MLB Player News

Garcia went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Brewers.

It was the fourth multi-hit performance for Garcia in his last eight games, while the steal was his 16th of the year in 19 attempts -- an impressive showing for a player who'd never had more than 12 stolen bases in a season before 2024, even in the minor leagues. The 24-year-old remains prone to some streakiness, but since the beginning of July he's slashing a dazzling .354/.393/.582 over 23 contests with four homers, five steals, 11 runs and 15 RBI.

Irvin (8-9) took the loss Friday as the Nationals were downed 8-3 by the Brewers, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander managed to keep the ball in the park after serving up seven homers over his prior four starts, but it was still another mediocre performance from Irvin. While he tossed 72 of his 110 pitches for strikes, his command within the zone remains shaky, and three of the six hits off him went for extra bases. Over his last five outings, Irvin has stumbled to a 6.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB through 28 innings. He'll try to get back on track in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Giants.

Frelick went 2-for-4 with three runs scored in Friday's 8-3 win over the Nationals.

Getting another start in right field and batting seventh, Frelick singled in the second and eighth innings and got hit by a pitch in the sixth, coming around to score all three times. Over his last 16 contests, the 24-year-old is slashing .309/.377/.418 with two steals, two RBI and nine runs. Brice Turang has a .220 OBP since the beginning of July, and if manager Pat Murphy elects to shake up his batting order against right-handed pitching, Frelick's making a strong case to get a look in the leadoff spot.

Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 3-0 loss to San Francisco.

Espinal, who made a fifth consecutive start, saw an end to a nine-game hit streak (as a starter). He entered Friday's game in a 19-for-35 stretch over the previous 12 games, which led to an increase in playing time, including starts at third base the last two games. The primary starter at the hot corner, Noelvi Marte, is batting .177 since coming back from a suspension and could be susceptible to losing playing time to Espinal.

Montas (5-8) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on nine hits over five innings in an 8-3 victory over the Nationals. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander was solid in his Milwaukee debut, tossing 58 of 89 pitches for strikes and issuing zero free passes for the first time since he got the Opening Day assignment for Cincinnati on March 28 -- a start which coincidentally also came against Washington. Montas has lasted more than five innings only once in his last five outings, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 7.27 ERA while serving up seven home runs in 26 innings, and CJ Abrams did tag him for a two-run shot in the third inning Friday. Montas will try to keep the ball in the park, and give his new team some length, when he makes his next trip to the mound on the road next week in Atlanta.

Cruz went 5-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.

The Pirates as a team managed only 13 hits in total, but Cruz nearly single-handedly kept them in the game with the first five-hit performance of his young career. The 25-year-old shortstop is slashing .311/.357/.589 over 23 games since the beginning of July with five homers, four steals, 15 runs and 20 RBI despite a 32.7 percent strikeout rate during that stretch.

Ortiz escaped with a no-decision in Friday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks, coughing up six runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

All three long balls came in the first inning, as Ketel Marte, Joc Pederson and Josh Bell went back-to-back-to-back as part of a five-run frame. It's the first time since June 21 that Ortiz has served up multiple homers, and over six appearances between those two games he'd posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 27:6 K:BB through 31.2 innings. With Jared Jones (lat) inching closer to a return though, Ortiz likely can't afford more meltdowns if he wants to hang onto his spot in the rotation. He's scheduled to make his next start at home next week against the Padres.

France started at first base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Giants.

France made his first start for the Reds since being acquired earlier in the week. With Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) done for the season, first base has become a rotation involving Jeimer Candelario, Spencer Steer and France.

Pfaadt came away with a no-decision in Friday's 9-8 win over the Pirates, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander ran up his pitch count and fell short of a quality start, exiting after 96 pitches (65 strikes), but Pfaadt still left the mound in line for his sixth win of the year before the Arizona bullpen made a mess of things. After a couple scoreless outings on either side of the All-Star break, Pfaadt has avoided taking a loss in seven straight trips to the mound, posting a 3.10 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 34:6 K:BB through 40.2 innings over that stretch. He'll try to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week in Cleveland.

Puk allowed one run on three hits over one-third of an inning in Friday's 9-8 win over the Pirates.

Puk entered to clean up a mess made by Kevin Ginkel in the sixth inning but couldn't prevent the Pirates from taking the lead. Both Puk and Ginkel were speculated as options to close out games after manager Torey Lovullo announced earlier in the day that Paul Sewald would no longer be the club's closer. Ryan Thompson eventually closed out the win after Arizona retook the lead, but Lovullo, who did not specifically name a replacement for Sewald, trusts all three of those relievers.