MLB Player News

Rea allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Rea held the Rays scoreless through four frames before giving up a run in the fifth. The right-hander then allowed the first two batters he faced in the sixth to reach base, and both ended up scoring. Rea did induce a healthy 13 whiffs and notched five punchouts, but the disappointing finish to his start kept him from completing six frames for the sixth straight outing. He's slated to take on Cincinnati in his next appearance.

Johnston went 2-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Tigers.

After taking Troy Melton deep for a solo shot in the sixth inning, Johnston walked it off in the 11th with a two-run homer off Rafael Montero. The 28-year-old rookie came into the game with just one long ball in his first 32 big-league contests, and the performance may have snapped a September swoon for Johnston in which he'd gone just 2-for-21 (.095) with zero RBI over his prior nine games.

Junk didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.

Making his second start since being activated from a brief IL stint, the right-hander produced his sixth quality start of the season on 88 pitches (58 strikes). Junk did serve up another homer, his seventh in seven trips to the mound since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 6.39 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 38 innings. He'll look for his first win since Aug. 6 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next weekend against the Rangers.

Soto went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

His seventh-inning blast against Hoby Milner gave the Mets a 2-0 lead, but the bullpen couldn't make it stick. Soto has gone yard eight times in the last 15 games, lifting him to his second straight 40-homer campaign, and with 13 games left on New York's schedule, he needs just two more to set a new career high. Over that 15-game surge, Soto's batting .393 (22-for-56) with nine steals, 16 runs and 18 RBI.

Diaz (6-3) blew the save and took the loss Saturday as the Mets fell 3-2 to the Rangers, giving up one run on three hits and a walk over 1.1 innings. He struck out one.

Called in to protect a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning with a runner on second and two outs, Diaz instead uncorked a wild pitch and a walk before Rowdy Tellez roped a ground-rule double to tie the game. The right-hander escaped that jam, but he then gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. It was Diaz's third blown save of the season and his first since July 20, ending a stretch of seven straight save conversions, but he's stumbling toward the finish line on the regular season -- he's been tagged for runs in four of his last 10 appearances, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB in 11.2 innings over that stretch.

Sproat didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers, allowing six hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

Making his second trip to the mound in the big leagues, Sproat rose to the occasion in the heat of a playoff race as he needed only 70 pitches (53 strikes) to deliver his second straight quality start. The right-hander left the mound in line for his first career win, but Edwin Diaz blew the save in the ninth. Sproat will take a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB through his first 12 MLB innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Nationals.

The Dodgers recalled Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday.

Robinson's presence on the big-league roster is needed with Will Smith (hand) landing on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Robinson has a career .364 OPS over 51 major-league games, so fantasy managers need not rush to the waiver wire to pick him up. He's slated to work as the Dodgers' backup catcher behind Ben Rortvedt until Dalton Rushing (shin) or Smith is ready to return from the IL.

The Dodgers placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a right hand contusion.

Smith initially suffered the injury Sept. 3, when he took a foul tip off his hand. He was able to return to the lineup for Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Rockies, but Smith hasn't played since and will now go on the IL after manager Dave Roberts noted that the backstop wasn't making much improvement, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. With Smith's IL stint being backdated to Wednesday, he'll be eligible to return Sept. 20, and Roberts suggested that the backstop could be ready to go by that date. In the meantime, Ben Rortvedt will likely serve as the team's primary backstop.

The Padres recalled Rodriguez from Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

Rodriguez has spent the vast majority of the season in the minor leagues, though he already has one MLB outing under his belt -- a 1.2-inning scoreless appearance against the Pirates on May 31. Since then, he's posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 14.1 frames at El Paso, and he'll now provide the Padres with some extra bullpen depth for the final few weeks of the regular season. JP Sears was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Padres optioned Sears to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

The Padres turned to Sears to make a spot start Friday against Colorado, during which he surrendered four earned runs on five hits and a walk while fanning eight batters in 4.1 innings. Now that they no longer need a sixth rotation arm, the Friars will send the 26-year-old back to the minors and bring up reliever Bradgley Rodriguez to round out the pitching staff.