MLB Player News
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Will follow opener Monday
Rocker will serve in a bulk-relief role for the Rangers during Monday's game against the Marlins, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Rocker's best outing this season came as a bulk reliever May 19 in Colorado, when he struck out seven over 7.2 shutout innings. Tyler Alexander was the opener in that contest, and the Rangers will work with the same setup Monday as Alexander takes the ball first in the series lid-lifter.
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Tony Blanco 1B | PIT
Pirates' Tony Blanco: Shelved at High-A
High-A Greensboro placed Blanco on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.
Blanco may be tending to a lower-body issue, as Anthony Murphy of Baseball America notes that the 21-year-old was lifted for a pinch hitter shortly after legging out a triple in Saturday's game. The first baseman is slashing .237/.319/.500 with 12 home runs and one stolen base over 210 plate appearances with Greensboro on the season.
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Stuart Fairchild CF | CLE
Guardians' Stuart Fairchild: Steals base in loss
Fairchild entered Sunday's game as a pinch hitter working a walk and stealing a base in a 2-1 loss to the Astros. He finished the game in right field.
Fairchild pinch hit for Steven Kwan against a left-handed reliver in the seventh and stole his second base since joining the Guardians late in May. The right-handed batter started just twice over the last seven contests -- both against southpaws -- and hasn't seen much of an uptick in playing time following the injuries to Chase DeLauter (ribs) and Angel Martinez (foot). Fairchild is likely to start against left-handers and serve as pinch hitter later in games.
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Cristian Javier SP | HOU
Astros' Cristian Javier: Hits 75 pitches in rehab start
Javier (shoulder) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks across 4.2 innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Javier's control wasn't on point during Sunday's start -- the fourth of his rehab assignment -- but he was able to build up to 75 pitches (43 strikes) and looks ready to return from the 60-day injured list from a workload standpoint. He'll presumably join the Astros on their road trip this week and throw a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday before likely slotting back into the big-league rotation this weekend in Detroit. Javier, who has been on the shelf since April 10 due to a Grade 2 right shoulder strain, posted a 6.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings over his four starts between Sugar Land and Double-A Corpus Christi.
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Petey Halpin CF | CLE
Guardians' Petey Halpin: Starts second straight game
Halpin started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Houston.
Halpin made a second consecutive start in center field and third over the Guardians' last five games. He was called up after Cleveland lost two outfield regulars to injuries, and the left-handed batter could pop up in starting lineups against right-handers while manager Stephen Vogt navigates the absences of Chase DeLauter (ribs) and Angel Martinez (foot).
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Nick Allen SS | HOU
Astros' Nick Allen: Nearing rehab assignment
Allen (hamstring) resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs over the weekend, MLB.com reports.
Allen appears poised to head out on a rehab assignment in the near future, perhaps as soon as later this week. The 27-year-old has been on the shelf since June 8 due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and should serve as a utility infielder for Houston once he's activated.
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LaMonte Wade LF | HOU
Astros' LaMonte Wade: Closing in on rehab assignment
Wade (hamstring) has resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs and is expected to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment soon, MLB.com reports.
Houston deactivated Wade on the 10-day injured list June 9 after he was diagnosed with a right hamstring injury, but his ability to take part in baseball activities just over a week later suggests that he's dealing with just a mild strain. Wade likely won't need more than a handful of rehab games to prove his health, so he could return from the IL before the end of June if the Astros have room for him on the active roster.
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Orlando Ribalta RP | WAS
Nationals' Orlando Ribalta: Tagged with loss Sunday
Ribalta (0-1) took the loss and was charged with a blown save against the Rays on Sunday, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in the seventh inning. He struck out two.
The 28-year-old right-hander entered the game with the Nationals ahead 3-2 but served up a game-winning two-run homer to Jonny DeLuca. Ribalta has hit a rough patch in June, getting tagged for runs in three of his last five appearances including the only two home runs he's allowed this season, but through 21.1 innings in 2026 he still carries a respectable 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB.
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Nasim Nunez 2B | WAS
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Strong June continues
Nunez went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Rays.
The second baseman has hit safely in seven straight games and 12 of his last 13, slashing .419/.468/.558 over the latter stretch with two doubles, two triples, eight runs, eight RBI and a 6-for-6 performance on the basepaths. That surge has bumped his OPS above .600 for the first time since March 31, and Nunez has moved back into a tie with Bobby Witt (knee) for the major-league lead in stolen bases with 28.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Goes yard in win
Stephenson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.
Stephenson erased New York's early lead and then some with a three-run blast in the fourth inning. It was the sixth homer of the season for the catcher, who is having a sub-standard season at the plate overall but is showing life in June. Stephenson, who entered June with a .199 average and .625 OPS, is batting .250 with .707 OPS this month.