MLB Player News

The Athletics keep losing, but Rooker keeps hitting. The double was his 32nd extra-base hit of the season and his OPS has climbed up to .845, 20th in the league among qualified players. Rooker could be in for a monster second-half if the A’s decide to trade him before the deadline.

Adames may get a chance to rest in Sunday’s absolutely meaningless game for the Brewers, so here’s one last chance before the postseason to say how great of a year it’s been for the 29-year-old. He’s now driven in 112 runs while bashing 32 homers and stealing 21 bases. Those are fantasy superstar numbers even before you consider his positional value. Adames will be in action for the Wild Card series against Atlanta, New York or Arizona.

Ortiz got the Brew Crew on the board with a two-run single off Jose Quintana in the fourth. That would be all the offense the Brewers would need, but Milwaukee scored four more runs anyway. For fun. Ortiz has had an up-and-down year offensively, but a .240/.331/.400 slash from a rookie is nothing to sneeze at. There’s likely more coming.

Myers worked behind an opener in Jared Koenig, and worked well. The 26-year-old gave up just one hit, didn’t walk anyone and struck out five. That lowers his ERA on the season — in what was assuredly his last appearance of 2024 — to 3.00, while improving his K/BB to 127/36 over over 138 innings. Myers could work in a similar role in the Wild Card round against the Braves, Mets or Diamondbacks.

Both runs came in the fourth inning on a single by Joey Ortiz that gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead, and that was ultimately enough to allow the southpaw to pick up the loss with the Mets dominated by the Milwaukee bullpen. While there was some traffic, Quintana did pitch well in this one with the nine strikeouts, raising his season total to 135 with an ERA of 3.75. Quintana will likely be a starter for the Mets in the postseason, but New York is not a lock to get in at this point.

Jeffers was able to break up a shutout in the ninth inning with a two-run homer off Keegan Akin. Zero impact on the game, 100 percent counts the same. Jeffers has been streaky — as always — in 2024, but now has 64 RBI and 21 homers. You can do a lot worse.

Holliday worked out of the leadoff spot, and looked awfully comfortable doing so. The 20-year-old singled twice while adding a double — his fourth of the year — and the pair of free passes. Holliday was not as ready for MLB action as many thought — or at least hoped — but there have been enough games like Saturday’s to remind that his future is as bright as any young infielder in the sport.

An error was changed to a hit, so it turned into a four-hit day for the 28-year-old, and he also drew a walk. His pair of homers give him five on the season, while the four RBI increase that total to 29. Far from elite — or even strong — numbers, but Rivera certainly had a nice day Saturday.

Yes that Tucker Davidson. The left-hander was recalled Saturday to be the bulk guy in a game that had no real meaning for the Orioles, but he pitched well. The former Atlanta prospect was a little fortunate to not give up a run while issuing just one strikeout against two walks with four hits, but credit to him for wiggling out of jams. Davidson is extremely unlikely to be part of the Baltimore pitching staff for the playoffs.

Matthews was making his final start of the year in his breakout campaign — but it’s worth pointing out that “breakout” happened much more so in the minors than the majors. This start saw him post an ERA of 6.69 on the year, and he wasn’t efficient/effective enough to get five innings in his last four starts. There’s loads of potential in his 24-year-old right arm, but there’s just as much risk with Matthews heading into 2025 as there is reward.

It’s always big to hit a walk-off homer. To hit one in the second-to-last game when your team is battling for a playoff spot? Little different. It has not been the best year for d’Arnaud, but he has shown there’s still pop in his bat with 15 homers, and this one should count for six if the world was fair. Atlanta has total control of its destiny for earning one of the final two spots in the Wild Card round.