MLB Player News

Conforto went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rangers.

After going 3-for-3 with a double, a homer and two RBI Thursday against the Reds, Conforto was given another start. He hit second in the Chicago lineup and reached base three more times. In limited at-bats, Conforto has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball the last couple weeks, but Friday was just his fifth start in the last 18 games. Across 12 plate appearances this month, Conforto is 6-for-10 with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, three RBI, four runs scored and a 2:1 BB:K. Conforto has done enough to earn more playing time against right-handed pitching, but the Cubs' outfield is set in stone. Moises Ballesteros has cooled off as the primary designated hitter, as he's just 2-for-31 (.065) since April 28.

Brown didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Rangers, allowing one walk with three strikeouts across four scoreless and hitless innings.

Brown was forced into starting duties Friday after Matthew Boyd (knee) was placed on the injured list this week. After pitching exclusively out of the bullpen prior to this start, Brown was limited to 46 pitches against Texas. He lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.82 with a 27:9 K:BB across 29.2 innings. After making 15 starts last season, it shouldn't take long for Brown to build his arm back up to handle a starter's workload while the Cubs navigate their rotation injuries.

Nunez went 1-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases in Friday's 3-2 win over the Marlins.

Nunez singled on a bunt in the second inning before swiping second and third base following a walk in the seventh. After a miserable April, the 25-year-old has gone a modest 5-for-16 with four RBI across seven May contests. He's slashing .218/.320/.245 with just two extra-base hits, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored across 131 plate appearances this season and now leads the majors with 16 steals.

Jones went 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts in Friday's 6-0 loss to the Brewers.

Jones batted sixth in his major-league debut and was fanned by Jacob Misiorowski in both of his first two plate appearance before drawing a walk in the top of the fifth inning. Strikeouts have been a problem for Jones in the minors, as he struck out over 35 percent of the time at each of his minor-league stops last season before dropping that number to 32.4 percent across 142 plate appearances at Triple-A prior to his promotion. Jones will look to provide a power presence in the middle of the lineup while Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) are on the shelf.

Young went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 3-2 win over the Marlins.

Young gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead on what proved to be the game-winning home run in the first inning. It was his first long ball since April 13, and he's now scored five runs while hitting safely in three straight games. The 26-year-old has already tied a career high with three homers while posting a .236/.281/.346 slash line, 17 RBI, 16 runs scored and one steal across 136 plate appearances.

Fried (4-2) took the loss Friday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings.

Fried set the Brewers down in order on nine pitches in the first inning but lost control in the second inning, as six of the first seven batters reached for Milwaukee, leading to four runs. Aside from the one bad inning, Fried otherwise looked good and had his plus stuff. It was Fried's second five-run outing of the season. In his other seven starts, the left-hander has surrendered just nine runs across 47.1 innings. On the season, Fried owns a 2.91 ERA and 48:18 K:BB over 58.2 frames, as the strikeouts are at a career-low rate. He'll look to rebound next week, as he's lined up to face the Orioles in Baltimore on Wednesday.

Early (3-2) earned the win against the Rays on Friday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings.

Early escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the third inning and was lights out from there, yielding just two baserunners over his final four frames. He induced only eight whiffs on 96 pitches but filled the zone with 70 strikes in his best outing of the season. The young southpaw has now held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in seven of eight starts, with the lone exception being a five-run hiccup Saturday. He'll carry a 3.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 42.2 innings into a home matchup against the Phillies next week.

Smith will serve as the opening pitcher during Saturday's game against the Royals, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Smith has been one of the Tigers' most reliable bullpen options so far this season, logging a 1.59 ERA and 1.15 WHIP alongside a 16:4 K:BB in 11.1 innings. He'll be trusted to handle the first inning or two of Saturday's contest before turning things over to bulk reliever Ty Madden.

Vaughn went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored in Friday's 6-0 win over the Yankees.

Vaughn walked and scored in a four-run second inning against Yankees ace Max Fried and then doubled and scored in the third. Vaughn returned from the injured list earlier in the week and is now 3-for-11 with a double, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in three games since suffering the broken hamate bone in his left hand on Opening Day.

Scholtens (3-2) took the loss against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Scholtens limited the Red Sox to just two hits, though both were home runs. It was still an improvement from the five-run loss he took in his only other start of the season April 20, and the 32-year-old has now yielded two earned runs or fewer in five of six outings while working mostly in bulk relief. Overall, he owns a 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 27.1 innings. If he draws another start, it would likely come in a road matchup against the Blue Jays next week.