MLB Player News

Wheeler (9-1) earned the win Tuesday against the Reds, allowing one run on four hits while striking out 14 over seven innings.

Wheeler did not issue a walk and generated a dominant 20 swinging strikes while matching his career high with 14 punchouts. He recorded multiple strikeouts in five of his first six innings before Eugenio Suarez spoiled the shutout with a solo homer on the first pitch of the seventh. Wheeler has now won five straight decisions since suffering his lone loss of the season May 29 against the Dodgers. The right-hander has piled up 24 strikeouts over his last 11.2 innings and is scheduled to make one final start before the All-Star break against the Tigers. He owns a 2.28 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 98:20 K:BB across 87 innings this season.

Altuve went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during the Astros' 6-3 win over the Nationals on Tuesday.

Altuve failed to get on base in each of his first four plate appearances but the fifth time was the charm for the veteran second baseman, who smacked a solo homer to left-center field in the eighth inning. He's gone deep in back-to-back games against Washington and is up to 10 home runs on the season. Altuve has reached base safely in six of his last seven games, going 6-for-27 (.222) with four extra-base hits, five RBI and one steal in that span.

Allen went 1-for-3 with a steal and three RBI during the Astros' 6-3 win over the Nationals on Tuesday.

Allen was responsible for half of the Astros' runs Tuesday, which came on a sacrifice fly in the second inning and a two-run single in the fourth. It was a season high in RBI for Allen, who has seen regular run at shortstop since returning from the 10-day injured list in late June. However, his playing time will take a significant hit once Jeremy Pena (calf) returns from the IL, with Pena having embarked on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.

Hader earned the save against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter in one-third of an inning.

The Astros initially turned to Alimber Santa to protect their 6-2 lead in the ninth, but the right-hander gave up a solo homer to Jose Tena before giving up another single. Hader was brought out needing just one out to secure the save, but the southpaw gave up an infield single and a walk to load the bases before getting Dylan Crews to strike out swinging. Hader has converted all 10 of his save opportunities this season and has a 0.59 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB across 15.1 innings.

Imai did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three across 3.2 innings.

Imai put the Astros on the back foot early by giving up a leadoff home run to James Wood. Imai yielded another run in the second and ran up his pitch count to 84 (52 strikes) before being pulled in the fourth inning. He's recorded only 15 outs over his last two starts, which comes after he tossed back-to-back quality starts with 10-plus strikeouts in both of those outings, and he sits at a 6.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 52 innings this season. Whether Imai gets one last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break largely depends on whether Ronel Blanco (elbow) will be activated off the 60-day IL for the Astros' weekend road series against the Rangers.

Bowlan recorded one out to pick up a hold Tuesday against the Reds.

Bowlan tends to be deployed in middle relief, but he was called upon to get the Phillies out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning and struck out Eugenio Suarez for his lone out. Through 27.2 innings, the 27-year-old right-hander has a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB with three holds and no saves in three chances.

Alvarez (2-2) took the loss against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing five runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three across 5.2 innings.

Alvarez returned to a starting role after serving in a bulk-relief role against the Red Sox last Wednesday. He ended up pitching five-plus innings for the first time this season, but he also gave up a season-high five runs in the process. The Nationals have an off day Thursday, so Tuesday's outing figures to be Alvarez's last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break. He has a 3.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 51:21 K:BB over 47 innings this season.

Cleavinger picked up a hold Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing one hit and no walks in a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out two.

Cleavinger continues to operate as Tampa Bay's primary left-handed setup man for closer Bryan Baker. Through 25.2 innings, the 32-year-old southpaw has a quality 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB to go with 15 holds and two saves in four opportunities.

Tena went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Houston.

Tena was brought out for the ninth inning to pinch hit for Jacob Young, and the former answered the call by taking Alimber Santa deep to right-center field for a solo homer. It was the fifth long ball of the season for Tena, two of which have come over his last four games. He is slashing .239/.303/.411 with 19 RBI, three steals and 16 extra-base hits across 178 plate appearances this season.

Wood went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during the Nationals' 6-3 loss to the Astros on Tuesday.

Wood wasted no time in getting the Nationals on the board, taking the second pitch he saw from Tatsuya Imai deep to right-center field for a solo home run in the first inning. Wood continues to rake at the plate, and over his last eight games he has gone 12-for-29 (.414) with five home runs, 12 RBI, one steal and 11 runs scored. His .949 OPS and 25 home runs rank fourth and sixth, respectively, in the majors this season.