MLB Player News

DeJong has swung the bat well thus far in May with a .955 OPS and three homers. He’ll get the first game off before likely returning to the lineup for the second contest of the twin billing. Braden Shewmake is playing shortstop in his absence.

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.

The 33-year-old right-hander came on with a one-run lead to protect in the ninth inning. He allowed a leadoff single to Sean Murphy and then Austin Riley reached on an error by Jose Tena that allowed the tying run to get to third base. That run would score on a game-tying RBI double by Matt Olson. Finnegan eluded any further damage and the Nationals ultimately won the game in extra innings, but he still gets saddled with a blown save for his part. On the season, he boasts a 2.41 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 17/7 K/BB ratio over 18 2/3 innings to go with 15 saves in 18 opportunities.

The 33-year-old hurler also issued three walks on the night while striking out three. He served up back-to-back solo homers to Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna in the opening inning, then the Braves tacked on another three runs while chasing Williams from the game in the fourth inning. He got seven whiffs on 82 pitches on the night, posting an underwhelming CSW of 24 percent. He’ll look to put this one behind him and bounce back as he brings a 6.39 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 41/15 K/BB ratio (49 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Mariners in Seattle.

Ozuna crushed a 364-foot (95.9 mph EV) solo shot off of Trevor Williams in the top half of the first inning, extending the Braves’ early lead to 2-0. He then drew a walk in the fourth inning and scored on a two-run single by Michael Harris II. The 34-year-old slugger added an RBI single in the seventh that pulled the Braves to within a run at 7-6. With his three-hit night, Ozuna is now hitting .278/.426/.487 with nine long balls and 24 RBI on the season.

The right-hander also issued three walks on the evening while recording only one strikeout. The Nationals got to him early and often in this one, scratching out a run in the first inning and adding four more in the second, the final three of those on a bases-clearing double by James Wood. After a scoreless third inning, Smith-Shawver returned for the fourth where he issued a leadoff walk and then was pulled in the middle of an at-bat against James Wood as he couldn’t find his command. Even with this disaster though, the 22-year-old hurler sports a respectable 3.67 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 41/20 K/BB ratio over 41 2/3 innings through his first eight starts. He’ll try to bounce back as he battles the Phillies in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Santana broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning as he smacked a 3-1 slider from Jack Flaherty into center field for a two-run double. That would be all of the run support that Tanner Bibee and company would require in this one. The 39-year-old first baseman finished the night 1-for-2 and is now hitting .235/.345/.370 with six homers, 26 RBI and a pair of stolen bases on the season.

The versatile 23-year-old drew a start at second base in this one and made the most of it, walloping a 373-foot (97.4 mph EV) solo shot off of Jack Flaherty to open the fifth inning, extending the Guardians’ advantage to 3-0. He also added a two-run double in the ninth inning to help put the game away. For the season, he’s slashing a solid .289/.314/.412 with the aforementioned two long balls, 15 RBI and four stolen bases through his first 122 plate appearances.

The 32-year-old superstar singled off of Jack Flaherty with one out in the fourth inning and came around to score the game’s first run on a two-run double off the bat of Carlos Santana. Ramírez also singled with two outs in the eighth inning but was left stranded there. With his two-hit attack, Ramírez is now slashing .309/.365/.520 with nine homers, 24 RBI and 12 stolen bases through his first 47 games on the season.