-
Mike Soroka SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Expected to return Monday
Soroka (glute) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Rockies at Chase Field, MLB.com reports.
The Diamondbacks felt comfortable bringing the right-hander back from the IL following a lone rehab start Tuesday, when he allowed one run over four innings and 57 pitches for Triple-A Reno. Arizona cleared a spot for Soroka in the rotation by optioning starter Kohl Drake to Reno on Friday.
-
Willy Adames SS | SF
Giants' Willy Adames: Lifts 19th homer
Adames went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.
Adames ended a 15-game power drought with his fifth-inning long ball to provide the final run of the game. It's been even longer since he had a multi-hit effort -- his last came July 12 versus the Rockies, and he's gone just 13-for-73 (.178) since the All-Star break. The shortstop is down to a .221 average and .693 OPS on the year, and he's added 19 homers, 48 RBI, 58 runs scored, 24 doubles, one triple and four stolen bases over 111 games. While the OPS is on track to be the worst of his career, Adames is one long ball away from reaching 20 for a sixth straight season.
-
Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Giants' Rafael Devers: Homers early in win
Devers went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.
Devers went yard in the first inning to answer Detroit's run in the top half of the frame. Over six games in August, Devers has gone 6-for-22 with two homers and a 3:3 BB:K. For the season, the first baseman is hitting .248 with a .799 OPS, 24 homers, 64 RBI, 61 runs scored, 27 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 116 contests.
-
Dylan Smith RP | SF
Giants' Dylan Smith: Snags second save
Smith walked one and struck out none in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.
This was the Giants' first save chance since the trade deadline, so it's notable Smith got the call to close and answered it with a decent performance. The right-hander took a loss in two of his first three appearances in August, and he's allowed two runs with a 2:3 K:BB over 3.1 innings this month. On the year, he's posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 24:11 K:BB across 21.1 innings while adding two saves and six holds. Smith is the only reliever currently on the Giants' roster with multiple saves, so he may be the slight favorite to lead a closing committee for now. That said, the 49-67 Giants are not a team to target for saves in general.
-
Adrian Houser SP | SF
Giants' Adrian Houser: Earns win in bulk relief
Houser (3-7) allowed one run on six hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the Tigers on Friday.
Houser continues to pitch out of the bullpen, but he has covered five or more innings in three of nine appearances since he was bumped from the rotation. The right-hander put in a strong showing Friday, throwing 57 of 86 pitches for strikes to pick up his first win since May 17 versus the Athletics. Houser has allowed just seven runs over 31 innings across nine innings since his move to the bullpen. Overall, he has a 4.55 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 65:31 K:BB through 97 innings over 23 games (14 starts) this year. The Giants' rotation is depleted after Robbie Ray was dealt to the Padres and Trevor McDonald (elbow) was shut down ahead of UCL reconstruction surgery, so Houser could continue to see regular usage moving forward. He's tentatively projected to make his next appearance at home versus the Astros.
-
Andy Pages CF | LAD
Dodgers' Andy Pages: Homers in Friday's loss
Pages went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Pages has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, going 13-for-41 (.317) with two homers and six RBI in that span. The outfielder ran into some struggles in July, but he looks to have put those in the past. For the season, Pages is batting .268 with a .790 OPS, 19 homers, 75 RBI, 66 runs scored, 23 doubles, two triples and 10 stolen bases over 115 contests.
-
Edwin Diaz RP | LAD
Dodgers' Edwin Diaz: Falters against Arizona
Diaz (1-1) allowed two runs on one hit and one walk while logging one strikeout over one-third of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Friday versus the Diamondbacks.
Diaz walked Max Kepler and then served up a walk-off blast to Ryan Waldschmidt two batters later. Across three innings since he returned from an elbow injury, Diaz has allowed four runs with a 4:2 K:BB, converting one of his two save chances. His closer job isn't in doubt yet, but the seat is likely getting hot, especially given the quality performances of many other members of the Dodgers' bullpen. Diaz is carrying an 11.00 ERA while converting five of seven save chances over his nine innings this season.
-
Roki Sasaki SP | LAD
Dodgers' Roki Sasaki: Posts quality start
Sasaki allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Sasaki earned his third quality start over his last five appearances, though he wasn't able to pick up a third straight win. During this strong stretch, he's allowed nine runs (eight earned) over 30 innings with a 31:8 K:BB. Sasaki is now at a 4.54 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 106:40 K:BB through 105 innings over 20 starts this year. There's some real strikeout upside here despite the pedestrian ratios. His next start is expected to be at home versus the Brewers, which will provide a measuring stick for his recent success.
-
Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Belts solo homer Friday
Riley went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo homer during Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Yankees.
Neither team scored through the first seven innings, but Riley broke that drought with a solo homer in the eighth. It was the 14th home run of the season for Riley, who has reached base safely in six of his last seven games, going 9-for-23 with seven RBI and five extra-base hits in that span.
-
Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Goes long in Friday's loss
Olson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Atlanta's 3-2 loss to the Yankees on Friday.
The veteran first baseman has been heating up at the plate, having smacked five solo home runs over his last seven games while going 10-for-25 in that span. Olson is up to 33 long balls on the year, tied with three other players for second most in the majors behind Yordan Alvarez (35).