MLB Player News

Casilla, the prospect the Twins acquired from the Angels for J.C. Romero in the offseason, is batting .320/.371/.396 with 28 steals in 33 attempts. The switch-hitter might be Minnesota’s second baseman of the future.

Clearly chomping at the bit to return, Westburg has now homered in back-to-back games since coming off the injured list. His late three-run shot helped to break this game open after the Orioles and Tigers were locked in a tight affair through the first seven innings. He looks ready to go on a tear and this situation serves as a good reminder that more players than we think could be struggling because they’re trying to play through an injury, as Westburg clearly was earlier this season.

While Eflin’s strikeout numbers are rarely gaudy, he’s at his best when he’s mixing his deep pitch-mix and living around the edges of the plate like he did in this game. He threw each of his changeup, sinker, cutter, fastball, and curveball at least 12% of the time and allowed just two hard-hit balls before the Tigers’ slight seventh inning rally that chased Eflin from this game. Nevertheless, this was a great game for him. He’s lined up for a two-start week coming up with road matchups against the Yankees and Rays.

The Tigers struggled to muster up any offense against Zach Eflin and the Orioles in this one. Keith’s double was their only extra-base hit and it drove home their only run. Alas, he’s put a sluggish start of the season behind him with a .797 OPS over his last 30 games.

There was plenty of both good and bad to take out of this start by Mize. His seven strikeouts are the second most he’s had in any start this season and most in four starts since coming off the injured list. His splitter was lethal working as his primary pitch forcing seven swings-and-misses while not allowing a single hard-hit ball. Yet, his usage of that pitch became a bit predictable late in this game and strikes were tougher to come by. In the end, he was a tad too inefficient to get through the sixth inning and earn a quality start. He’s scheduled for a two-start week coming up against the Pirates at home and Rays on the road.

The struggling Hernández had gone 17 games without a homer before taking Jeremiah Estrada deep in the sixth inning. The ball left his bat at 108.6 mph and traveled a projected 420 feet. It was his only hit of the game to go along with two strikeouts and two routine flies, but hopefully it will get him going. He had been 3-for-38 with one RBI since May 31.

Although he settled for two strikeouts and just two missed swings, Casparius was able to get 12 outs on 54 pitches in his longest outing this season. If the Dodgers keep stretching him out, he’ll probably offer some mixed-league value, even if his ERA seems likely to increase in the rotation. He has a 2.86 ERA and a stellar 46/9 K/BB in 44 innings to this point. Unless something changes, he’ll face the Padres again next Monday or Tuesday.

Kopech came in with a 4-2 lead to the start the seventh and got Jake Cronenworth to ground out after three straight pitches around the zone. His control disappeared afterwards, and with no idea where the ball was going, he brushed back Elias Díaz three times in his plate appearance. Kopech fared a little better on the next walk to Fernando Tatis Jr., but he was then pulled with the bases loaded. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Anthony Banda came in and got Luis Arraez to pop up and Manny Machado to ground out (on a 3-0 pitch) to end the threat.

The Dodgers had Tanner Scott, who earned a save Monday, face the heart of the order while up 4-2 in the eighth today, leaving the bottom of the lineup for Vesia in the ninth, and Vesia wound up striking out Jake Cronenworth, Tyler Wade and Elias Díaz for the save. Vesia is definitely behind his fellow lefty in line for saves right now, but he’s still an option in deeper leagues.

The Padres are really cracking down on getting Vásquez out of the game before the lineup hits for a third time, and it seems to be doing some good. He faced 18 batters today and then made way for Adrian Morejon with Shohei Ohtani coming back up. Ohtani went on to ground out to end the inning with the score still tied at 1-1. Of course, as a consequence of all of these quick hooks, Vásquez hasn’t received a decision in his last four starts. The Padres did end up losing today, but they’re still 8-6 on the year when Vásquez pitches. He’s set to face the Dodgers again next week.

Adell’s homer came off Osvaldo Bido, the third pitcher in the frame after starter JP Sears was lifted and Grant Holman failed to retire any of the three batters he faced. Adell was losing playing time before Mike Trout returned and seemed to be very much in danger of falling out of the Angels’ plans, but he’s timed this hot streak very well; he’s hitting .333 with seven homers in 55 plate appearances over his last 15 games.