MLB Player News

Panik was removed from the Marlins’ 40-man roster after being designated for assignment last week and has refused an outright assignment. The 30-year-old journeyman infielder hit .208/.266/.284 with three homers and two steals across 257 plate appearances this season. He’ll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training this offseason.

The 24-year-old superstar had his back tighten up on him during batting practice before Thursday’s battle against the Astros, so the Mariners took a cautious approach and held him out of the lineup. Mariners’ manager Dan Wilson told reporters after the game that Rodríguez is considered day-to-day. Still not sure why they couldn’t have said that before the game on Thursday, but fantasy managers can now breathe a major sigh of relief.

Yelich got the Brewers started in a hurry in this one, clubbing a 356-foot (101.4 mph EV) three-run shot off of Pirates’ rookie right-hander Mike Burrows in the opening inning, giving the Brewers a 3-0 lead that they would never relinquish. He added to that lead in the sixth inning with a monstrous 415-foot (110.7 mph EV) solo shot off of Isaac Mattson that made it a 5-2 ballgame. He was also walked intentionally in the eighth inning and scored on a two-out two-run single by Sal Frelick. He has started to pick up the pace after a painfully slow start to the season, slashing .192/.285/.363 with nine homers, 30 RBI and eight stolen bases.

The Brewers entered the ninth inning with a comfortable five-run lead, but Carlos Rodriguez walked the first two batters to start the ninth and then allowed an RBI double to Bryan Reynolds which made manager Pat Murphy turn to his closer to get out of trouble. Megill was up to the task, striking out Joey Bart, getting Spencer Horwitz on a ground ball to third and Ke’Bryan Hayes on a line drive to second to end it. On the season, the 31-year-old hurler now sports a 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and an 18/8 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings on the season.

The 23-year-old right-hander also issued four walks on the night while recording a pair of strikeouts. He came on with two outs in the fifth inning and had worked through the eighth, allowing just one run on an RBI double by Oneil Cruz in the sixth inning. He returned for the ninth though and allowed the first three hitters to reach — including an RBI double by Bryan Reynolds — which spoiled his overall line. The assumption is that Rodriguez will get optioned back to Triple-A Nashville before Friday’s game as the Brewers cycle through another fresh arm.

The 29-year-old right-hander issued a pair of walks in the ballgame while punching out three opposing hitters. The Pirates had him on the ropes in the opening inning but couldn’t deliver a crushing blow against him, scoring their lone run as Joey Bart bounced into a rally-killing double play. They added another on a solo shot by Spencer Horwitz in the fourth inning. Civale got seven whiffs on 73 pitches on the evening — five of them on his cutter — while registering a CSW of 30 percent. He should be able to work deep enough into the game to earn a win his next time out when he takes on the Red Sox at home on Tuesday.

Horwitz jumped on a 3-2 cutter from Aaron Civale in the fourth inning and clobbered a 409-foot (104.8 mph EV) solo shot that pulled the Pirates to within two runs at 4-2. He also reached on an infield single in the fifth inning and drove in a run with a ground out in the ninth. The 27-year-old has looked good since returning from the injured list, slashing .278/.350/.444 with a homer and two RBI in his first 18 at-bats. If he’s still hanging around on the waiver wire in deeper mixed leagues, he’s certainly worth a look despite the poor supporting cast around him.

The 25-year-old right-hander walked two and struck out three batters on the night. All of the damage that was done against him came via the long ball, as Christian Yelich clubbed a three-run homer in the opening inning and Joey Ortiz added a solo shot in the second. He settled in nicely after that, but the damage had already been done. Burrows got nine swings and misses on 77 pitches on the night — eight of those on his changeup — while posting a CSW of 25 percent. We’ll see if it was enough for him to earn another start in the Pirates’ rotation or if they’ll finally give Bubba Chandler an opportunity to fill that spot the next time around.

The Nationals were able to keep the Braves off the board in the top half of the 10th inning, and Alex Call dropped down a successful sacrifice bunt to move the extra runner up to third base, setting the stage for Rosario’s pinch-hit heroics. He lined a single into left field off of Dylan Lee, sending the Nationals’ home faithful into a frenzy. He’s enjoying a terrific season at the plate, slashing .305/.337/.439 with two homers, 12 RBI and one stolen base in his first 86 plate appearances.

The 23-year-old top prospect smacked the first pitch that he saw from AJ Smith-Shawver into right field for a leadoff single in the second inning. He then pilfered second base and scored on an RBI single by CJ Abrams. He also singled in the seventh inning, but wound up stranded at second base. Hassell then served as the extra runner to open the 10th inning and scored the winning run on Amed Rosario’s walk-off RBI single. It was certainly a memorable debut for Hassell, who should continue to see everyday action while Jacob Young (shoulder) is shelved.

Wood reached on an infield single in the first inning and scored the Nationals’ first run on an RBI double by Keibert Ruiz. He then delivered a bases-clearing three-run double off of AJ Smith-Shawver in the second inning that gave the Nationals an early 5-2 advantage. With his two-hit attack, the 22-year-old budding superstar is now slashing .291/.389/.545 with 12 homers, 33 RBI and seven stolen bases.