MLB Player News

This was Littell’s second time facing the Astros in three starts and the Rays seemed to have scaled back what they asked of him. He was pulled after exactly two revolutions through their batting order despite allowing just one hit and one run. Yet, he’s also already past his career high in innings by 40 and had just three strikeouts versus one walk. This was his fourth straight start allowing one run or fewer as he looks to have put a disastrous July behind him.

The superstar outfielder was lifted from Wednesday’s game after tweaking his injured ankle during an at-bat in the eighth inning. Fortunately, neither Servais nor Rodríguez himself seem to think that it’s a major issue. He may sit on Thursday as a precautionary measure, but don’t expect him to land back on the injured list.

The 30-year-old hurler had been dealing, needing just 73 pitches to navigate six scoreless innings with only two hits allowed. Had it not been for the comebacker that hit his hand, he surely would have returned for the seventh. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative for any fractures, and it sounds like Blanco should be okay to make his next scheduled start.

With the Phillies down big early, Schwarber’s blast off Edward Cabrera would give them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The grand slam was the seventh of his career and just barely found the seats in left center field, but it counts all the same. The four RBI sent Schwarber up to 16th in the league despite almost always hitting lead-off.

Bride has been scalding hot since being anointed the Marlins’ everyday first baseman. He’s started all but one game since July 25th and has five homers, 11 RBI, seven runs scored, 17 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 61 at-bats. That could be a very helpful player in deep leagues.

Cabrera fell apart in the fourth inning after being spotted a three-run cushion by his offense. He loaded the bases with two out before Kyle Schwarber just barely found the seats in left-center field for a grand slam. His command was waning even before the big fly as Cabrera walked four and barely threw half of his pitches for strikes. There was hope he’d build off his gem last Friday against the Padres, but Cabrera did not deliver.

The Marlins were all over Phillips here. Three of their first four balls in play were scorched over 103 MPH and they had 12 hard-hit balls in all. Even with that, Phillips was on the mound in the fifth inning with a lead, but was pulled before completing it. This continued an ugly stretch for Phillips with 17 earned runs, five walks, and eight strikeouts in three starts (11 innings) since his complete game shutout against the Guardians.

The Tigers weren’t able to get anything done against Mariners’ starter Bryan Woo in this one, mustering just four singles over seven scoreless innings to start the game. Matt Vierling smacked a two-out double off of Yimi Garcia in the eighth though and Carpenter followed with a 385-foot (103.1-mph EV) two-run shot to right that tied the game. That makes three homers in two games for Carpenter since returning from the injured list on Tuesday. On the season, he’s slashing .292/.347/.623 with 11 homers and 34 RBI in 52 games.

Holton came on to face the heart of the Mariners’ lineup, and he responded by striking out Jorge Polanco and Randy Arozarena before getting Cal Raleigh on a fly ball to right field. He then became the beneficiary as the Tigers walked it off in the home half of the inning. The 28-year-old southpaw is having a terrific season, posting a 2.66 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and a 53/13 K/BB ratio over 67 2/3 innings to go along with five wins and four saves. He’s also expected to open for the Tigers on Thursday.

Sammons punched out four batters on the evening while issuing a pair of walks. The unheralded 29-year-old hurler took over for Beau Brieske in the second inning and worked through the seventh — allowing just an RBI single to Jorge Polanco in the fifth inning. He got nine swings and misses on 74 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 31 percent. He’ll carry a 3.38 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and a 13/4 K/BB ratio (18 2/3 innings) into Tuesday’s matchup against the Cubs in Chicago.