MLB Player News

Winquest (1-0) earned the win after allowing one hit while striking out one over 1.2 scoreless innings in Friday's 7-6 victory over the Rockies.

Winquest entered the game in the seventh inning with one out and delivered an impressive showing. His scoreless outing gave the Cardinals' offense enough time to rally, with Ivan Herrera's three-run homer in the ninth ultimately putting St. Louis ahead. The comeback handed Winquest the first victory of his major-league career, while his ERA dropped to 1.59. He's allowed just one run on 5.2 innings and four appearances for the Cardinals this season.

Bazzana went 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI across both games of Friday's doubleheader sweep of the Tigers.

The rookie second baseman went 2-for-3 in both games despite beginning the nightcap on the bench, as he took over at DH in the sixth inning after Chase DeLauter was forced to exit due to a wrist sprain. That set Bazzana up to play hero, as his two-run homer in the eighth tied the game at 3-3, while his walk-off single in the 10th against Detroit closer Kenley Jansen completed the sweep. Bazzana's long ball was his first since July 20, snapping a 36-game drought, and since the All-Star break he's produced a .248/.337/.355 slash line in 163 plate appearances with three homers, five steals, 14 runs and 18 RBI.

De La Cruz went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Brewers.

De La Cruz was involved early, delivering a run on a first-inning single and scoring a run in the third. He returned to play shortstop for the first time since sustaining a quadriceps injury last Sunday. De La Cruz didn't miss any time due to the quad and operated as the designated hitter in Cincinnati's previous three games.

Sommers (1-4) allowed a walk-off home run to take the loss in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Sommers breezed through the eighth inning, sitting Cleveland down in order with a strikeout mixed in. However, the lefty didn't have the same luck when he came back out for the ninth, as Brayan Rocchio took a first-pitch fastball deep to give the Guardians a 7-6 victory. Sommers had been on scintillating stretch from mid-July through late-August, allowing just one earned run and striking out 24 batters across 14 innings in 11 appearances out of Detroit's bullpen, but it's been a different story lately. He's now allowed five earned runs over his last three appearances, and his season ERA has climbed from 2.93 to 4.01 in the process.

Smith (4-1) collected the win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Cleveland closer kept the score tied at 6-6 in the top of the final frame, and Smith got rewarded when Brayan Rocchio launched a walk-off solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. Smith hasn't been needed much lately, making only two appearances since Aug. 25, and that rest could pay off down the stretch as the Guardians try to catch the White Sox for the AL Central crown. Since the beginning of August, Smith has delivered a 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 12 innings while converting five of six save chances.

Suarez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's 10-7 loss to Milwaukee.

Suarez returned from a two-game absence after passing his US naturalization test. He celebrated with a two-run shot in the third inning, his 21st home run of the season. Suarez has homered three times in the last six games and driven in nine runs during that stretch.

Griffin didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The Guardians won the game in 10 innings to complete a sweep in the twin bill, but Griffin exited the mound with his team in a 3-0 hole after 92 pitches (58 strikes). Over six outings since being picked up from the Nationals at the trade deadline, the southpaw has delivered two quality starts, and after a bumpy Cleveland debut Aug. 6, Griffin has a 3.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB through his last 27 innings. He lines up to make his next start on the road next week in Baltimore.

Feltner didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals after allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings.

Feltner was scratched ahead of his previous scheduled start last Saturday in Atlanta due to an illness, but that didn't affect him this time around as he managed to pitch five innings. He was far from efficient, however. He's issued at least three walks in five of his last six starts, posting a 24:18 K:BB across 30 innings with a 6.30 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over that stretch. Given the traffic he allows on the basepaths, it's tough to rely on Feltner for anything more than volume. His next start is scheduled to come on the road against the Yankees.

Rocchio went 3-for-7 with a walk, a double, two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases across both games of Friday's doubleheader sweep of the Tigers.

The shortstop powered a 7-6 win in the matinee with both his long balls and all five of his RBI -- a fourth-inning grand slam off Keider Montero, and a walk-off solo shot off Drew Sommers in the ninth -- and Rocchio then played a key role in a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. After leading off the 10th inning with a fielder's choice that erased the phantom runner, he swiped second and third against Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, putting him in position to trot home on Travis Bazzana's single. Rocchio is up to 12 homers and 18 steals, both career highs, through 135 games on the season, but highlights at the plate have been rare of late. Over 27 contests since the beginning of August, he's managed just a .188/.248/.313 slash line.

Garcia (hamstring) is running at 80 percent while participating in baseball activities, per MLB.com.

Garcia hit the injured list Aug. 21 due to a left hamstring strain just four games after returning from a muscle strain in his left hand. The third baseman's progress in rehab is a positive sign and keeps a return before the end of the regular season on the table, though the Royals may ultimately err on the side of caution with the team far from playoff contention. In 73 games this season, Garcia has slashed .269/.324/.385 with three homers, 32 RBI, 34 runs and five stolen bases.