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MLB News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Brandon Marsh forces his way into regular Phillies lineup with hot bat

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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.

Harrison Bader frustrated with playing time amid struggles with Phillies

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Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader, acquired at the July 31 trade deadline, is reportedly frustrated with his playing time after batting just .171 in 41 at-bats with Philadelphia. Manager Rob Thomson attributed Bader's struggles to trying to do too much on a new team and indicated that playing time would likely remain a rotation rather than an everyday role. Bader is batting seventh in today's game.

Nick Castellanos gets a day off for knee management

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos was given a day off to manage a minor knee issue, according to manager Rob Thomson. Although his knee is not currently bothering him, the team is being mindful of his workload, especially after his 236-game starting streak was broken in June. Thomson aims to keep Castellanos healthy for upcoming games.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Giancarlo Stanton's Two-Homer Performance Powers Yankees to Record-Tying Win

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Giancarlo Stanton played a pivotal role in the New York Yankees' 13-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting two home runs and contributing to the team's franchise-record nine longballs. His performance included a three-run blast and marked his first multi-homer game since June 2023. Stanton, who returned to the lineup after general soreness, also participated in a back-to-back-to-back home run sequence with Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger in the first inning. Manager Aaron Boone later removed Stanton for rest after his fourth at-bat, highlighting his impact on the game.

Bobby Witt Jr. Reaches 100 Career Home Runs, Joins Elite MLB Company

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Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 100th career home run on Tuesday night, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to achieve the milestone at 26 years and 66 days old. The two-run shot against the Rangers also made him just the fourth player in MLB history to record at least 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases through his first four big league seasons, joining Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry, and Bobby Bonds. Witt, who continues to be a catalyst for the Royals' second-half surge, is hitting .291 with 18 homers, 69 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases this season.

Alex Call Shines with Career-High Four Hits, Including Longest Dodgers Homer of Season

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Alex Call delivered a career-high performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, recording four hits, including a 453-foot home run—the longest by a Dodger this season—and a double. He scored three runs and drove in two, narrowly missing a cycle by a triple in the team's 11-4 rout of the Colorado Rockies. This impressive outing helped Call break out of a .174 slump since being acquired from Washington.

Mets' Mark Vientos Continues Power Surge with Second Straight Homer

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Mark Vientos hit his second consecutive home run on Tuesday, delivering a crucial two-run blast against the Nationals in the Mets' 8-1 victory. Despite an overall underwhelming season, Vientos' dedicated approach to game preparation is paying off as he capitalizes on opportunities when called upon. The slugging infielder's recent production, including a four-RBI effort on Sunday, has been welcomed by manager Carlos Mendoza as the NL playoff race intensifies, with Vientos embracing a team-first mentality.

Mookie Betts Remains at Shortstop Amid Dodgers' Defensive Challenges

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Mookie Betts remains the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers despite ongoing discussions and recent struggles in the team's outfield defense. Manager Dave Roberts has expressed confidence in Betts's play at shortstop, where he holds a .984 fielding percentage with only six errors. While Betts has discussed a potential return to right field, where he is a six-time Gold Glove winner, and is currently experiencing career-low offensive production at shortstop, Roberts stated there isn't a viable alternative to move him at this time.

David Peterson Delivers Dominant Eight-Inning Performance for Mets

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New York Mets pitcher David Peterson rebounded strongly on Tuesday night, completing eight dominant innings against the Nationals. He allowed just one run while recording a season-high 10 strikeouts, demonstrating improved command with all his pitches, including his changeup, curveball, slider, and sinker. This stellar outing, which saw him face the minimum through four innings on a career-best 41 pitches, helped the Mets secure an 8-1 victory and marked his ninth start of six-plus innings in his last 60 appearances, lowering his season ERA to 3.18.

Braves First Baseman Matt Olson Surpasses Pete Rose for 12th All-Time in Consecutive Games Played

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Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson has extended his active ironman streak, reaching 746 consecutive games played as of August 19, 2025. This achievement places him 12th on MLB's all-time list, surpassing Pete Rose. Olson, who is the league's active leader in this category, continues to demonstrate exceptional durability and consistency as one of baseball's top sluggers, including a 54-homer season in 2023 and an expectation to cross the 300-home-run threshold in 2026.

Jacob deGrom to Skip Next Start for Shoulder Fatigue, Not IL Bound

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The Texas Rangers are skipping Jacob deGrom's scheduled start this week due to shoulder fatigue, though the club emphasizes this is a workload management decision and he is not expected to be placed on the injured list. Examinations by Dr. Keith Meister revealed clean results, indicating the five-time All-Star could return to pitch as early as next week. DeGrom has pitched 140 1/3 innings across 24 starts this season, which is his highest total since 2019, following previous shoulder issues and Tommy John surgery.

