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Carmen Mlodzinski RP | PIT
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Earns win Saturday
Mlodzinski (4-8) allowed one hit and struck out three across two scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday against the Nationals.
Mlodzinski followed Bubba Chandler into the game, entering in the seventh inning with the score tied 1-1. Mlodzinski generated six swinging strikes on 30 total pitches to turn in his second consecutive scoreless relief appearance. Since the start of August, he has a 2.55 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 29:10 K:BB across 24.2 innings while pitching primarily in a bulk-relief role.
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Brad Keller RP | PHI
Cubs' Brad Keller: Snaps scoreless streak, takes loss
Keller (4-2) allowed a run on two hits and a walk across an inning of relief to take the loss Saturday against the Rays.
Keller worked the top of the ninth inning in a 4-4 game and promptly served up a go-ahead home run to Nick Fortes to take the loss. It was the first run allowed by the veteran righty since July 12, a streak of 22 appearances coming into Saturday. Keller still has a sparkling 2.20 ERA and 0.98 WHIP overall, and he should maintain a key role in Chicago's bullpen, though it appears that Andrew Kittredge is the next man up as closer with Daniel Palencia (shoulder) on the injured list.
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Kyle Leahy SP | STL
Cardinals' Kyle Leahy: Tagged with blown save, loss
Leahy (4-2) allowed two runs (one earned) over 1.1 innings, taking a blown save and a loss Saturday in Milwaukee.
Leahy was put into an impossible situation in the bottom of the ninth, taking over for an ineffective Riley O'Brien with runners on the corners, no one out and the Cardinals nursing a one-run lead. He did well to give up just one run that frame to send the game to the 10th. Leahy remained in the game after the Cardinals scored one in the top of the 10th, and he coughed up the tying and winning runs to get saddled with a loss. The 28-year-old Leahy will likely remain in the mix for high-leverage appearances for the Cardinals, though he is often used earlier in games for multiple innings.
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Jake Meyers CF | HOU
Astros' Jake Meyers: Consecutive multi-hit games
Meyers went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk Saturday against Atlanta.
Meyers has started six of seven games since being activated from the injured list Sept. 6. He's reached base three times in each of his last two starts, going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBI. Despite logging only 348 plate appearances due to injury, Meyers has set a career high in stolen bases (15) and has tied his highest mark in runs scored (51).
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Jake Fraley RF | TB
Braves' Jake Fraley: Out with oblique strain
Atlanta placed Fraley on the 10-day injured list Sunday, retroactive to Sept. 11, due to a strained right oblique.
Fraley hasn't seen the field since Tuesday against the Cubs, so it's unclear when exactly he picked up the injury. The veteran outfielder is without an official timeline for his return and will be eligible to be reinstated Sept. 21. However, it wouldn't be surprising if he doesn't return for the final week of the regular season given the nature of the injury.
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Dansby Swanson SS | CHC
Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Swipes base Saturday
Swanson went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Rays.
Swanson swiped his 16th bag of the season in 19 attempts, and he also increased his RBI total to 74. The shortstop set a new career high last year with 19 steals, and that number is within striking distance if he stays active on the basepaths down the stretch in 2025. Swanson is also sitting at 22 home runs this season, which is five away from tying his career best.
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Nico Hoerner 2B | CHC
Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Doubles, swipes base in loss
Hoerner went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Rays.
Hoerner extended his hitting streak to eight games, and he has multiple hits in each of his last three contests. The speedy infielder is now batting .297 for the season, which would be his best average since he hit .302 across only 44 games back in 2021. Hoerner is also up to 27 stolen bases this year, and if he swipes three more bags he'll reach the 30-steal plateau for the third straight season.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | ATL
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Delivers key hit in win
Tellez went 1-for-1 with a ground-rule double and an RBI in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mets.
Tellez entered as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth inning and belted a two-out, ground-rule double to produce the go-ahead run and complete Texas' comeback. Since Jake Burger's return in early September, Tellez's regular gig at first base has disappeared. Saturday's appearance was his fifth straight as a pinch hitter.
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Riley O'Brien RP | STL
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Pulled from save opportunity
O'Brien was charged with three runs and pulled from a save chance without recording an out in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.
The Cardinals turned to O'Brien with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he allowed four straight batters to reach -- the first two via hit-by-pitch -- before being lifted. Kyle Leahy then came on and allowed one of two inherited runners to score, adding another run to O'Brien's ledger. The three earned runs charged to O'Brien match the number he had allowed over his previous 29 appearances combined. He should remain in the mix for saves for St. Louis down the stretch.
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Cody Freeman 3B | TEX
Rangers' Cody Freeman: Plays role in comeback
Freeman started at second base and went 2-for-4 with a double in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mets.
After leading off the top of ninth inning with a single, Freeman was replaced by a pinch runner (Dustin Harris) that eventually scored the game-winning run. The start at second base was the fourth consecutive for Freeman, who has been part of the rotation replacing an injured Marcus Semien (foot), which includes Dylan Moore and Ezequiel Duran. Freeman has also helped out in right field due to Adolis Garcia (quadriceps) being on the mend. Since being called up to Texas in August, Freeman's slashed .235/.254/.353 with two home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored over 20 games.