loss Friday, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks over six innings against Philadelphia. He struck out six.

Corbin's rough start to the season continued Friday after he allowed four runs over 4.1 innings in his first start, leaving him with a 6.97 ERA. The 34-year-old lefty has been unable to keep opponents off the basepaths as his WHIP stands at 1.94 over his first 10.1 innings. Corbin is scheduled to pitch on the road against the Giants in his next start.

Hernandez went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Cubs.

Hernandez opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out, two-run single off Kyle Hendricks. He'd drive in two more in the seventh off Julian Merryweather before swiping his first bag of the year. While he won't get the same fanfare as others in the Dodgers' star-studded lineup, Hernandez has gotten off to a fast start this year, going 12-for-40 with four home runs and 14 RBI through his first 10 games.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Cubs.

Ohtani cut the Dodgers' deficit to 6-4 with a long ball off Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning that stayed just inside the right-field foul pole. After going eight games without a home run to start his Dodgers tenure, Ohtani has now gone yard in back-to-back games. He's 12-for-42 with six RBI, nine runs scored and a stolen base so far this season.

Doval (1-0) picked up the win Friday, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning during a 3-2 victory over the Padres.

The Giants' closer came on in a 2-2 tie at home, so he had no chance at a save, but Doval took care of business in the top of the ninth and got rewarded when Thairo Estrada walked it off with a double in the bottom of the frame. After racking up 66 saves over the prior two seasons, Doval is still looking for his first save of 2024.

Hicks came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Padres, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The 27-year-old right-hander produced the first quality start of his career, as he lasted more than five innings for the first time in 10 career big-league starts. Hicks tossed 91 pitches (61 strikes) in an efficient outing, and the Giants' decision to deploy him in the rotation rather than a high-leverage relief role is beginning to look like it might pay dividends. Hicks will take a 0.75 ERA and 11:1 K:BB through his first 12 innings of 2024 into his next start, which lines up for a favorable home matchup against the Nationals next week.

Cease came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander uncorked two wild pitches and threw 64 of 102 pitches for strikes before exiting the mound, but Cease also generated 30 called or swinging strikes in his first quality start as a Padre. He's posted a 3.38 ERA and 13:4 K:BB through his first 10.2 innings this season, and Cease lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Cubs.

Cruz went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Orioles.

The 25-year-old shortstop took Grayson Rodriguez deep in the fifth inning to get the Pirates on the board. Cruz has collected multiple hits in four of his first eight games in 2024, batting .344 (11-for-32) with two homers, three RBI and seven runs. He's still looking for his first stolen base however, after swiping 13 bags in his first 98 career big-league games.

Jones came away with a no-decision in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Orioles, giving up two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander got taken deep by Ryan O'Hearn in the second inning and Gunnar Henderson in the third, but he settled down after the solo shots and delivered his first career quality start while generating an incredible 21 swinging strikes among his 80 pitches. Jones has a dazzling 17:2 K:BB through his first 11.2 big-league innings, but things won't get any easier for him in his next outing, which lines up for a road start next week in Philadelphia.