MLB Player News

Altuve went 3-for-6 with a double and three runs scored in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.

The veteran second baseman was a pest on the basepaths all afternoon, as he scored three or more runs in a game for the first time since March 30. Altuve has multiple hits in three of his last five games, batting .381 (8-for-21) during that span as he shakes off a slump that had seen him slash .158/.220/.395 over his first 11 games since returning from an oblique strain in early June.

Loperfido went 1-for-1 with a home run and four RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.

Traded from Toronto back to Houston over the winter, Loperfido came off the bench for a revenge game. The 27-year-old outfielder pinch hit for Jake Meyers and was credited with an RBI as part of a ninth-inning rally on a bases-loaded catcher's interference call, before slugging a game-winning, three-run homer off Braydon Fisher in the top of the 11th. The long ball was Loperfido's first of the season in 32 big-league games, and while he's batting just .154 (4-for-26) since returning to the 26-man roster in early June, three of the four hits have gone for extra bases and he's drawn six walks.

Lambert didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

Toronto ran up Lambert's pitch count early, and the right-hander was lifted after 92 pitches (52 strikes) with Houston ahead 4-2, although the lead changed hands a couple times after he left the mound. It was Lambert's shortest outing since April 30, but he still allowed three runs or fewer for a sixth straight start, a stretch in which he's gone 4-0 while posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB over 33.1 innings. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Twins.

Rafaela went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-2 win over Colorado.

Rafaela capped off Boston's scoring, plating the team's fifth run with an RBI single in the sixth inning. The 25-year-old outfielder is enjoying the best season of his four-year MLB career, slashing .280/.330/.437 with seven home runs, 33 RBI, nine steals and 31 runs over 73 games. Rafaela's been one of the Red Sox's most consistent hitters and he earned a promotion to the second spot in the batting order, where he's been the last 24 games.

Monasterio started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Rockies.

Monasterio got the start at shortstop with Marcelo Mayer nursing a sore foot after fouling a ball off it the previous night. As the Red Sox were facing a left-hander, Colorado's Sean Sullivan, it's likely Mayer would have been held out regardless of the injury. Playing time has been sporadic for Monasterio, who's made just 28 starts and is slashing .223/.271/.355 with two home runs, 11 RBI, one steal and 12 runs scored across 45 total appearances.

Civale (5-4) allowed two runs on six hits and a hit batsman while striking out five without walking a batter over four innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Tuesday.

Civale wasn't all that efficient, but he threw 57 of 84 pitches for strikes in his second start back from shoulder tendinitis. The right-hander gave up both runs in the second inning, and the Athletics' offense had little response with just three hits for the game. Civale should be good for a full workload moving forward, though performance remains a concern. He's at a 4.88 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 46:19 K:BB through 62.2 innings over 13 starts this season. His next outing is projected to be a favorable road matchup versus the Angels this weekend.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.

Vargas took Parker Messick deep in the sixth inning for a solo homer that ultimately stood as the game-winning run. The blast was his 17th home run of the season. While Vargas opened June with a nine-game hitting streak, he has cooled considerably since then, batting just .139 (5-for-36) over his last 10 games with his only RBI coming from Tuesday's blast.

Schanuel went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Orioles.

Schanuel's first-inning blast was ultimately all the Angels needed in the win. This was his third multi-hit effort in a row, and it appears the first baseman is getting on track again after struggling following his return from a stint on the injured list due to an ankle issue. Schanuel is now batting .266 with a .731 OPS, six homers, 30 RBI, 26 runs scored, 13 doubles and no stolen bases over 63 contests this season.

Johnson (1-2) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out eight over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Orioles on Tuesday.

Johnson had struggled in most of his other appearances this season, allowing three or more runs in four of his first five outings. He found something against the Orioles, throwing 63 of 90 pitches for strikes Tuesday. Over 19.1 innings across six games (three starts), Johnson still has an 8.84 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 15:9 K:BB. He appears set to do some learning on the job while filling in for Grayson Rodriguez (back) in the Angels' rotation. Johnson is tentatively projected to make his next appearance on the road versus the Mariners.

Watson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the White Sox.

One day after collecting his first major-league hit, Watson reached another milestone by belting his first career MLB home run Tuesday. The solo shot came off Sean Burke in the fifth inning and accounted for Cleveland's only run of the night. It was an encouraging performance for the 23-year-old, who has had a slow start to his big-league career. Through his first six games in the majors, Watson is batting 3-for-17 (.176) with nine strikeouts.