MLB Player News

Altuve went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's 12-11 loss to the Nationals.

Altuve put the Astros ahead 4-1in the second inning with a three-run, two-out blast off Miles Mikolas. It's Altuve's ninth long ball this season and his first since June 19. The veteran second baseman has gone 4-for-11 with three extra-base hits in his last three games following a 4-for-31 (.129) slump across his prior eight contests. Overall, Altuve is slashing .235/.312/.394 with 42 runs scored, 25 RBI and two stolen bases across 296 plate appearances this year.

Okamoto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday in a loss to the Giants.

Okamoto accounted for Toronto's only run with a solo homer in the sixth inning. It was his 20th long ball of the season, making him one of 19 major-leaguers to reach that mark so far in 2026. Okamoto also became the third Japanese-born player to notch 20-plus homers in his rookie MLB campaign, joining Shohei Ohtani (2018) and Munetaka Murakami (this season).

Gausman (4-8) took the loss against San Francisco on Monday, allowing seven runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks while striking out eight batters over 5.1 innings.

It didn't take long for Gausman to fall behind, as he served up a triple to Heliot Ramos leading off the bottom of the first inning and then watched Ramos cross the plate on an error by Andres Gimenez. The veteran hurler managed to get through five frames with a manageable three runs on his ledger, but things really fell apart for him in the sixth. In that frame, he issued two walks before surrendering two runs on a single, and he was subsequently given the hook. Gausman did rack up 14 whiffs and eight punchouts, but it was otherwise a forgettable performance that included a season-high five free passes. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is lined up to be road matchup in San Diego this weekend.

Scholtens (wrist) is scheduled to pitch three innings in a rehab appearance Tuesday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, MLB.com reports.

A right wrist strain has shelved Scholtens since late May, but the right-hander is gearing up for a return at some point after the All-Star break. Given that the Rays are having him open his rehab assignment with a three-inning appearance, Scholtens looks as though he could be getting stretched out for a starting role, though he won't necessarily have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's activated. Scholtens made two starts and seven relief appearances for Tampa Bay prior to landing on the injured list, posting a 3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB in 37.2 innings.

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 12-11 loss to the Nationals.

Diaz did damage on a Miles Mikolas sinker, lacing a two-run homer to left field in the third inning. It marked Diaz's second straight game with a homer after he went deep Saturday before resting in Sunday's series finale against the Rays. On the year, the catcher is hitting .242/.267/.386 with five homers, 21 RBI and 15 runs scored across 40 games.

Matthews went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 12-11 loss to Washington.

Matthews lined a three-run homer to left field to get Houston within a run in the eighth inning. Monday's long ball was his first since June 13, as the 24-year-old had gone 2-for-32 (.063) with 13 strikeouts across 17 appearances during the drought. Matthews started in center field against Washington and is competing for playing time in the outfield with Taylor Trammell, LaMonte Wade and Zach Dezenzo.

Burrows (4-9) took the loss Monday, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against Washington. He struck out three.

Burrows was absolutely thrashed by the Washington offense, matching a season high with seven earned runs allowed. The right-hander has struggled immensely to keep the ball in the yard, serving up multiple homers in eight of his 18 outings this season after surrendering two long balls Monday. With a 5.99 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 75:35 K:BB across 94.2 innings, Burrows is projected to make one more start before the All-Star break, tentatively scheduled for Sunday at Texas.

Palacios went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the Rays' 5-1 loss to the Yankees on Monday.

It was a dominant effort on the mound from Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler on Monday, but Palacios put Tampa Bay on the board with a single in the fifth inning that brought Chandler Simpson home. Palacios has driven in at least one run in three of his last four games, going 5-for-12 with one steal, one home run, four RBI and two runs scored in that span.

Jax (4-6) took the loss against the Yankees on Monday, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out 10 across five innings.

Monday's series opener featured a pitching duel between Jax and Cam Schlittler, with the former retiring the first 13 batters he faced. However, Jax walked two-straight batters in the fifth, both of whom came home to score on a back-breaking, three-run home run by Jose Caballero. Jax struck out the next two batters in the frame to tie a career high in punchouts and finished his night with 16 whiffs on just 81 pitches (51 strikes), but he did not receive enough run support from his Rays teammates to avoid the loss. He'll take a 3.60 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 65 innings into his next start, which is lined up for this weekend at home against the Mariners.

Rice went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during the Yankees' 5-1 win over the Rays on Monday.

The Yankees were limited to just three hits, but those came on two home runs from Jose Caballero and another deep ball from Rice, with the latter's blast coming in the eighth inning to give the Bronx Bombers an insurance run. Rice is up to 25 home runs and a .925 OPS, which rank fifth and eighth, respectively, in the majors this season.