MLB Player News

Freeman went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Rays.

Freeman came up clutch with what proved to be a game-winning two-run shot in the sixth inning. The veteran slugger has gone deep twice in his past four games, tallying a hit in each of those contests. On the season, he's slashing .279/.368/.482 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, 41 runs scored and two steals across 315 plate appearances.

Sproat was removed from Wednesday's game against the Guardians due to right hamstring cramps, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Sproat pitched three perfect innings Wednesday before giving up a grand slam in the fourth and was noticeably wincing on the mound a few batters later. It's unclear whether the injury puts him at risk of missing his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come next week in Cincinnati -- but the Brewers could provide more details after the game.

Tatis went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Cardinals.

Tatis drove in a run on a double in the fifth inning before adding an RBI single in the ninth. It continued a strong June for the 27-year-old, who's batting .344 with hits in 12 of 15 contests this month to go along with eight RBI, seven runs scored and four stolen bases. On the year, he's slashing .284/.348/.353 with two homers, 26 RBI, 28 runs scored and 18 steals across 314 plate appearances.

Leahy (5-4) took the loss against the Padres on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six innings.

Leahy allowed a run in three separate innings but pitched well overall, throwing 57 of 81 pitches for strikes while generating an impressive 11 whiffs. It also matched a season-high workload for the 29-year-old, who tossed six frames in his only other quality start May 16. He owns a 4.63 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 59:26 K:BB across 70 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup against the Diamondbacks next week.

Stowers went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and five RBI in Wednesday's 12-4 rout of the Phillies.

The Marlins piled on 13 hits and five homers in total, with Stowers leading the way as he launched a two-run blast in the first inning off Andrew Painter and a solo shot in the sixth off Tanner Banks. It was his second multi-homer effort of the season, with the other also coming versus an NL East foe, May 21 against Atlanta. Despite Wednesday's outburst, Stowers is still slashing just .226/.308/.411 on the season with seven long balls, 23 runs and 27 RBI in 51 games.

Alcantara (7-4) picked up the win in Wednesday's 12-4 romp over the Phillies, giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six.

The veteran righty got tagged for two runs in each of the first two innings, with two errors and a balk contributing to the damage in the second frame, but Alcantara kept his focus and shut the door the rest of the way while while getting backed by 13 hits and five homers from Miami's bats. The quality start was Alcantara's 11th of the season and fourth straight, a stretch in which he's posted a 2.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB over 28 innings while winning all four outings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home early next week against the Rangers.

The Phillies optioned Painter to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following his start against the Marlins on Wednesday.

Painter was lit up for six earned runs on six hits and two walks while he struck out three batters in just two innings Wednesday. It's the third start in a row that he's allowed five or more runs, so the Phillies will send him back to the minors to get back on track. A corresponding move will be made ahead of Thursday's game to presumably add more depth to Philadelphia's bullpen while the team determines who will claim the open rotation spot.

Littell (6-6) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings as the Nationals were downed 6-2 by the Royals. He struck out two.

All four runs came on solo shots by Carter Jensen, John Rave, Lane Thomas and Michael Massey, not exactly a fearsome array of sluggers. It's the first time since April 28 that Littell has served up multiple homers in an outing, but after a five-start win streak he's dropped two straight decisions, getting tagged for nine runs in 6.2 innings during the sudden downturn. Littell will carry a 5.45 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 41:23 K:BB through 71 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Phillies.

Atlanta transferred Strider (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Strider landed on the 15-day IL on June 13 with right elbow inflammation, and it was later deemed that he would be shut down for at least four weeks. Although the 27-year-old avoided any structural damage to his elbow, Atlanta made the decision to transfer him to the 60-day IL in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Carlos Carrasco. Strider has only appeared in eight games this season for Atlanta after having the start of his campaign delayed due to an oblique injury that sidelined him until May 3.

Boyd (knee/shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

The location of Boyd's rehab outing has yet to be announced, but it will be his first game action since he suffered a setback with his shoulder following his June 6 rehab outing at Triple-A Iowa. It's also not clear whether Saturday will mark the left-hander's only rehab outing or if he'll require additional appearances coming off the setback. If he is cleared to rejoin the Cubs after Saturday, Boyd would be lined up to make his return to the big-league rotation next week.