MLB Player News

  • Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Sets dubious MLB record

    Devers went 0-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and three strikeouts during Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rangers.

    Devers managed to finally log his first RBI of the 2025 campaign when he drew a walk with the bases loaded in the second inning, but that the only highlight of the day for the 28-year-old. He punched out three more times Saturday (twice swinging) and has set a major-league record by striking out 10 times in the first three games of the regular season, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Devers will look to get back on track in Sunday's regular season finale against Jacob deGrom.

  • Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Taking cuts in cage

    Stanton (elbows/calf) has been hitting indoors, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone relayed Thursday that Stanton had resumed swinging a bat, and Boone clarified Saturday that those swings have been indoors in a batting cage rather than just dry swings. Boone also stated that Stanton has had "a good couple of weeks" as the slugger works his way back from tennis elbow in both of his arms. There's still no timeline for when Stanton may be able to return to game action, but Boone's updates suggest that the 35-year-old is at least making progress after he was unable to take part in any exhibition contests this spring.

  • Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Idle Saturday

    McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Miami.

    After going 1-for-7 with an RBI and a walk over the first two games of the series, McCutchen will take a seat Saturday. Bryan Reynolds will serve as Pittsburgh's DH instead while Jack Suwinski starts in right field.

  • Spencer Steer 1B | CIN

    Reds' Spencer Steer: Resting Saturday

    Steer isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus San Francisco.

    After an 0-for-4 performance on Opening Day that saw Steer strike out three times, the 27-year-old will step out of the lineup Saturday. Jeimer Candelario will serve as Cincinnati's designated hitter instead, opening up third base for Santiago Espinal.

  • Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Strikeouts piling up

    Devers went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Rangers.

    Devers' first two games in a new role as the designated hitter have not been pretty. He's 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts (six swinging). While some may conclude the adjustment from playing the field to being a batter only has impacted Devers, Red Sox manager Alex Cora summed it up quite succinctly to Ian Browne of MLB.com. "Not catching up with the fastball," Cora said. "It's very simple. [He's getting] 3-2 counts. The at-bats are OK, but not being able to cash in." Devers didn't disagree with the manager. He dealt with injuries to both shoulders during spring training, which delayed his Grapefruit League debut until March 15, and finished the spring with just 15 plate appearances. That could be part of the issue, although Devers said he did the necessary work on his swing on the back fields.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Rangers' Joc Pederson: In lineup against righty

    Pederson started at designated hitter Friday and went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Friday's 4-1 win over Boston.

    Pederson, who was held out of Thursday's season opener against a lefty, was in the lineup against a right-hander. However, Kevin Pillar pinch hit for Pederson with lefty Brennan Bernardino on the bump for the Red Sox in the eighth inning. Texas manager Bruce Bochy may be strict in using Pederson against right-handers only.

  • Brent Rooker DH | ATH

    Athletics' Brent Rooker: Hits first homer of season

    Rooker went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's win over Seattle. He's started the first two games of the season at DH.

    Rooker didn't play in the outfield last season after May due to a right forearm injury that required surgery in the offseason. He played outfield in spring training and is fully healthy, but the expectation is that he will mostly play DH. His arm injury didn't inhibit him at the plate as he had a career-best 39 home runs, 112 RBI, 82 runs scored and 11 stolen bases while posting a .927 OPS last year.

  • Yuli Gurriel DH | SD

    Padres' Yuli Gurriel: Makes roster, goes hitless

    The Padres selected Gurriel's contract from Triple-A El Paso prior to Thursday's 7-4 win over Atlanta. He started at designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

    Gurriel attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but was able to secure his spot in the Opening Day lineup after posting an .814 OPS in Cactus League play. The right-handed-hitting Gurriel drew a start with southpaw Chris Sale on the mound, but Gurriel could cede reps at DH to the lefty-hitting Gavin Sheets when the Padres face right-handed pitching.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Goes deep in home opener

    Ohtani went 2-or-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 5-4 victory versus the Tigers.

    Ohtani provided a key insurance run in the seventh inning with a solo blast to left field. The superstar slugger is off to a hot start to the 2025 campaign, slashing .417/.500/1.000 with two homers and two RBI through three contests. He's yet to attempt a stolen base and is expected to run less following last season's historic 50-50 campaign, but Ohtani still figures to be one of the baseball's most impactful bats and is also expected to resume throwing off the mound during the upcoming weekend as he works toward returning to pitching in games for the first time since 2023.

  • Gavin Sheets RF | SD

    Padres' Gavin Sheets: Slugs pinch-hit homer

    Sheets went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-4 win over Atlanta.

    Sheets was not in the starting lineup against left-hander Chris Sale. He entered as a pinch-hitter for Brandon Lockridge in the seventh inning and launched a game-tying homer off Hector Neris that kick-started San Diego's comeback victory. Sheets picked up where he left off in spring training, when he slashed .311/.367/.756 with six homers. The former White Sox player figures to see regular playing time for the Friars against right-handed pitching as long as he's slugging.

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