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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Tylor Megill, who has been on the injured list since mid-June with an elbow sprain, threw a live batting practice session on Sunday, completing approximately 20 pitches. Assuming he recovers well, the New York Mets plan for him to throw another two-inning session on Thursday, moving him closer to a return. This season, he has a 3.95 ERA over 68.1 innings in 14 starts.
Mookie Betts has been moved back to the No. 2 spot in the Los Angeles Dodgers' batting order for Sunday's game. He had previously batted leadoff for nine games as manager Dave Roberts hoped to help him overcome a season-long slump. Shohei Ohtani will now return to the leadoff position for the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani will bat first for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, returning to the leadoff position. This move comes after he had batted second for nine games, a period during which Mookie Betts had been in the leadoff spot.
Corbin Carroll contributed to the Arizona Diamondbacks' 7-2 win against the Athletics on Saturday night, which ended their six-game losing streak. Carroll hit his 22nd home run of the season in the ninth inning, capping the scoring. He also drew a walk in the fifth inning to load the bases during a scoring rally.
Alek Thomas helped the Arizona Diamondbacks end their six-game losing streak with a 7-2 win over the Athletics on Saturday night. Thomas hit a solo home run off Justin Sterner in the sixth inning. Earlier in the game, he also had a single that led off the fifth inning and helped set up a scoring opportunity.
Ketel Marte contributed to the Arizona Diamondbacks' 7-2 victory over the Athletics on Saturday night, which ended their six-game losing streak. Marte hit his 21st home run of the season, a solo shot off J.T. Ginn in the first inning, and later tied the game 2-2 with a groundout in the fifth.
Masyn Winn delivered a crucial tiebreaking two-run double in the fifth inning, propelling the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night. This win halted the Padres' impressive six-game winning streak. The Cardinals had trailed 4-0 before staging an eight-run rally.
Oneil Cruz is demonstrating his unique blend of power and speed this season, having already stolen a career-high 34 bases. Despite his 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame, Cruz ranks in the 95th percentile for sprint speed among MLB players. He is also known for his prodigious power and possesses one of the strongest arms in baseball.
Cal Raleigh has set an MLB record for most home runs by a switch-hitting catcher, accumulating 42 homers this season, which leads the league. The Home Run Derby champion continues his powerful hitting, showing no signs of a post-Derby slump. Raleigh has notably hit four home runs in his last 10 games.
Jacob deGrom enters Sunday's game with an impressive 10-3 record and a 2.55 ERA this season, having made 21 starts and recording 130 strikeouts over 123 2/3 innings, putting him in conversation for the AL Cy Young Award. Despite his overall success, deGrom has faced challenges against the Mariners, holding a 4.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with only seven strikeouts over nine innings in two starts against them. His current 9.5 K/9 rate is his lowest since 2016.
Pete Alonso significantly contributed to the Mets' 12-6 victory over San Francisco, driving in three runs with a first-inning blast. This home run marked his 250th in a Mets uniform, bringing him within three of the franchise record. Alonso's performance helped the Mets' stars combine for 10 RBIs in the high-scoring game.
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn made another rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three. He threw 93 pitches, the most in his current rehab stint, and holds a 2.45 ERA across seven starts for Syracuse this season. Blackburn, who is recovering from a right shoulder impingement, has struggled in the majors this year with a 7.71 ERA in six appearances, leaving his future role with the Mets uncertain despite his strong minor league rehab.
Houston Astros reliever Héctor Neris intentionally balked a runner to third base on Saturday, then engaged in a verbal confrontation with the Red Sox dugout that led to benches clearing. Neris, who had just given up an RBI double, suggested suspicions of sign-stealing by Boston. His actions and comments sparked a brief on-field dustup between the teams after the play.
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga labored through his Saturday start against the Giants, marking his third consecutive challenging outing since returning from the injured list. He yielded four runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts across just four innings. Senga attributed his struggles to 'uncompetitive pitches,' a sentiment echoed by manager Carlos Mendoza, who noted Senga's ongoing command issues. Despite Senga's performance, the Mets' bullpen stepped up, allowing only two runs on five hits over five innings to secure the win. Mendoza remains unworried, viewing Senga's return to form as a gradual process.
Colorado Rockies closer Seth Halvorsen exited Saturday's game against Pittsburgh with an elbow injury after throwing just five pitches in the ninth inning. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer indicated the initial outlook 'don't look good,' promising an update on Sunday. Halvorsen, who leads the Rockies with 11 saves, dangled his right arm after a 99 mph pitch, prompting his departure from the 8-5 win. He had been Colorado's main closer since June and converted nine of his last ten opportunities.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., playing for the New York Yankees, was doubled off first base on a pop-up to second base during a game against the Miami Marlins. This inexcusable play, where Chisholm Jr. was caught napping, contributed to the Yankees' recent trend of sloppy mistakes. Yankees manager Aaron Boone subsequently had a heated discussion with Chisholm Jr. and first base coach Travis Chapman about the incident.
Byron Buxton, currently on the 10-day injured list due to left ribcage inflammation, joined the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland to support his teammates after a significant trade deadline. The All-Star center fielder expressed surprise at the nine recent trades, which turned over nearly 40% of the roster. Buxton remains on track to rejoin the lineup on Wednesday when the Twins play in Detroit, with manager Rocco Baldelli emphasizing his importance to the team.
New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit his 250th career home run on Saturday, a significant three-run blast off Giants right-hander Kai-Wei Teng that traveled 428 feet. This milestone marks his 24th home run of the season and his second in back-to-back days, indicating he is finding his rhythm at the plate after a cold stretch. Alonso is now just two home runs shy of tying Darryl Strawberry’s Mets franchise record. He also joins an exclusive group as only the fifth player in MLB history to reach 250 career homers within their first seven big-league seasons.
Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to back spasms, prompting the recall of Alejandro Osuna from Triple-A. Carter, who had previously missed time this season with a right quad strain, was struggling at the plate, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his last outing and 4-for-34 since the All-Star break. The 22-year-old is hitting .238 with four home runs and 21 RBIs this season.
Right-hander Marcus Stroman confirmed his release from the Yankees by posting 'Adios' on Instagram after two disappointing seasons with the club. Stroman finished his tenure with the Yankees with a 4.69 ERA over 39 appearances and held a 6.23 ERA this year after missing time with left knee inflammation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated the team made a tough decision to move forward with younger arms like Will Warren and Cam Schlittler in the rotation.
