MLB Player News

Stewart went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and a walk in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox.

Stewart's wrist soreness, which stems from being hit by a 110-mph liner Opening Day, didn't seem to be an issue Saturday, as he stayed hot at the plate. The first baseman had an RBI single in the first inning and then took Sonny Gray deep in the third. Batting cleanup for Cincinnati, Stewart is 5-for-8 with two doubles, one home run and two RBI through two games to begin the regular season.

McLain went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two walks in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox.

McLain tore the cover off the ball during spring training and is carrying it over to begin the regular season. The second baseman drew an eight-pitch walk in the first inning and later scored on a fielder's choice. He then drove in Ke'Bryan Hayes with an RBI double in his second plate appearance. Through two games, McLain is 3-for-7 at the plate with three walks.

Perez did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rockies, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over seven innings.

Perez surrendered two home runs but was otherwise effective, throwing 59 of 93 pitches for strikes and generating 17 whiffs. According to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, it marked just the third time in 40 career outings that the 22-year-old reached the seventh frame. The breakout candidate posted a 4.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 105:32 K:BB across 95.1 innings last season and flashed his upside Saturday. He'll face a tougher test on the road against the Yankees next weekend.

Abreu went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Reds.

Abreu took a splitter from Emilio Pagan over the wall in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game 5-5 and send it to extra innings. Abreu had an RBI double two innings prior and is now 3-for-9 at the plate with the one home run and two RBI through two games to begin the regular season. Abreu should be in the lineup again Sunday versus Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder.

Gray allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk across four innings in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Reds. He struck out five.

Making his regular-season debut with the Red Sox, Gray labored through the first inning, needing 35 pitches to get through the frame while allowing two runs. Gray allowed at least one run in each of the first three innings, including a solo home run by Sal Stewart in the third. The right-hander also gave up a career-high 25 homers in 32 starts last year with St. Louis. Gray will look to be more efficient in his next scheduled start against the Padres next weekend.

Nola allowed three runs on five hits and two walks across five innings in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Rangers. He struck out seven.

Nola was burned by the long ball, surrendering a solo shot to Corey Seager in the first inning before Jake Burger took Nola deep for a two-run home run in the third. The right-hander was let off the hook for the loss when the Phillies rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning. The homers have been a consistent theme for the 32-year-old, who served up 18 in 17 starts last year and at least 30 in each of the previous two regular seasons.

Burger went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.

Burger had a big spring training and has carried it over to start the regular season. After homering in Thursday's season-opening 5-3 loss, Burger again went deep Saturday, taking a knuckle curve from Aaron Nola over the fence in the top of the third inning. Burger later added a single in the eighth inning. Through two games, Burger has gone 5-for-9 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI, though he's also struck out four times and committed two errors already.

Seager went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.

Seager took a 92-mph fastball from Aaron Nola over the fence for his first home run of the season in the top of the first inning. Seager later singled in the fifth inning. Through two games, Seager is 4-for-8 at the plate with the home run and a pair of runs scored. The veteran shortstop was limited to 102 games last year due to hamstring issues and an appendectomy, but he was productive when available with 21 homers and an .860 OPS.

Garcia surrendered two unearned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning during Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.

With the Rangers leading 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, manager Skip Schumaker called Garcia's number in Texas' first save situation of the season. Garcia struck out Kyle Schwarber and got Bryce Harper to ground out to begin the frame. After dispatching those tough lefty batters, the southpaw reliever ran into trouble against two righty batters. Alec Bohm singled ahead of a walk by pinch hitter Edmundo Sosa. Garcia was then pulled in favor of Chris Martin, but Martin was unable to close the door after a Jake Burger error opened the flood gates. The early pull helped Garcia avoid a blown save, but it's clear he was the first option to close out the game. Both he and Martin are expected to get save chances for Texas this season.

Martin (1-0) blew the save but came away with the win in Saturday's 5-4 victory over the Phillies. He allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out one while recording one out.

With the Rangers up 3-0, manager Skip Schumaker actually called on Robert Garcia to open the ninth inning. However, Garcia recorded just two outs while allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout before giving way to Martin to protect the 3-0 lead. Martin surrendered two hits and three runs, two of which were charged to Garcia, to send the game to an extra inning. With neither pitcher faring well in their first outing of the season, Garcia would seem to continue to hold the slight edge for save opportunities for Texas.