Victor Robles Receives 10-Game Suspension for Bat-Throwing Incident During Rehab

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has been suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for throwing his bat at Triple-A pitcher Joey Estes during a rehab assignment game on Sunday, an action that led to his immediate ejection. Robles is currently with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in April, and the suspension will take effect upon his return to the Mariners' active roster. He is appealing the disciplinary action, which means it is currently on hold. Robles reportedly apologized on social media, attributing his outburst to frustration stemming from his prolonged rehab, mental challenges, and a recent personal loss, noting he had been hit by pitches three times in previous games.

Aaron Judge's Throwing Status Sparks Disagreement With Yankees Manager Aaron Boone

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Yankees captain Aaron Judge's throwing capabilities are a point of contention, as manager Aaron Boone indicated Judge would likely be limited to DH duty for the remainder of the season due to a flexor strain. Judge, who has been solely a designated hitter since his August 5 activation from the injured list, publicly disagreed with Boone, asserting confidence in his ability to return to full throwing strength. While the injury, suffered on July 22, is a flexor strain with an intact UCL, Judge has progressed to throwing 150 feet and aims to return to outfield play.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Hamstring MRI Comes Back Clean, Blue Jays Exercise Caution

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received good news as an MRI on his tight left hamstring showed no damage. Despite the clean results, the Blue Jays are being cautious and kept the five-time All-Star out of Tuesday's lineup against the Pirates, though he may return for Wednesday afternoon's game. Guerrero had exited Monday night's game in the fifth inning after experiencing hamstring tightness following two stellar defensive plays at first base.

Hayden Senger Recalled to Mets for Catching Depth

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The New York Mets have recalled Hayden Senger to provide additional catching depth following Francisco Alvarez's placement on the injured list. Senger will share catching duties with Luis Torrens while Alvarez is out. This season, Senger has appeared in 21 games, posting a slash line of .174/.208/.196.

Luis Torrens Steps Up for Mets Amid Alvarez's Injury

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With Francisco Alvarez sidelined due to a thumb sprain, the New York Mets will rely on catcher Luis Torrens to pick up some of the slack. Torrens is currently slashing .214/.280/.301 this season, but showed more offensive production earlier in the year when Alvarez was also out, batting .258 with a home run and 10 RBIs in March/April. The team will need him to step up and improve his recent hitting struggles.

Mets' Francisco Alvarez Placed on Injured List with Thumb Sprain, Potential Season-Ending

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right thumb UCL sprain, retroactive to Monday, an injury sustained during a slide on Sunday. While he is expected to be re-evaluated in 10 to 14 days, the team is considering the possibility of season-ending surgery. Since returning from his demotion in late July, the 23-year-old had been a significant offensive contributor, slashing .323/.408/.645 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 21 games.

Jung Hoo Lee Hits Seventh Leadoff Homer of Season for Giants

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Jung Hoo Lee launched his seventh home run of the season, a leadoff blast in the first inning for the San Francisco Giants against the San Diego Padres. Despite Lee's early solo shot, it was the Giants' only run in their 5-1 loss. This leadoff homer marked the second consecutive game the Giants achieved this feat, with Lee and Heliot Ramos becoming only the second pair in franchise history to lead off back-to-back games with home runs.

Ryan Bergert Showing Promise with Royals After Deadline Trade

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Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Bergert has delivered a strong performance since being acquired from the Padres at the trade deadline, allowing only five earned runs over 16 2/3 innings across three starts with 17 strikeouts. Despite his Stuff+ metrics appearing average, Bergert utilizes a unique arsenal including a 93 mph fastball with significant vertical movement and a distinct sweeper, which he has been more effectively locating since the trade. With an upcoming favorable schedule against teams like the Tigers, White Sox, Angels, and Guardians, Bergert is positioned as an enticing waiver wire option for fantasy leagues.

Nolan McLean Delivers Dazzling Debut for Mets, Showcasing Elite Pitches

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New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean made an impressive big-league debut, throwing 5 2/3 shutout innings with eight strikeouts against the Mariners after being called up to replace Frankie Montas in the rotation. McLean primarily showcased a devastating sweeper and a newly emphasized curveball, which boasts the league's highest spin rate at an average of 3,279 RPM and has similar movement to his sweeper, making it highly deceptive. While his strong performance suggests he can be an immediate impact player, the Mets are expected to manage his innings given he's already at a career-high of 119 innings in his first season as a full-time pitcher.