MLB Player News
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Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Notches 13th win
Boyd (13-8) earned the win Friday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Rays. He struck out one.
Boyd delivered his shortest start since Aug. 8 and surrendered at least four runs for the fourth time in his last five outings, but he was still able to build on his career-high win total. The left-hander had a 2.46 ERA through his first 24 starts of the year, but the recent stumble has seen that mark increase to 3.05. Still, it's been a career year for Boyd, whose previous career best in a season of more than 15 starts was a 4.39 ERA.
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Michael Conforto RF | CHC
Dodgers' Michael Conforto: Provides lone run in loss
Conforto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-1 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Conforto took Justin Verlander deep in the seventh inning for the Dodgers' lone run of the game. Conforto is 6-for-27 (.222) over eight games in September, with Friday's performance marking his first extra-base hit and first RBI of the month. The veteran outfielder has struggled all year with a .193/.297/.331 slash line, 11 homers, 30 RBI, 47 runs scored and one stolen base over 127 contests. The Dodgers' outfield is at full health, so Conforto will face challenges from Andy Pages, Alex Call and Hyeseong Kim for starts in left field.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto SP | LAD
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Dazzles again in no-decision
Yamamoto allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out 10 over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Friday.
There was no late drama in this one, as Yamamoto gave up both baserunners and the lone run on his line in the first inning in his first start since losing a no-hitter after 8.2 innings versus the Orioles last Saturday. Yamamoto retired 20 straight batters to end his start, which was his third straight effort of at least seven innings of one-run ball, and he's tallied 10 strikeouts in each of those games. The right-hander was dominant early in the year and has returned to that form down the stretch with some of his best outings of 2025, including five straight quality starts since his start in Colorado on Aug. 18. Yamamoto is at a 2.66 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 187:51 K:BB through 162.1 innings over 28 starts this season. He's lined up for a rematch versus the Giants at Chavez Ravine next week.
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Patrick Bailey C | CLE
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Stays hot with walk-off grand slam
Bailey went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Friday's 5-1 extra-inning win over the Dodgers.
Bailey has homered three times over his last four games. He took advantage Friday when the Dodgers walked the bases loaded in the 10th inning, taking Tanner Scott deep for the walk-off blast. Bailey is up to six homers, a career-best 50 RBI, 42 runs scored and one stolen base while slashing a meager .220/.276/.325 over 121 contests this season. Despite the overall lackluster level of production, Bailey's recent power surge makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers in NL-only and two-catcher formats to close out the year.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Giants' Justin Verlander: Goes seven innings in pitching duel
Verlander allowed one run on four hits and four walks while striking out four over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Verlander was good, throwing 67 of 105 pitches for strikes, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto was even sharper as the two pitchers dueled for seven frames. Over his last six starts, Verlander has allowed just 10 runs (nine earned) in 35.1 innings while posting a 37:11 K:BB. The one run on his line Friday was a solo home run by Michael Conforto, which was the first long ball Verlander has given up during his recent stretch of strong pitching. The 42-year-old right-hander is now at a 3.94 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 124:47 K:BB through 134.2 innings across 26 starts this season. His next start is projected to be at Arizona.
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Spencer Steer LF | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Picks up steal in loss
Steer went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Athletics.
Steer has seen his playing time drop recently, with this being just his second start in the last five games, all against right-handed pitchers. Top prospect Sal Stewart has pushed Steer for playing time at first base rather than challenging Matt McLain at second. Steer has gone 5-for-18 (.278) over seven games in September, but it'll be tough for him to produce without a steady role in the lineup. For the season, the 27-year-old has a .237/.308/.396 slash line with 17 home runs, 64 RBI, 61 runs scored and seven steals over 134 games.
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Austin Hays LF | CHW
Reds' Austin Hays: Notches steal in loss
Hays went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Athletics.
Hays extended his hitting streak to nine games, a span in which he has gone 11-for-36 (.306). The outfielder isn't known for his speed, with his steal Friday being his seventh of the year and first since he had a pair during a late-August series versus the Diamondbacks. Hays has been a steady bat in the middle of the order this year, posting a .266/.316/.463 slash line, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 56 runs scored, 15 doubles and five triples over 95 contests.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Logs steal in third straight game
De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Athletics.
De La Cruz has swiped a bag in three straight games, and he's hit safely in five straight. Prior to this recent uptick in steals, he had logged just one theft on two attempts over a 25-game span from Aug. 11 to Sept. 8. The shortstop is up to 35 steals on the year, matching his rookie-year total but well behind the 67 he posted over 160 games in 2024. De La Cruz has added a .266/.333/.439 slash line, 19 home runs, 82 RBI and 97 runs scored across 147 contests in 2025.
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Brady Singer SP | CIN
Reds' Brady Singer: Allows two homers in loss
Singer (13-10) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four over six innings to take the loss Friday versus the Athletics.
Singer gave up a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first to Lawrence Butler and also surrendered the first of Carlos Cortes' two solo shots in the game. While this was a sixth straight quality start for Singer, it was the first time he'd allowed a long ball in that span. He's given up eight runs over his last 36 innings while posting a 36:9 K:BB. For the season, the right-hander has a 3.94 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 149:57 K:BB across 155.1 innings over 29 starts. Singer is projected for a road start in St. Louis next week.
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Brandon Pfaadt RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Continues to get hit around Friday
Pfaadt didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Twins, allowing five runs on nine hits and one walk in 4.2 innings. He struck out two.
Pfaadt has mostly struggled lately, having now tossed fewer than five innings while surrendering at least four runs in three of his last four outings. Friday was also notably the right-hander's ninth start of the season in which he was tagged for at least eight knocks, and he's now given up more hits (187) than any other pitcher in 2025. Pfaadt will take a rough 5.31 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 131:34 K:BB across 157.2 innings into a scheduled appearance against the division-rival Giants.