MLB Player News

Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during the Orioles' 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Ward capped off the Orioles' four-run fifth inning with a two-run homer off Kevin Gausman to left field. It was just the third home run of the season for Ward, but the veteran outfielder has been better at the plate as of late. He has gone 8-for-21 (.381) with two extra-base hits, three RBI and four runs over his last five games.

Freeland took a no-decision Sunday against Milwaukee, surrendering three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out two across five innings.

Freeland appeared on track for one of his better outings of the season after holding Milwaukee to just one run through five innings, but back-to-back hits to open the sixth inning ended his day. The inherited runner he left on base eventually came around to score as the Brewers erupted for seven runs in the frame. The outing was still a memorable one for the veteran left-hander, as he raised his career innings total to 1,313.1 to become the Rockies' all-time franchise leader in innings pitched. However, the milestone comes amid a difficult season, as Freeland now owns a 7.81 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 53 innings. A home start scheduled next against the Athletics offers little fantasy appeal, as Freeland's command and ability to miss bats continues to trend in the wrong direction.

The Cardinals are expected to option Scott to Triple-A Memphis prior to their next game Tuesday in New York, Tamar Sher of First Alert 4 St. Louis reports.

Scott has served as the Cardinals' primary center fielder throughout the season but has been one of the majors' worst-performing hitters. Even after drawing a pair of walks while collecting his ninth stolen base of the season in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Reds, Scott has turned in a measly .532 OPS, which places him 189th of the 191 hitters who have received at least 180 plate appearances. Scott will now be given a chance to hit the reset button with Memphis, where he'll be able to play on an everyday basis in a lower-pressure environment. Expect St. Louis to announce a corresponding move prior to Tuesday's series opener versus the Mets.

Drohan (3-1) earned the win Sunday at Colorado, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four across 6.1 innings.

The rookie left-hander entered the outing without ever pitching beyond 4.1 innings in the majors, yet he worked into the seventh and finished with a career-high 83 pitches while recording his first career quality start. The increased workload is an encouraging development for a young pitcher still building innings. Drohan now owns a 3.11 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB on the season, and he is next scheduled for a home matchup against the Phillies.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three runs scored in Sunday's 10-0 win against Cleveland.

Jung mashed his eighth homer of the season off Joey Cantillo in the third inning as part of a four-run frame that helped put the game out of reach early. Following Sunday's performance, the third baseman has recorded a hit in 15 of his last 17 games. During that stretch, he's batting .338 with three homers and three doubles. Jung is now slashing .313/.368/.487 with 16 doubles, 29 RBI and 31 runs scored across 253 trips to the plate this year.

Cantillo (4-3) took the loss Sunday against Texas, surrendering seven runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings.

Three home runs in five innings did Cantillo in, negating an otherwise solid seven-strikeout effort. He has now allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts. His walk rate has been a concern all season, sitting at 4.84 BB/9, and the combination of free passes and elevated contact is a dangerous cocktail against a lineup with legitimate power. Cantillo now owns a 4.57 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 63:36 K:BB across 67 innings and is set to face Detroit at home next weekend.

DeGrom (5-4) earned the win Sunday against Cleveland, allowing three hits across six scoreless innings while striking out six and walking two in Texas' 10-0 shutout victory.

Working off just 87 pitches, deGrom was dominant from start to finish, retiring the last four batters he faced via strikeout and keeping the Guardians completely off balance all afternoon. The performance was especially noteworthy considering the home-run issues that plagued him earlier in the season, as he served up 13 long balls through his first 11 starts. He has now kept the ball in the yard in consecutive outings. DeGrom is now 3-1 with a 1.28 ERA in his six home starts, with 43 strikeouts across 35.2 innings, making the home/road split a possible consideration when setting lineups. His season line sits at a 3.18 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and while a road matchup against Boston awaits next, the right-hander should benefit from facing a Red Sox lineup that ranks dead last in MLB in home runs.

Flaherty allowed three runs on six hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Mariners. He walked one and struck out seven.

Flaherty earned his first win of the season his last time out but was unable to fully carry that momentum into his next start. The righty has now allowed three earned runs or more in five of his last six appearances, and he's sitting with an underwhelming 5.31 ERA overall. Flaherty at least had the strikeout stuff working Sunday, which pushed him up to 77 this year across 62.2 innings. That's the upside that makes Flaherty intriguing for fantasy managers, though he's yet to put everything together this year. He's penciled in to face the Guardians on the road Saturday the next time he takes the mound.

Vest (2-4) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win in Sunday's 5-4 victory over the Mariners. He allowed a hit and struck out one.

Vest worked through the top of the ninth inning on 10 pitches, then secured his second win of the year when the Tigers scored twice in the bottom half to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 win. The veteran righty has had a bumpy season, and a five-run outing back on May 26 is a big reason he's sitting with an inflated 6.53 ERA. However, with Kenley Jansen (pelvis) on the injured list, Vest is Detroit's most experienced healthy reliever, and he should continue to see high-leverage work as a result.

Perez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Mariners.

Batting ninth, Perez provided a jolt for the Tigers, which he's managed to do more frequently lately. Over his last 15 games, the outfielder is batting .316 with five extra-base hits, two stolen bases, seven RBI and 11 runs scored. It's still been a mostly down season for Perez, though his recent stretch at least gives fantasy managers some degree of optimism.