MLB Player News

Happ went 2-for-5 with a double and a grand slam in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates.

Happ got the Cubs back in the game with his fifth-inning grand slam, but the team's pitchers couldn't hold Pittsburgh down. The veteran outfielder now has 19 home runs this year, which is six away from trying the career high he set back in 2021. Happ has already established a new career high with his 77 RBI so far this season.

Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Rockies.

After struggling for much of the year, Bogaerts is putting together a massive finish to his first season with the Padres. The shortstop has reeled off six straight multi-hit performances, and through 17 games in September he's batting .471 (32-for-68) with nine doubles, a triple, four homers, five steals, eight RBI and 19 runs. Bogaerts needs just one more home run and two more stolen bases to record his first career 20-20 campaign.

Hader gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 31st save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Rockies.

The southpaw failed to strike out any batters at all over three appearances and 2.1 innings against Colorado in this series, but he still came away with two saves and a win. Hader still hit 97.6 mph with his final pitch Wednesday as he got Brendan Rodgers to fly out, so those with fantasy shares in the San Diego closer would seem to have little cause for alarm. On the season, Hader carries a 1.21 ERA and 79:28 K:BB through 52 innings.

Lugo came away with a no-decision Wednesday in the Padres' 3-2 win over the Rockies, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander continued a strong run that has seen him deliver six quality starts in his last seven outings while posting a 2.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB through 40.1 innings, but Lugo only escaped seeing his 7-7 record fall below .500 when the Padres took their first and only lead of the game in the seventh inning. San Diego has stubbornly refused to be eliminated from the NL wild-card race, winning seven straight games, so Lugo's final start of the season -- likely to come next week in San Francisco -- could carry additional drama if his team continues its desperation push through the weekend.

Rodgers went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Padres.

In his 36th game, Rodgers finally hit his first homer of the season, driving a Seth Lugo fastball over the left-center field fence in the first inning. The 27-year-old infielder has hit safely in seven straight games, going 12-for-27 (.444) with a double, four runs and four RBI, and with the Rockies finishing their campaign with a seven-game homestand next week, Rodgers could be able to keep his hot streak going.

Anderson (0-6) took the loss Wednesday as the Rockies fell 3-2 to the Padres, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran right-hander has now made 16 starts in 2023, plus two relief appearances, and he's still looking for his first win. Anderson has at least given the Rockies two straight quality starts, and over 20.2 innings since coming off the IL in early September, he's managed a 4.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:11 K:BB. With Colorado playing seven games in six days during the final week of the season, Anderson could take the mound twice more against the Dodgers and Twins, but both starts would come at Coors Field.

Carroll went 4-for-5 with a solo home run, two additional runs scored and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Giants.

He continues his march toward the NL Rookie of the Year Award, and Carroll's big afternoon Wednesday made him the first rookie in history with 25 homers and 50 steals in a year -- and only the second ever to do it by their age-22 season, with Houston's Cesar Cedeno in 1973 being the other. Carroll's putting an exclamation mark on his historic campaign by batting .329 (24-for-73) in September, and in addition to being third in the majors in stolen bases, he's sixth in runs with 109.

Kelly (12-7) picked up the win in Wednesday's 7-1 victory over the Giants, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.

A solo homer by LaMonte Wade in the first inning was the only blemish on Kelly's line as he delivered his sixth quality start in 10 outings since the beginning of August. The 34-year-old right-hander has a 3.62 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 68:24 K:BB through 59.2 innings over that stretch, helping Arizona stay ahead of the pack in the battle for a wild-card spot in the NL. Kelly figures to make what will be his last start of the regular season early next week on the road against the White Sox.

Webb (10-13) took the loss Wednesday as the Giants fell 7-1 to the Diamondbacks, giving up three runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander wasn't at his best, but he still reeled off his fifth straight quality start on 102 pitches (69 strikes). Webb has gone just 1-3 during that stretch despite a 2.48 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 24:4 K:BB through 32.2 innings, as San Francisco has scored only four total runs for him in the four outings he didn't get into the win column. Webb's next start lines up for a home tilt against the Padres early next week.

Contreras was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to left wrist discomfort.

Contreras' wrist had been bothering him heading into Wednesday's game and ultimately caused him to make an early exit in the sixth inning. It wouldn't be surprising if the Cardinals held Contreras out for a day or two so he can properly recover.