MLB Player News

Melton (7-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Twins, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out four over 5.1 innings.

Melton surrendered a first-inning homer to Kody Clemens before settling in to retire 10 consecutive batters, but things unraveled over the fifth and sixth innings. He was charged with six runs during that span, two of which scored via error, and exited after allowing a three-run homer to Royce Lewis in the sixth. The five earned runs were a season high for Melton, who entered Tuesday having allowed more than three runs just once in 16 starts. He's now taken the loss in three straight outings and owns a 2.20 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 84:29 K:BB across 102.1 innings. Melton is slated for a rematch with Minnesota on Monday.

Smith-Shawver (0-1) took the loss against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across four innings.

The five runs Smith-Shawver allowed in Tuesday's outing were his most in four starts this season, with four of those runs coming in the second inning. The 23-year-old right-hander finished his start having tossed 86 pitches (57 strikes) while generating 16 whiffs, and his five punchouts were a season high. Even though his start against Washington wasn't great, the fact that Smith-Shawver has tossed at least 86 pitches in each of his last two appearances is an encouraging sign that he has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of 2025. Atlanta is currently deploying a six-man rotation, so that puts Smith-Shawver in line to face the Rays at home next week.

Abrams went 2-for-4 with a two-run single, a steal and a run scored during Tuesday's 9-5 win over Atlanta.

Abrams was scratched from Monday's lineup against Miami due to back tightness, but he was cleared to return to action for Tuesday's series opener. He got the Nationals on the board early in the second inning with a two-run single before being brought home later in the frame on a Brady House double. Abrams has an .852 OPS with 27 steals, 29 home runs and 94 RBI over 570 plate appearances this season.

Taylor went 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Brewers.

Taylor followed up a three-RBI night with another two RBI in Tuesday's contest as the outfielder stayed hot at the plate. He's now batting .413 in 19 games with the Cubs, giving his new team a much -needed boost beyond his strong defense. Taylor is particularly good against lefties, as he's sporting a .942 OPS in those matchups this year, but he's been solid against righties too, which has given his fantasy value a boost.

House went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI during Tuesday's 9-5 win over Atlanta.

House gave Washington a 4-1 lead in the second inning with a two-run double before driving in another run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. House has logged at least one RBI in five of his last six games, going 7-for-18 (.389) with one home run, 10 RBI and four runs scored in that span.

Wood (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Manager Blake Butera said that Wood's return is contingent on him feeling good when he wakes up Wednesday morning, but chances are that he returns to the Nationals' lineup for their series finale against Atlanta. The 23-year-old has slashed .265/.393/.535 across 535 plate appearances when healthy this season, though he owns just a .620 OPS in the 17 games he's played since the All-Star break.

The Nationals optioned Pinckney to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

With James Wood (oblique) expected to return from the injured list Wednesday, the Nationals will send Pinckney down to Triple-A to free up a roster spot. The 25-year-old performed well during his first stint with the big club, going 6-for-22 with a homer, two RBI, six runs and a steal while appearing in 13 games.

Pauley went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, four RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Royals.

Recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday morning, Pauley drew the start at third base and made an immediate impact, launching a two-run homer off Randy Dobnak in his first plate appearance. He added a two-run triple in the seventh to establish a career high with four RBI. Pauley has struggled to find much consistency at the major-league level this season, as he is now slashing .205/.237/.357 with two homers across 47 games.

Finnegan allowed five runs on three hits and two walks while retiring only one batter in relief during Tuesday's 15-2 loss to the Twins.

Finnegan didn't take the loss, as Detroit starter Troy Melton was also hit hard as he allowed seven runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings, but the righty reliever was wholly ineffective out of the bullpen. The 34-year-old saw his ERA climb from 3.27 to 4.07, and the rough performance comes on the heels of a month in which he posted a subpar 5.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across 10 appearances. Finnegan will look to turn things around in September, though he's not off to an encouraging start, and his fantasy value remains limited in a setup role for a team that is now 12 games below .500.

Lord will start Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Jackson Kent threw 106 pitches during his last appearance, so the Nationals will buy him and the team's other starters some extra rest by starting Lord in Wednesday's series finale. The 26-year-old righty will likely remain in the game for just a couple of innings after working less than three frames during each of the three starts he made in August.