MLB Player News

Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Pirates.

Smith tallied two of the Giants' six hits and delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning. The first baseman has seen a slight dip in playing time since the All-Star break, logging a plate appearance in five of San Francisco's 12 games in that stretch. During that span, he's slashing .412/.500/.471 with two RBI, two runs scored and a double across 20 plate appearances.

Walker (2-4) took the loss in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning defeat to the Pirates, allowing one unearned run and a walk in the 10th inning.

Walker induced a groundout that moved the automatic runner to third before walking the next batter. The 29-year-old then cleanly fielded a groundball but attempted a double play, allowing the automatic runner to score. Over six appearances since the All-Star break, the right-hander has been charged with three earned runs on seven hits -- including one home run -- and four walks while striking out eight across 6.1 innings. Walker now owns a 4.12 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 43:13 K:BB over 43.2 innings in 47 outings this season.

The Diamondbacks plan to deploy Locklear as their primary starting first baseman after acquiring him in a trade with the Mariners on Wednesday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.

Pavin Smith (oblique) should return from the 10-day injured list sometime in August, but he could remain mostly at designated hitter while Locklear receives an opportunity to become the Diamondbacks' long-term answer at first base. Locklear struggled during his cup of coffee in the majors last season but has slashed .316/.401/.542 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 434 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma this season.

Graceffo "looks to be an early contender" to serve as the Cardinals' closer if Phil Maton joins Ryan Helsley in being traded, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Woo mentions Kyle Leahy and Riley O'Brien as possibilities, as well. JoJo Romero would likely also be in the mix, but he is a candidate to be traded. Since moving to a full-time bullpen role in late April, Graceffo has collected a 2.89 ERA and 44:11 K:BB over 43.2 innings between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis.

Brown is listed as the Cubs' probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Orioles at Wrigley Field.

Brown will make his second straight turn through the Chicago rotation after he delivered an impressive start his last time out Sunday, when he earned a win while limiting the White Sox to one earned run on three hits and no walks over five innings. Though most of his underlying ratios suggest that he's pitched far better than the 6.22 ERA he's posted over 88.1 innings in the majors this season, Brown could find himself back in the bullpen or at Triple-A Iowa following Saturday's start, regardless of how he performs. The Cubs acquired Michael Soroka from the Nationals on Wednesday, and he's expected to replace Brown at the back end of the rotation.

Perdomo went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Tigers.

While the shortstop had a big day at the plate, highlighted by a solo shot off Tommy Kahnle in the ninth inning, Perdomo was fighting the ball in the field, committing two errors that added three unearned runs to Ryne Nelson's ledger. Perdomo snapped an 0-for-16 skid with the performance, but he wraps up July with a .322/.431/.456 slash line on the month, along with two homers, two steals, 11 runs and a whopping 17 RBI in 25 games.

Mattson (3-1) allowed two hits and struck out three across two scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Giants.

Mattson covered the ninth and 10th innings to earn the win and managed to strike out the final two batters of the game with runners at second and third. He's struck out 14 batters across his last 10.2 innings while allowing only three earned runs and has begun to be trusted in higher-leverage spots. As a result, Mattson has emerged as a name to keep in mind for save chances if both David Bednar and Dennis Santana get traded prior to Thursday's deadline.

Nelson (6-3) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits over 5.1 innings as the Diamondbacks fell 7-2 to the Tigers. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander was rolling until the fifth inning, when a Geraldo Perdomo throwing error set the stage for a three-run frame by Detroit and handed Nelson his first loss since June 7. He still set a new season high in strikeouts, and he's been tagged for more than two earned runs only once in his last nine trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's posted a 1.95 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB over 50.2 innings while going 4-1. With Arizona in sell mode, his run support could become shaky the rest of the way, but Nelson will look to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Padres.

Atlanta selected Carrasco's contract and will have him start Thursday against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Acquired from the Yankees earlier this week, Carrasco didn't end up reporting to Triple-A Gwinnett and will end up slotting into the opening in the Atlanta rotation that was created when Grant Holmes (elbow) landed on the injured list Sunday. Over eight appearances (six starts) in the big leagues with New York earlier this season, Carrasco posted a 5.91 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 32 innings, but the veteran right-hander had been pitching effectively lately at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Over his five outings this month, Carrasco submitted a 2.23 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while issuing just three walks over 32.1 innings.

Martinez didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Dodgers, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out seven.

Martinez was able to pitch at least six frames Wednesday for the first time in his last five starts, and the seven punchouts represented his highest total since his April 29 outing in San Francisco. The 34-year-old right-hander also tossed at least five frames while yielding two runs or fewer in his fourth straight appearance. Martinez owns a 4.64 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 93:31 K:BB over 127 innings this year, and he'll have his work cut out for him against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in his next scheduled start.