MLB Player News

Mullins went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Pirates.

Mullins singled home Jonny DeLuca in the fifth inning and later delivered the eventual game-winning homer with a two-run shot to break a 6-6 tie in the top of the 13th. It was Mullins' second homer of the season. The veteran has had a rough go of things at the plate in his first season with the Rays, slashing .149/.205/.284 with just four extra-base hits, eight RBI, seven runs scored, three stolen bases and a 3:16 BB:K across 75 plate appearances.

Baker was charged with a blown save Saturday against the Pirates, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts in one inning.

With the heart of the order due up for the Pirates in the bottom of the eighth, manager Kevin Cash called on Baker to protect a 5-4 lead. He yielded a leadoff walk to Brandon Lowe and an infield singled to Ryan O'Hearn before Nick Yorke tied the game with a single. It was Baker's second blown save of the season, though he'd previously recorded four of the Rays' previous five saves. Baker now owns a 4.32 ERA and 9:3 K:BB across 8.1 innings and currently remains Tampa Bay's leading candidate for saves.

McCullers (1-1) took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings.

McCullers allowed two runs in each of the first and third innings, throwing 58 of 91 pitches for strikes while generating 10 whiffs. After going seven strong frames in his season debut March 30, the 32-year-old has now yielded 13 earned runs across his past three starts. He'll carry a 6.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB across 20.1 innings into a tough home matchup against the Yankees next weekend.

Rasmussen didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Pirates, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts across 3.2 innings.

Rasmussen gave up a two-run homer to Ryan O'Hearn in the bottom of the first inning and later surrendered another two-run shot to Marcell Ozuna in the fourth. The game was then delayed by rain for two hours and 27 minutes, ending Rasmussen's day after 64 pitches. It was the right-hander's first troublesome outing of the season after he yielded just two runs in 16 innings across his first three starts. Rasmussen now owns a 2.75 ERA and 20:3 K:BB across 19.2 innings. He should be well rested ahead of his next turn through the rotation, which is likely to come at home versus the Twins.

Munoz earned the save in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Rangers, striking out the only batter he faced in the ninth inning.

He was summoned in the ninth inning after Cole Wilcox allowed two runs and loaded the bases, and Munoz struck out Brandon Nimmo on four pitches to quickly slam the door. The 27-year-old Munoz surrendered five runs in a non-save situation Wednesday, but he's now kept opponents off the board in six of eight appearances this season. Overall, the right-hander owns a 9.00 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB across seven innings but has converted both of his save opportunities in the early going.

Ozuna went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Rays.

After batting an abysmal .051 through the Pirates' first 14 games, Ozuna has now hit safely in six straight appearances and has two homers over the last three contests. The 35-year-old might be finding his swing and has boosted his slash line to .185/.254/.292 with two homers, seven RBI, six runs scored and a 6:16 BB:K across 71 plate appearances.

Hoffman (1-2) took the loss Saturday against the Diamondbacks, allowing four runs on three hits and one walk in the eighth inning. He struck out two.

Summoned to keep the game tied at 2-2 in the eighth frame, Hoffman proceeded to allow three consecutive baserunners to reach before a grand slam by Corbin Carroll before escaping the frame. The right-hander's grip on Toronto's closer role continues to loosen, as he's produced a 7.71 ERA and 2.04 WHIP while converting just two of his five save opportunities through 9.1 innings. Louis Varland was warming up for the ninth had the game remain tied or if a save situation had arose, and he appears to be the next man up in the bullpen should the Blue Jays consider other alternatives for saves. However, manager John Schneider stated that Hoffman remains the team's closer following the game, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.

Benintendi went 1-for-6 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Athletics.

After Colson Montgomery led off the top of the second inning with a solo homer, Benintendi capped the frame with a three-run shot off Luis Severino. It was Benintendi's first homer of the season, and he's now 4-for-12 with three extra-base hits, four RBI and three runs scored in the first two games of the weekend series against the Athletics. Benintendi is slashing just .200/.262/.367 across 65 plate appearances this season.

Montgomery went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Athletics.

Montgomery got the scoring started in this one, taking Luis Severino deep for a solo shot to lead off the top of the second inning. The second-year shortstop continues to struggle to hit for average as an all-or-nothing type at the plate. Montgomery is slashing just .194/.310/.417 with four homers, 12 RBI, six runs scored, one stolen base and an 8:27 BB:K across 84 plate appearances. He's struck out at least once in 16 of 21 contests and has multiple strikeouts in eight games.

Allen was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals due to back spasms, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The severity of Allen's injury isn't clear, but he can be viewed as day-to-day until the Astros offer another update. Allen has logged just 22 plate appearances all season for Houston, though he had seen action in each of the previous three contests in the wake of Jeremy Pena's (hamstring) recent move to the injured list.