MLB Player News

Cavanaugh went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Friday's 7-0 win over the Mariners.

Cavanaugh singled in the fifth inning before coming around to score, and he added another base hit in the seventh. He also drew walks in the third and sixth innings. The 24-year-old catcher has recorded two multi-hit performances over his last four games and is now slashing .265/.390/.265 with two RBI and two runs scored in 42 plate appearances this season. He's expected to operate as Daniel Susac's primary backup moving forward.

Eldridge went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-0 win over the Mariners.

Eldridge launched a home run to center field in the fifth inning, giving San Francisco a 2-0 lead. The 21-year-old has reached base safely in all but one of his 12 games in July, slashing .244/.333/.489 with six RBI, six runs scored and three long balls in 51 plate appearances during that span. Overall, he's slashing .269/.360/.477 with 29 runs scored, 22 RBI and nine home runs across 222 plate appearances this season.

The Pirates transferred Cruz (hand) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Cruz hasn't suffered any setbacks in his recovery from a hand fracture he suffered in June, but the Pirates will move him to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot for Khristian Curtis, who was selected to the active roster Saturday. Cruz will now be eligible to return from the injured list Aug. 8 and figures to have a strong chance to return after a minimum-length stay if his rehab continues smoothly.

The Pirates selected Curtis' contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Curtis will join the major-league roster to give Pittsburgh some extra pitching depth for Saturday's twin bill against the Guardians. The 24-year-old righty has turned in a 5.57 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across 21 innings since being promoted to Triple-A in June and will presumably fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen to begin his MLB career. Oneil Cruz (hand) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.

Rea (7-6) took the loss Friday against the Twins, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out six batters across six innings.

Rea allowed just one batter to reach base across the first two innings of the game, but things began to fall apart when he allowed four hits in the third inning before retiring a batter, including a three-run homer off the bat of Ryan Jeffers that capped off a four-run outburst from Minnesota. Rea managed to settle in afterward and tossed three scoreless innings, but the four runs the Twins put up on him were already more than enough to keep them in front for the rest of the night and hand the 36-year-old his first loss since June 14. He'll carry a 4.74 ERA and 1.42 WHIP into his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come Wednesday against Detroit.

Ford went 2-for-5 with a walk, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI in Friday's rout of the A's.

In his ninth career MLB game and his Nationals debut, Ford took Justin Sterner deep for a two-run homer in the fifth inning, giving the 23-year-old backstop his first career long ball. Ford wasn't exactly lighting it up at Triple-A Rochester prior to his promotion, managing a .705 OPS and four home runs in 58 games, and he could be limited to a short-side platoon role while working behind Keibert Ruiz.

Nunez went 3-for-6 with three runs scored and a stolen base in Friday's win over the A's.

The Nationals scored three or more runs in five different innings on their way to a 23-4 rout, and Nunez was one of six Washington players with multiple hits and one of seven to cross the plate multiple times. His sixth-inning steal was his 35th of the season, putting him five clear of Bobby Witt for the major-league lead. Nunez was getting by on his defense and speed early in the season, but since the beginning of June he's produced a stunning .343/.407/.431 slash line over 114 plate appearances.

Dunn (elbow) has shown improvement and hit off a tee July 11, MLB.com reports.

Dunn made himself indispensible in center field prior to landing on the injured list in late June. He was soon joined by Dane Myers, who was activated from the IL on Friday after rehabbing a shoulder injury. Myers joins TJ Friedl as the primary center fielders while Dunn rehabs.

Conine went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

The second-generation player took Logan Henderson deep in the fifth inning for the Marlins' only offense on the night. Conine has been productive in a strong-side platoon role since he came off the IL in late June, and over his last 61 plate appearances he's produced a .308/.410/.596 slash line with four of his six homers on the season and nine of his 13 RBI.

Alcantara didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Brewers, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The veteran right-hander produced his third straight quality start in July and MLB-leading 15th of the season on 104 pitches (60 strikes), but he left the mound with the score tied 1-1. Over 21 innings this month, Alcantara has delivered a 2.14 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB, and with the Marlins firmly in playoff contention, the odds of him being dealt at the trade deadline are dwindling. Alcantara will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Houston.