MLB Player News

Kopech picked up the save over the Orioles on Wednesday, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.

Kopech entered the contest with a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth and retired the first two batters on strikes before getting Adley Rutschman to pop out to second for the final out of the game. The save was the right-hander's 12th of the season and the third in his last six appearances. Kopech has only allowed one run in 12.1 innings (12 appearances) this month, posting a 0.76 ERA in August to go along with a 16:3 K:BB. He's also recorded two strikeouts in back-to-back appearances and in three of his last four overall.

Yamamoto (triceps) allowed one run and struck out two over two innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Yamamoto surrendered a solo home run but nothing else, throwing 31 pitches over his two frames. The righty's velocity was down across the board, although that's not necessarily surprising for his first start in more than two months. The plan is for Yamamoto to make a couple more rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation in mid-September.

Buehler did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's win over the Orioles, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings while striking out four.

Buehler retired the first four batters he faced before Ryan O'Hearn reached on a fielding error by Max Muncy with one out in the second. Cedric Mullins then reached on a dropped third strike, and Baltimore tallied three runs in the frame Buehler was later relieved by Anthony Banda after throwing 90 pitches on the night, marking the fourth consecutive start in which he's been unable to make it through five innings. The right-hander has also allowed multiple runs in eight straight outings (dating back to May 25 against the Reds) and now holds a 6.00 ERA and 8:8 K:BB across 12 frames in August.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson was noncommittal about Walker's spot in the rotation following the right-hander's loss to the Astros on Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Walker surrendered six runs on 13 hits and one walk while failing to record a strikeout against Houston. The Phillies are winless over his last nine starts, and Walker holds a 7.36 ERA over that span. His next turn comes up Tuesday in Toronto, but it seems likely the Phillies will go with someone else in that spot. Tyler Phillips looks like the leading candidate, with Kolby Allard also an option once he's eligible to be recalled Sept. 10. Walker is in the second year of a four-year, $72 million contract.

Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to Oakland.

Smith made his fourth consecutive start and fifth in six games since joining the Reds. All of those starts have come against right-handers, either at first base or designated hitter. A regular role is nice, but Smith is just 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts since signing with the team.

Benson went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Athletics.

Benson's three-run home run capped a six-run seventh inning that brought the Reds all the way back from a 5-0 deficit, but they couldn't hold on for the win. The home run was Benson's first in 16 games and 13th of the season. The lefty-hitting outfielder is batting .193 with a .664 OPS and sees only sporadic playing time against right-handers.

Marte went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Marte went down on strikes in each of his first two trips to the plate before reaching on an infield single in the top of the sixth and then stealing second. The outfielder would later come home on a sacrifice fly from Pete Alonso and also added a double in the eighth, marking his first multi-hit performance since returning from the injured list in mid-August. Marte has now hit safely in six of seven games since being activated, going 7-for-25 (.280) over that stretch with two doubles, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

McCarthy went 1-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-5 win over the Mets.

McCarthy singled and stole a base ahead of Joc Pederson's home run in the third inning. The swipe was McCarthy's 20th, giving him at least 20 steals in three consecutive seasons.

Martinez picked up the save over the Mets on Wednesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out one.

Martinez entered the contest in the top of the ninth, right after Arizona had just taken a three-run lead on an eighth-inning rally. He then needed just nine pitches to retire the side and secure his seventh save of the campaign. The right-handed reliever has now converted each of his last seven save opportunities, all of which have come in August. Martinez has also recorded at least one strikeout in six-consecutive outings and in 11 of 12 appearances this month.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-5 win over the Mets.

Pederson bopped a two-run home run in the third inning, his 21st long ball of the season. The lefty-swinging outfielder/DH has made a career out of mashing right-handers, posting a career .846 OPS off them, but Pederson has exceeded that mark in 2024 (.961).