MLB Player News

Schmitt went 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Athletics.

Schmitt took Luis Severino deep twice, hitting a solo shot in the first inning and adding a two-run blast in the fifth. After an 0-for-9 run over his previous three games, this was a good bounce-back performance for Schmitt, who is in a tough playing time battle. The Giants' lineup has often come down to Schmitt or Bryce Eldridge at designated hitter, and while Schmitt is a right-handed batter, he has played well enough to avoid settling for platoon work so far. He's now batting .293 with an .878 OPS, eight homers, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, three stolen bases, eight doubles and a triple over 38 contests. The utility man can also get into the lineup when the Giants' regular infielders need a day off, so there should be plenty of at-bats for him as long as he continues to play well.

Benintendi went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo home run during the White Sox's 8-3 win over the Cubs on Saturday.

Benintendi belted his first homer since April 23 (and third of the season) in the sixth inning to extend the White Sox's lead to 8-1. He was 1-for-16 in the seven games prior to Saturday's contest, with his season slash line dipping to .227/.277/.375 across 141 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during the Astros' 4-1 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

All four of the Astros' runs Saturday came from solo home runs off Jacob deGrom, with Alvarez belting his homer in the first inning. It was his second home run in three games and 15th of the season, which is tied for third most in the American League behind Munetaka Murakami (17) and Aaron Judge (16). In addition to the long balls, Alvarez is slashing .322/.429/.649 with 31 RBI, 30 runs scored and a steal across 205 plate appearances this season.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI single during the Rangers' 4-1 loss to the Astros on Saturday.

Pederson supplied the Rangers' lone run when his single in the seventh inning brought Jake Burger home. Pederson is up to 10 RBI on the season and is slashing .214/.333/.330 with three home runs and 13 runs scored in 126 plate appearances. He's batting. 188 with a .661 OPS through 12 games in May.

Garver was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Padres due to lower-back tightness, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Jhonny Pereda ended up starting behind home plate Saturday, and it's unclear whether Garver will be available for Sunday's series finale. Cal Raleigh (oblique) landed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, so Pereda would be the Mariners' top catcher if Garver were to also miss extended time.

Ballesteros isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

After going eight straight games without a hit, Ballesteros notched a single in Friday's win to break his streak. He'll step out of the lineup to begin Saturday's contest, putting Ian Happ in the DH spot and allowing Michael Conforto to start in left field.

Garver was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres.

The Mariners have yet to explain why they removed Garver from the starting nine, but some clarity is likely to come in the near future. While he sits on the bench Saturday, Jhonny Pereda will start at catcher and bat eighth.

Buxton (hip) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Buxton will sit on the bench for a third consecutive game after being scratched from Thursday's lineup with a hip injury. The Twins haven't hinted toward Buxton spending time on the injured list, though that may become an option if he doesn't return to the starting nine soon. While the veteran takes another day to heal, James Outman will pick up a start in center field and bat ninth.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Friday against the Phillies.

Ozuna took Aaron Nola deep in the fifth inning to record his fifth home run of the season. While his season-long numbers are still lagging behind expectations, Ozuna has hit .244 with three homers, eight RBI and eight runs scored across 12 games since the start of May.

Schwarber went 3-for-5 with a walk, two home runs and five RBI in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning win over the Pirates.

The red-hot slugger launched two-run homers off Braxton Ashcraft in the fifth inning and Mason Montgomery in the seventh before drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth, fueling a Phillies rally from an early 6-0 deficit. Schwarber is the first player in the majors this season to hit 20 home runs, and he put his name in the record books alongside some very notable peers -- per Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Schwarber is the second player in Phillies history to launch nine or more long balls in an eight-game span, joining Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, and Schwarber's the second player in history to have multiple such power surges in his career after Albert Belle. During his current eight-game heater, Schwarber's batting .353 (12-for-34) with nine homers and 15 RBI.