MLB Player News

Bratt (0-1) took the loss Saturday, surrendering five runs on seven hits and five walks over five innings as the Diamondbacks fell 5-3 to the Nationals. He struck out three.

The 23-year-old southpaw had trouble finding the plate in his fourth career MLB start, tossing 55 of 92 pitches for strikes. Even when Bratt did get the ball into the strike zone, he paid for it -- four of the seven hits off him went for extra bases, including a solo homer in the fifth inning by CJ Abrams. Through his first 15.2 innings for Arizona, Bratt carries a 6.32 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 10:11 K:BB, but with none of the team's injured starters expected back until August, he may stick in the rotation for another turn or two. He's set to make his next start on the road next weekend in Cleveland.

Ray (9-6) picked up the win Saturday, allowing six hits and two walks over six scoreless innings in a 9-2 victory over the Angels. He struck out five.

The veteran southpaw tossed 54 of 80 pitches for strikes en route to his eighth quality start of the season. Ray could be on the move at the trade deadline, and he's doing what he can to improve the return the Giants might get for him -- over his last seven starts he's held the opposition to one earned run or fewer six times, posting a 1.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 35:20 K:BB in 43.1 innings while serving up just one home run. Ray will look to stay locked in during his next outing, which currently lines up to come on the road next week in San Diego.

Perez (5-8) took the loss Saturday against San Diego, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out two.

It was a bit of a hard-luck loss for Perez, who delivered his fourth consecutive quality start. The hard-throwing right-hander opened the campaign with a 4.60 ERA through his first 11 outings but has been outstanding since coming off the injured list in late June, holding a 1.75 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB over his last six appearances (36 innings). Perez will bring a 3.56 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106:38 K:BB across 98.2 frames overall into his next scheduled start against the last-place Mets, who will be without superstar Juan Soto (calf).

Sears (3-3) notched the win Saturday against Miami, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in 3.1 innings. He struck out three.

Pitching behind Randy Vasquez as a bulk reliever, Sears thrived while scattering one single across 3.1 scoreless frames. Saturday disrupted a string of five consecutive starts for the 30-year-old left-hander, whose role with the Padres appears uncertain going forward. Sears, who sports a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 28 innings for San Diego since being recalled from Triple-A El Paso, could maintain some streaming appeal in fantasy leagues if he takes his next scheduled turn in the rotation against the Giants.

The Giants are expected to recall Whisenhunt from Triple-A Sacramento to start Sunday's home game against the Angels, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

With Trevor McDonald (elbow) recently landing on the injured list, the Giants will turn to Whisenhunt to fill the fifth spot in their rotation. The 25-year-old southpaw has given up four runs in 10.2 innings across his first two MLB starts this season, and he'll draw a favorable matchup on paper Sunday against an Angels lineup that's logged just a .656 OPS since the beginning of July.

The Phillies optioned McFarlane to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

McFarlane made just one appearance with the Phillies after being promoted Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning against the Dodgers. He'll now head back to the minors to help make room on Philadelphia's pitching staff for Brian Keller, who is set to work as a bulk reliever Saturday.

Sears is no longer listed as the starting pitcher for Saturday's game against Miami.

Randy Vasquez will step in as San Diego's starter, but because he hasn't pitched more than three innings since June 27, Sears may still end up working in bulk relief Saturday. The 30-year-old lefty turned in one of his best outings of the season during his last appearance, allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings against Atlanta on Monday.

Vasquez will start Saturday's game against the Marlins.

Vasquez will be making his first start since returning from the injured list last weekend, but because he hasn't pitched more than three innings in a game since the beginning of July, he's likely to act as more of an opener for JP Sears, who was originally in line to start Saturday's contest. Vasquez has been struggling mightily on the mound as of late, giving up 16 earned runs in just 13.1 frames across his last five appearances.

Smith-Shawver (elbow) is expected to make one more rehab start before being activated from the injured list, Ian Quillen of MLB.com reports.

Over four innings and 86 pitches (54 strikes) for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out five. Smith-Shawver has a 12:5 K:BB in 10.2 rehab innings for Gwinnett with a 1.69 ERA, but it's not yet clear if Atlanta will immediately add him to the big-league rotation once his IL stint is done -- the team is actively shopping for starting pitching at the trade deadline, and Smith-Shawver has a minor-league option remaining. If Atlanta doesn't bring in outside reinforcements, however, he could be an option to replace the struggling Reynaldo Lopez (nine runs allowed in 9.1 innings over his last two outings).

Jones didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander continues to look good in July, with the only blemish on his line Friday coming on a solo shot by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the sixth inning. Jones produced his second quality start of 2026 on 83 pitches (55 strikes), and he's given up just three runs total over four starts and 21 innings this month with a 1.29 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB. Jones will look to stay locked in during his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Diamondbacks.