MLB Player News

With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Cardinals appear poised to give Walker an everyday opportunity, regardless of opposing pitcher, at the highest level over the final month of the regular season. The 22-year-old corner outfielder was one of the most promising prospects in baseball less than two years ago, so we’re not doubting the talent. Unfortunately, he just hasn’t produced enough in the majors to warrant consideration for a fantasy roster spot outside of deeper mixed leagues. Given his immense upside, that could change in a hurry. We need to see it first before we trust him again.

It sounds like Kirby, who had a noticeable bruise on the right side of his upper lip while speaking to reporters, managed to avoid serious injury when he was struck by a 102.7-mph line drive during the fifth inning of Tuesday’s outing. He added that the ball deflected off his right hand before hitting him in the face, managing to avoid any major damage. The 27-year-old righty appears on track to make his next start on Sunday against the Angels.

It sounds like a virtual lock that López will require a trip to the injured list after suffering a potential lat strain while warming up for the sixth inning of Tuesday’s outing in Sacramento. The 29-year-old righty will undergo further testing and imaging on Wednesday to determine the severity of the strain and how much time he’s going to miss. Fantasy managers should prepare for a multi-week absence, even if it’s on the milder end of the spectrum. There should be an update on his status at some point this week. David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson are the most likely candidates to fill his rotation spot.

Muncy has been on a tear at the plate as his home run barrage continued Tuesday. He took Tylor Megill deep for a two-run blast in the first inning, then later tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth for his second round-tripper of the evening. The 34-year-old slugger is up to nine homers, five in his last seven games, while hitting .230/.350/.432 across 223 plate appearances.

Freeman put the Dodgers on the board with a double in the first inning to bring home a run before scoring on a groundout. His next hit came in the bottom of the tenth. With two runners on and one out, he doubled off the left field wall to drive in the game-winning run. The 35-year-old first baseman is hitting an incredible .369/.435/.626 with nine homers, 34 runs scored, and 40 RBI across 214 plate appearances.

Soto took Clayton Kershaw deep for his only hit of the game, sending a two-run blast to right center field. It was Soto’s third home run in four games and his 11th on the season as he’s hitting .233/.361/.438 with 39 runs scored, 30 RBI, and seven steals across 269 plate appearances.

With Edwin Díaz getting a breather after pitching in three of the last four games, Brazobán was summoned to close things out with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. He surrendered a game-tying solo homer to Max Muncy before ultimately striking out the side.

Kershaw allowed a run in the first inning on a two base hits and a wild pitch. Juan Soto later took him deep for a two-run shot in the third. The Mets then brought two more unearned runs in on a walk, error, and two hits in the fifth before Kershaw’s day was done with two outs in the frame. He struck out two. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander will carry a 5.17 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, and an 8/9 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings into a start against the Padres in San Diego on Monday.

Megill was hit for four runs in the open frame, including two on a home run by Max Muncy. He recovered tremendously following the first inning, locking in for five more scoreless frames, striking out seven batters over six innings. The 29-year-old right-hander will take a 3.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 79/28 K/BB ratio across 59 2/3 innings into a start against the Rockies in Colorado on Sunday.

Castro drew a walk in the second inning, then took Jacob Lopez deep for a solo homer in the fourth. He went yard once again in the sixth, slugging his second homer of the game off Lopez. The versatile 28-year-old is slashing .261/.346/.457 with six homers, 25 runs scored, 12 RBI, and three steals across 156 plate appearances.

Larnach led off the top of the sixth inning with a game-tying solo homer off Jacob Lopez. He then knocked a base hit to start the seventh and scored on a bases loaded hit batter. Larnach collected his third hit of the night with a base hit in the eighth. The 28-year-old outfielder is hitting .263/.328/.429 with nine homers, 33 runs scored, and 30 RBI across 248 plate appearances.