MLB Player News
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Smacks solo homer in nightcap
Perez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Saturday's Game 2 win over Milwaukee.
The homer was Perez's second of the young season, and he also drew a season-high two walks. He also started Game 1 and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. The veteran backstop has hit safely in six of his first eight games, though he's without any multi-hit efforts to this point. Perez has hit cleanup in each of Kansas City's first eight contests, so he should have plenty of RBI chances moving ahead.
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Seth Lugo SP | KC
Royals' Seth Lugo: Punches out seven Saturday
Lugo took a no-decision Saturday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
Lugo built off a successful season debut, when he permitted five hits across 6.1 shutout innings against Atlanta last weekend, and on Saturday he most notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. The right-hander took on a full workload in his second start, launching 103 pitches, and he also generated a respectable 10 whiffs. Lugo has a favorable matchup versus the division-rival White Sox on tap for his next start, so he should continue to hold streaming appeal.
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Colt Emerson SS | SEA
Mariners' Colt Emerson: X-rays negative
X-rays on Emerson's right foot were negative after he left the first game of Triple-A Tacoma's doubleheader against El Paso on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
The Mariners' top prospect seems to have avoided a serious injury after fouling a pitch off his foot in his first plate appearance of the day. He stayed in the game initially but was then lifted the next half-inning. This comes just days after he signed an eight-year, $95 million extension with Seattle at 20 years old, and both sides are likely breathing a sigh of relief.
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Ryan Weathers SP | NYY
Yankees' Ryan Weathers: Struggles against former team
Weathers did not factor into the decision Saturday against Miami, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts across 3.2 innings.
Weathers really struggled with his command, walking a batter in each of the first three innings as he dealt with significant traffic on the bases versus his former team. The left-hander was pulled in the fourth inning after needing 88 pitches to record just 11 outs. Weathers has yet to factor into a decision through two starts and will carry a 4.50 ERA and an 11:5 K:BB across eight innings into his next start at home against the Athletics.
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Luinder Avila SP | KC
Royals' Luinder Avila: Struggles in first big-league start
Avila (0-1) took the loss Saturday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings. He struck out four.
Making his first career major-league start, Avila was tagged for four extra-base hits Saturday. The right-hander lacked control on top of his poor pitch location, tossing only 40 of his 73 pitches for strikes. Michael Wacha needed his turn in the Kansas City rotation skipped this weekend to deal with an illness, so the expectation is that Avila was just making a spot start against Milwaukee and may head back to the minor leagues shortly.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Fills up box score against Miami
Stanton went 1-for-3 with two RBI, two walks, one run scored and one stolen base in Saturday's 9-7 win over the Marlins.
Stanton walked in the seventh inning and stole second base, his first regular-season stolen base since the 2020 season. He then scored on a passed ball by Agustin Ramirez. The following inning, with the game tied 6-6, Stanton drove home Aaron Judge and Ryan McMahon with a two-run single, which proved to be the game-winning hit for the Yankees. Stanton has been swinging a hot bat to begin the season and is slashing .393/.433/.571 with one home run, six RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base and a 2:6 BB:K across 30 plate appearances.
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Cody Bellinger CF | NYY
Yankees' Cody Bellinger: Homers, drives in three Saturday
Bellinger went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, three RBI and a walk in Saturday's 9-7 win over the Marlins.
Bellinger got the scoring started for the Yankees, taking Max Meyer deep for a two-run shot in the fifth inning. It was Bellinger's first home run and RBI of the season. He later drove home another run with a sacrifice fly. Through eight games in 2026, Bellinger is slashing .286/.400/.500 with the one home run, three RBI, seven runs scored, two stolen bases and a 6:4 BB:K across 35 plate appearances.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Pitches through trouble for save
Bednar picked up his fourth save in Saturday's 9-7 win over the Marlins, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts across one inning.
Bednar didn't make it easy on himself and needed 33 pitches to record his three outs in the ninth inning. All three hits Bednar allowed were singles, and he also walked Liam Hicks. Bednar's last two appearances have been tumultuous, surrendering two runs on six hits across 2.1 innings, but he's now a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season. After throwing so many pitches Saturday, Bednar may be unavailable for Sunday's series finale, in which case Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz are the top candidates should a save chance arise.
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Shane Baz SP | BAL
Orioles' Shane Baz: Pitches well in no-decision
Baz did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one unearned run on three hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.
After surrendering four runs during his Orioles debut versus the Twins, Baz kept the Pirates in check most of Saturday afternoon, giving up just two singles, a double and the three free passes. He threw 63 of 98 pitches for strikes and generated 11 whiffs, but he fell an out short of a quality start when he was pulled after serving up a two-out double in the sixth inning. Through his first two starts for Baltimore, Baz has a 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 11 innings as he remains in search of his first victory.
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Mick Abel P | MIN
Twins' Mick Abel: Tagged with loss Saturday
Abel (0-2) was charged with the loss Saturday against the Rays after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while fanning three across four innings.
Abel needed 84 pitches (53 strikes) to record just 12 outs, and by the time he left the game, the Twins were already down 4-1 and wouldn't get any closer. The 24-year-old righty, who made his season debut in relief in a loss to the Orioles on March 29, has delivered a disappointing start to the season. Through 7.1 innings and two appearances, Abel has already allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits with seven walks and seven strikeouts. If he stays in the rotation, his next start would be lined up for next week against the Tigers.