MLB Player News

Soto recorded his 13th save of the season in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader split with the Yankees, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning.

The southpaw did send the phantom runner to third base on a wild pitch as he looked to protect a 5-3 lead, but Soto left him stranded thanks to two popups and a strikeout of Cody Bellinger. Soto has been struggling over the summer, blowing three of nine save chances since the beginning of June, but he may be turning things around in July, getting scored upon just once in six appearances while posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 6:3 K:BB over 6.2 innings.

Keller didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader split with the Yankees, allowing three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out six.

The Pirates needed 10 innings to win the matinee, denying Keller his seventh win of the season despite a strong performance. The veteran righty has given up three earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, posting a 4.31 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 25:10 K:BB in 31.1 innings over that stretch. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Diamondbacks.

Campusano is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Atlanta.

Campusano started behind the dish each of the last two days, so he'll get a break during Thursday's matinee. Freddy Fermin will do the catching and bat seventh for the Padres.

Schmitt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Royals.

The infielder took Steven Cruz deep with two outs in the ninth inning, but the Giants couldn't find an equalizer afterward. Schmitt is up to 20 homers on the season, including four in 17 contests in July, but his .229/.280/.429 slash line on the month is less appealing.

Merrill is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Atlanta.

Southpaw ace Chris Sale is on the bump for Atlanta, so the left-handed-hitting Merrill will begin the contest on the bench. Jase Bowen will grab a start in center field in the series finale.

Roupp didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Royals, allowing two runs on four hits over six-plus innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander took a shutout into the seventh inning, but manager Tony Vitello left Roupp in a little too long as he surrendered a double to Vinnie Pasquantino and a homer to Salvador Perez before being lifted. Roupp had to settle for his 10th quality start of the season and his third straight in July -- over 21 innings this month he's produced a 1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Brewers.

Canning will be used as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Kyle Hart for Thursday's contest in Atlanta, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Atlanta lineup features three left-handers in its top four spots (Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Michael Harris), so San Diego will have the left-handed Hart cover the first inning or two before the right-handed Canning takes over. Righties have posted a .628 OPS against Canning this season, while lefties have pummeled him for a .939 OPS.

Hart will serve as the Padres' opening pitcher for Thursday's game in Atlanta.

Hart -- who has an ugly 10.80 ERA in six appearances this month -- will handle the first inning or two for the Padres before turning things over to Griffin Canning. The lefty has had one other opener assignment this season, giving up one run in two frames on June 27 versus the Dodgers.

Stewart went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Seattle.

Stewart's three-run shot in the seventh inning was the winning knock for the Reds. It was his second three-run homer in the last four games and the 21st homer overall for the rookie. He's just 3-for-23 (.130) over six games since the All-Star break, but he's contributed nine RBI during that stretch.

Steer started in right field and went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Mariners.

Steer checked back into the starting lineup after missing a game due to a rib injury he suffered Monday. Although hitless over his last 11 at-bats, Steer has rebounded this month (.259 average) following a month of June during which he hit just .159.