MLB Player News
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Keibert Ruiz C | WAS
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Season-best effort in win
Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Twins.
The 27-year-old catcher enjoyed his most productive day at the dish this year, knocking the ball all over the yard. Ruiz recorded a season high in hits, runs and RBI on Thursday en route to totaling a season-most eight bases. Over 70 at-bats, he's still hitting just .214 with two homers, seven doubles, 13 RBI and seven runs scored as Washington's primary backstop.
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Wilyer Abreu CF | BOS
Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Notches third steal
Abreu went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and one RBI in Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Rays.
Abreu has gone 7-for-26 (.269) over the first seven games of May, and he's added a 6:9 BB:K and four RBI. The outfielder also has two steals over his last three contests, though he's up to just three thefts on four attempts, as running isn't a large part of his game. The outfielder is batting .300 with an .841 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, six doubles and one triple across 37 contests and has often been the Red Sox's most reliable hitter early in 2026.
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Trevor Story SS | BOS
Red Sox's Trevor Story: Picks up steal in loss
Story went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Rays.
Story has gone 11-for-45 (.244) over his last 11 games, but he's also racked up 14 strikeouts with just one extra-base hit and two steals in that span. The shortstop has struggled significantly so far, batting .204 with a .528 OPS, four steals, two home runs, 18 RBI, 14 runs scored and six doubles over 36 contests. The Red Sox haven't done well as a team, and Story's large contract gives him a bit more leeway to stay in the lineup, especially since other options at shortstop like Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa aren't hitting any better.
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Jack Anderson RP | BOS
Red Sox's Jack Anderson: Set to return to big leagues
Anderson is expected to be called up from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Anderson will join the major-league roster for the second time this season, having produced a 3.38 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with six strikeouts over eight innings in three appearances with Boston earlier this season. The right-hander pitched multiple innings in all three of his previous outings with the Red Sox, reaching 52 pitches in his longest appearance April 14 versus the Twins.
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Gus Varland RP | WAS
Nationals' Gus Varland: Locks down fourth save
Varland secured the save Thursday against the Twins, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in 1.1 innings. He struck out two.
Varland filled the zone for 12 strikes among his 16 offerings, permitting a lone innocuous single to Byron Buxton in the eighth inning. The 29-year-old right-hander should continue to have Washington's closer role mostly to himself until Clayton Beeter (forearm) comes off the injured list. Varland has converted four of his six save opportunities, posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB over 14.2 frames overall this year.
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Cedric Mullins CF | TB
Rays' Cedric Mullins: Picks up steal Thursday
Mullins went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and one RBI in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
Mullins made a rare start in center field versus a left-handed pitcher (Jake Bennett), but that isn't likely to be the norm moving forward. This was the third lefty the Rays had faced in four days, so Mullins' inclusion in the lineup was likely just to get him some playing time. He was able to swipe a bag for the first time in three tries this month, and he's hitting 4-for-17 (.235) over six games in May. That's not a great mark, but it's better than his .143 average for the season. Mullins has added a .430 OPS, seven steals on 10 attempts, two home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored, two doubles and a triple over 123 plate appearances. Barring a sustained run of good hitting, Mullins is trending toward a part-time role.
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Justin Foscue 1B | TEX
Rangers' Justin Foscue: Makes first start
Foscue started at second base and went 0-for-1 in Thursday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees.
Foscue made his first start since being called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, but it wasn't a long day. After striking out in his first plate appearance, Foscue was pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth. He's been a tease in the minors, putting up noteworthy numbers at the Triple-A level, but the production never followed him into the majors, where he's 3-for-52 across multiple stints. He could get some playing time while Josh Smith (glute) is on the 10-day injured list, but Ezequiel Duran is expected to get the bulk of the starts at the keystone while Smith his sidelined.
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Jake Bennett SP | BOS
Red Sox's Jake Bennett: Returns to Triple-A after start
Bennett was optioned to Triple-A Worcester after Thursday's 8-4 loss to Tampa Bay, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Bennett made his second career major-league start Thursday at home versus the Rays, taking the loss while allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one batter over 5.1 innings. The southpaw has combined to pitch 10.1 innings while surrendering four runs in two outings with Boston, and he'll likely get another shot with the major-league roster down the road this season.
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Jonny DeLuca LF | TB
Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Logs fifth steal
DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
DeLuca was in the lineup for the third time in four games since the Rays have faced three left-handed starters in that stretch. The outfielder is firmly in a short-side platoon role, but he offers a bit of speed and decent contact skills when he plays. He's batting .284 with a .762 OPS, two home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, seven doubles and five steals on six attempts over 86 plate appearances. He has appeared in all seven of the Rays' games in May so far, going 6-for-21 (.286) for the month.
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Simeon Woods Richardson RP | MIN
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Can't find rhythm Thursday
Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Nationals, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out two.
Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz in particular had Woods Richardson's number, plating three runs on a pair of doubles versus the hurler. It's been a struggle in 2026 so far for Woods Richardson, who has surrendered at least four runs in five of his last six starts while fanning three or fewer each time out during that period. Still winless on the campaign, the right-hander will bring a ghastly 6.92 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 19:16 K:BB over 39 innings into his next scheduled outing versus Miami.