MLB Player News

Mena has joined the Diamondbacks' taxi squad and appears in line to make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged Mena's presence in the clubhouse Tuesday and said that "if that does come up [Wednesday], [Mena] deserves the opportunity," per PHNX Diamondbacks. Mena is a 21-year-old right-hander who was traded to Arizona over the winter. He has spent the entire 2024 season to date with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89:38 K:BB over 82.2 innings spanning 16 starts. A road matchup against the Dodgers represents a tough landing spot, and most will want to wait and see how the youngster fares before considering him for a fantasy roster.

Lopez came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander blanked San Francisco through four innings but was far from efficient, and when he served up back-to-back solo shots to begin the fifth, Lopez got the hook after 101 pitches (57 strikes). He's walked four batters in two straight trips to the mound, while the 4.1 innings represented his shortest start of the year. Despite the recent stumbles, he still hasn't given up more than three earned runs in an outing in 2024. He'll take a 1.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 87:31 K:BB through 83.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Phillies.

Birdsong (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The runs came on back-to-back solo shots by Austin Riley and Sean Murphy in the second inning, but Birdsong otherwise shut the door over 87 pitches (57 strikes). The rookie right-hander hasn't exactly been dominant to begin his big-league tenure, serving up three homers and issuing five free passes in 9.2 innings, but he's giving an injury-depleted Giants rotation some length. Birdsong lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Mercado (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Mercado's 1.71 Triple-A ERA translated well into the big leagues Tuesday, as he was able to silence the Cubs' offense during his first career MLB start. The only blemish on the 25-year-old's record came via a third-inning RBI double courtesy of Cody Bellinger, but the right-hander responded by throwing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before being pulled. With Spencer Turnbull (lat) set to miss 6-to-8 weeks and Taijuan Walker (finger) out through the All-Star break, Mercado will almost certainly be granted another start -- tentatively scheduled to come Sunday in Atlanta.

Ashcraft (5-4) picked up the win Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks across five-plus innings. He struck out three.

Ashcraft spent three weeks at Triple-A Louisville before allowing six runs in a start against the Pirates on June 26. He rebounded after struggling in his first start back in the bigs, blanking the Yankees over five innings before allowing a pair of singles and a walk and getting pulled without recording an out in the sixth. Ashcraft is expected to stick around for one more cycle in the Cincinnati rotation, with a start scheduled for Sunday against Detroit before Nick Lodolo (finger) returns from the injured list.

Herz didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Mets, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

After dazzling with 13 strikeouts over six scoreless innings June 15, Herz yielded eight runs (seven earned) with six strikeouts and four home runs across his next two starts. However, he stopped the skid Tuesday and allowed just one run, which came on a solo homer by Francisco Lindor in the fifth. Though the 23-year-old owns a 4.67 ERA, he's flashed tantalizing fantasy upside as a rookie and is on track to face the Cardinals, who've scored the fourth-fewest runs per game this season, in his next start.

Manaea didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Washington, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks across seven innings. He struck out five.

Although Manaea wasn't rewarded with the win, Tuesday's start marked his first time going deeper than six innings this season and was his third straight outing without surrendering a home run. The southpaw owns a 3.67 ERA across 83.1 innings, which would be his best since 2019, and has allowed only five earned runs in his last 22.2 innings pitched. Manaea is on track to start against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Nelson allowed one run on six hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Joe Mantiply opened for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, retiring two of the first three batters. Nelson proceeded to allow an inherited runner to score when he entered the game and was tagged for another run in the third inning, but that was the extent of the damage. Two of the five times Nelson's held an opponent to one run or fewer this year have been against the Dodgers, though he hasn't been dominant against them by any means. Overall, the right-hander has a 5.42 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 49:19 K:BB through 73 innings over 15 appearances (13 starts). He's projected to make his next appearance at San Diego.

Miller allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Miller was responsible for a game-tying two-run home run by Christian Walker in the fourth inning. This was Miller's third start since he returned from shoulder inflammation, but he's given up 10 runs over 13.1 innings with a 7:9 K:BB across those outings. Overall, he's at a 6.12 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 25:15 K:BB through 25 innings over six starts this season. Miller is still likely trying to find a rhythm after a two-month absence. With his next start projected to be against either Milwaukee or Philadelphia -- the other two National League division leaders besides the Dodgers -- fantasy managers may want to take a wait-and-see approach with Miller in the short term.

Feltner didn't factor in the decision in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers after he gave up one run on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander certainly wasn't dominant, as he generated only seven whiffs on 83 pitches. However, he limited Milwaukee to just a single tally in the second inning. Feltner has now gone at least five frames in each of his past five starts, and he has a 4.18 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB across 28 innings during that stretch. For the season, Feltner carries a 1-7 record with a 5.82 ERA in 16 outings, with his lone victory coming back in mid-April.