Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
New York Yankees rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler delivered an impressive performance, throwing six perfect innings against the Rays. Schlittler recorded zero hits, runs, or walks through 6.0 innings, demonstrating strong command by throwing first-pitch strikes to 13 of 18 batters faced. His dominant outing resulted in a Game Score of 78.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson has been placed on the injured list due to a small fracture on the tip of his left thumb. The injury, initially sustained last week while catching Hunter Greene, was aggravated during a bullpen session with Nick Lodolo on Tuesday night, with X-rays confirming the fracture. Stephenson, who is batting .226 with nine homers and 36 RBIs in 72 games, will be evaluated by a hand specialist on Thursday. Jose Trevino is expected to take over as the starting catcher, and Will Banfield has been called up from Triple-A Louisville to fill Stephenson's roster spot, marking his second IL stint this season.
New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo was removed from Wednesday night's game against the Nationals in the second inning due to neck stiffness. Manager Carlos Mendoza noted Nimmo reported difficulty with his swing after his first at-bat and that this is an issue he occasionally deals with. Starling Marte replaced Nimmo in left field, and Nimmo is currently batting .254 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs.
Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has been sidelined indefinitely after undergoing a procedure to remove a blood clot near his right shoulder. Despite this setback, the Phillies' starting pitchers have responded by combining for 34 strikeouts in a series sweep of the Mariners, with Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jesús Luzardo all posting impressive strikeout numbers. The team's offense also contributed significantly, with 48 hits and 20+ hits in two games during the series, highlighting their depth even without their top arm.
Kyle Schwarber contributed significantly to the Phillies' 11-2 sweep over the Mariners, hitting his National League-leading 45th home run and driving in five runs. With 110 RBIs, he has set a new career high and leads all of Major League Baseball. Schwarber is also the only player with three 45-homer seasons since 2022, solidifying his place in Phillies history by ranking second behind Ryan Howard for most 45-homer seasons in franchise history.
Trea Turner delivered a standout performance, recording five hits, two RBIs, and two stolen bases, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to an 11-2 victory and a sweep of the Seattle Mariners. This marks his fourth career five-hit game and his first as a Phillie, making him the first player in MLB this season to achieve five hits and two steals. Turner also extended his active player lead with his seventh career season of 30 stolen bases, breaking a tie with Jose Altuve and Starling Marte.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edgardo Henriquez is making a strong impact, having thrown a franchise-record 103.3 mph pitch and consistently hitting over 101 mph this season. Converted from a catcher and overcoming Tommy John surgery and a foot injury, Henriquez has held opponents to a .120 batting average with four strikeouts in seven innings this summer. Manager Dave Roberts notes his increased confidence, and Henriquez, who also possesses a devastating cutter and slider, has expressed his desire to become a closer for the team.
Mets outfielder and DH Jesse Winker is still facing challenges in his recovery from a back ailment, which followed an earlier oblique injury. Winker has experienced good days followed by difficulty recovering, leading the team to proceed cautiously. Despite the slow progress, the Mets still hope he can return to play before the end of the season.
Mets outfielder Jose Siri is progressing well from a fractured left tibia and is expected to begin a rehab assignment with minor league games as early as next week. Siri, acquired in a November trade, had started eight of the Mets' first 14 games prior to his injury. He was hitting 1-for-20 with one RBI and had stolen two bases before being sidelined.
Seattle Mariners player Victor Robles has received a 10-game suspension. The suspension stems from an incident where he threw his bat at a pitcher.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber is preparing to make his return to action on Friday. He has been sidelined since 2024 due to a UCL tear which required Tommy John surgery.
Houston Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell was carted off the field Wednesday after crashing into the center-field fence during a game against the Detroit Tigers. The incident occurred in the first inning when he deflected a line drive off his glove just before hitting the fence, resulting in an RBI triple for Detroit. This marks the second time in 15 hours Trammell has needed assistance, having previously landed on his back after catching a foul fly ball on Tuesday night.
Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes is now considered the clear frontrunner for the NL Cy Young award, especially with Zack Wheeler's indefinite absence. Skenes boasts a 7-9 record with a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 174 strikeouts against 37 walks in 154 innings, putting him slightly ahead of other contenders. Additionally, the Pirates are promoting top prospect Bubba Chandler to join their major league pitching staff alongside Skenes, with Chandler initially working in a 'bulk' bullpen role.
Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. blasted his 100th career home run, a two-run shot, against Texas, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to reach this milestone at 25 years, 66 days old. This achievement places him in exclusive company as only the fourth player to record at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases through his first four MLB seasons, joining legends like Julio Rodríguez and Bobby Bonds. Witt Jr. continues to be a pivotal force for the Royals, currently batting .291 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs, along with 32 stolen bases.
Mookie Betts will continue playing shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite recent outfield defensive struggles by the team. He has maintained strong defense in his first full season at the position, boasting a .984 fielding percentage and committing only six errors in 376 chances. Manager Dave Roberts affirmed that Betts will not be moved, noting that their recent discussion was regarding Betts' swing.
The Texas Rangers will skip Jacob deGrom’s next scheduled start due to shoulder fatigue, though the club does not expect him to be placed on the injured list. The five-time All-Star underwent examinations by Dr. Keith Meister, which came back clean, indicating he could return to the mound as early as next week. This decision is part of workload management for deGrom, who has pitched 140 1/3 innings across 24 starts this season, his highest total since 2019.
Mets pitcher David Peterson delivered a stellar outing against the Nationals on Tuesday night, completing eight innings of one-run baseball and striking out a season-high 10 batters. His dominant performance included facing the minimum through the first four innings and recording nine groundouts on 96 pitches, serving as a strong rebound. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Peterson's effective use of all his pitches, including a standout changeup, bringing his season ERA to 3.18 and making him the only Mets starter to pitch into the eighth inning this season.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo maintained his remarkable consistency, striking out eight batters and allowing just one run over six innings against the Mets. This performance extends his historic streak to 24 consecutive starts this season, where he has completed at least six innings while issuing no more than two walks in each outing. Woo, known for his elite four-seam fastball, groundball-inducing sinker, and bat-missing slider, continues to showcase exceptional pitch efficiency and command.
Baltimore Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers has emerged as a significant bright spot, pitching like a legitimate ace in recent weeks. He struck out seven over seven innings of one-run ball against the Red Sox, marking his fifth consecutive start of at least six innings with no more than one run allowed. Rogers has revived his career by regaining velocity, tweaking his pitch approach, and adding a new sweeper, leading to a 2.5 WAR since June 18 and a strong 3.07 xERA.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh has secured regular playing time, particularly against right-handed pitching, due to his recent strong performance. Over his last 22 games, Marsh boasts an impressive .367/.391/.683 slash line and a 1.074 OPS, with half of his 22 hits being for extra bases. He is slated to bat sixth in today's series finale.
