MLB Player News

With everyone healthy, there isn’t a clear path to at-bats for Barger in Toronto at the moment. The 24-year-old has added some defensive versatility to his game this season, but has batted .150 (9-for-60) with zero homers and one steal in 63 plate appearances over 20 games in the majors. He’s going to get another shot eventually, but it might not be in the near future.

Craig Kimbrel threw 18 pitches on Friday and has not been used in back-to-back outings in over a week, so it’s likely that the Orioles are still being cautious with their erstwhile closer after a poor stretch a coupe of weeks ago. Cano now has five saves on the season and could be looked at as a part of a committee with Kimbrel, but he’s not taking over the closer’s role. At least not yet.

The 20-year-old is now 5-for-14 with two extra-base hits in four games since beginning his second stint in the majors. He’s too good of a hitter to continue to struggle the way he did earlier in the season, but it may take a few years before his power comes to a level that makes him a fantasy asset in that category, He should provide a solid batting average with the chance for good counting stats in a strong lineup the rest of the way.

The 22-year-old continues to operate as the regular center fielder in Cleveland even after the team acquired Lane Thomas at the deadline. Martínez has three home runs since being called up and doesn’t pack a huge punch, never having hit more than 14 in a minor league season or stolen more than 13 bases. However, he makes a lot of contact and should be a typical high-batting-average hitter near the top of the Guardians’ lineup.

Reynolds drew a walk in the third inning, then launched a two-run homer to give the Pirates the lead in the sixth off Slade Cecconi. He later reached once more with a walk in the eighth. The 29-year-old outfielder is slashing .287/.355/.485 with 19 homers, 51 runs scored, 65 RBI, and six steals across 473 plate appearances.

Eflin struck out three and walked one on the day. He also induced just nine whiffs on 45 swings for a 20 percent whiff rate but also had a solid 28 percent CSW. For the second straight start, Eflin threw his cutter more than he had with the Rays, getting a fair number of called strikes on it on Saturday. It could be a change that works for him. He’ll now take a 4.05 ERA into a solid start against his former team, the Rays, next week.

Bart drove in the first run of the game, putting the Pirates on the board with a solo homer off Jordan Montgomery in the second inning. He later extended the Pittsburgh lead with a single in the sixth to drive in a run. The 27-year-old catcher is hitting .271/.358/.496 with eight homers and 27 RBI across 148 plate appearances.

Bednar entered in the top of the ninth to close out the game against Arizona with a three-run lead. He recorded two quick strikeouts to start the frame before giving up a run on a double, walk, and base hit. Bednar then got Alek Thomas to fly out to center field to end the game and secure his 20th save.

Keller’s excellent outing was cut shot by a rain delay in Pittsburgh. He had tossed four scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks, scattering one hit and two walks while striking out four batters. He’s now allowed just three runs over 18 innings across his last three starts. The 28-year-old right-hander will take a 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 118/36 K/BB ratio across 132 1/3 innings into a start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday.

Montgomery had allowed one run, a solo homer by Joey Bart, through three innings before his start was cut short by a rain delay against the Pirates. He struck out three. The 31-year-old left-hander will take a 6.37 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, and a 51/29 K/BB ratio across 77 2/3 innings into a start against the Phillies in Arizona on Thursday.

The rookie kept the Orioles off the scoreboard for the first three innings before allowing two runs on four hits in the fourth inning and then allowing a lead-off double in the fifth inning. Cantillo did post a 26 percent whiff rate and 28 percent CSW on the day, which is solid, and he probably deserves a chance to face a non-elite offense. The bad news is that he’d get the Twins in his next start.