MLB Player News

Schmitt went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Mariners.

Schmitt is hitting .254 (15-for-59) with three home runs, seven RBI and two steals over 14 contests in July. The utility man is now batting .278 with a .795 OPS, 19 home runs, nine steals, 50 RBI and 44 runs scored over 91 contests. He'll volume his way to career highs in most areas this season, though he's coupled that with a better ability to put the ball in play -- he's posted a meager 2.6 percent walk rate, but his 19.2 percent strikeout rate is notably improved compared to previous years.

Eldridge went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Mariners.

Eldridge had no problems with the pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park over the weekend, going 4-for-12 with two homers during the three-game set in Seattle. His homer Sunday came in the first inning, and it was his 10th long ball of the season. He also logged the first steal of his career during the eighth inning. Eldridge is batting .275 with an .858 OPS, 23 RBI, 30 runs scored and 13 doubles across 57 contests.

Ray allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over four-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Sunday.

Ray was inefficient, exiting the game at 86 pitches (53 strikes). He had walked a total of 14 batters over 27 innings across his previous four starts, and he's gone six outings without allowing more than three runs. For the season, the southpaw is at a 3.33 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 96:54 K:BB through 110.2 innings over 20 games (19 starts). He's projected to make his next start at home in a favorable matchup versus the Angels.

Rangel (0-3) took the loss Sunday against the Mets, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out four.

The Mets jumped all over Rangel right away, driving in each of the five runs across the first and second innings. The 28-year-old right-hander at least settled in a bit thereafter to give the Phillies some extra length via two more scoreless frames, but he's still yet to work into the fifth inning in any of his three starts. Rangel will be tough to trust as a fantasy streamer when he brings a lackluster 5.40 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB over 23.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Yankees.

McLean (7-6) earned the win Sunday against the Phillies, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out 10.

McLean was at his best Sunday, dominating the Philadelphia bats while matching a season high in strikeouts. The right-hander has surrendered just a pair of earned runs over his past four starts, spinning six innings while yielding no earned runs three times during that span. McLean has improved his season ERA to 3.34 and his WHIP to 1.09 while posting an excellent 135:41 K:BB over 113.1 frames, but a tough assignment against the Dodgers in his next scheduled outing poses a significant risk to his recent string of success.

Yamamoto (10-6) earned the win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks over nine innings against the Yankees. He struck out seven.

Yamamoto was stellar, throwing the first regular-season complete game of his MLB career on 102 pitches (69 strikes). It came at an opportune time with the Dodgers set for a bullpen game in the second half of Sunday's doubleheader. While he entered the All-Star break on a sour note by giving up a season-high six runs July 11 against the Diamondbacks, the right-hander has been remarkably consistent and effective, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 12 of 18 starts this season. Yamamoto will take a 2.78 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 113:25 K:BB across 119.2 innings into his next outing, which is lined up for next weekend against the Mets.

The Nationals placed Poulin on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left flexor strain.

Poulin hadn't pitched in either of the Nationals' first two games following the All-Star break, so it's unclear when or how he sustained the forearm strain. He'll be eligible for activation July 31, but given the nature of his injury, Poulin seems likely to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Washington re-signed left-hander Matt Krook to a one-year deal Sunday to take Poulin's spot in the bullpen and on the 26-man active roster.

Valdez went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Guardians.

Valdez had a classic three-true-outcomes game, walking twice and striking out twice before launching a two-run shot in the ninth inning. The 22-year-old is now riding a seven-game hitting streak, going deep six times with 15 RBI and eight runs scored during that span. He's slashing a ridiculous .305/.373/.733 with 12 homers, 32 RBI and 23 runs scored across his first 118 major-league plate appearances.

The Nationals transferred Lovelady (triceps) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

Since landing on the IL on June 29 due to a left triceps strain, Lovelady has made limited progress in his recovery. Per MLB.com, Lovelady has been able to take part in strengthening work but has yet to resume a throwing program nearly three weeks after suffering the injury. The Nationals apparently weren't confident that Lovelady would be ready to return in the next five weeks, so he was moved to the 60-day IL in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty Matt Krook, who re-signed with the organization on a one-year deal.

The Nationals re-signed Krook to a major-league contract prior to Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Krook had elected free agency after rejecting an outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester when Washington removed him from its 40-man roster a week ago, but he quickly ended up returning to the Nationals on a new deal. The 31-year-old will give Washington another left-handed option in its bullpen after PJ Poulin (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday.