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MLB News

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

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Nolan Schanuel Exits Game After Being Hit By Pitch

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Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel was removed from Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies after being hit by a changeup on his left wrist or forearm in the first inning. Schanuel initially tried to remain in the game but was later replaced by LaMonte Wade Jr. at first base. There was no immediate word on the details or severity of his injury, though he is hitting .274 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs through 95 games this season.

Mookie Betts Returns to Leadoff Spot Amidst Career-Worst Slump

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Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has been moved to the leadoff position for Sunday's game, a temporary shift aimed at helping him overcome a season-long slump. Betts, who last batted leadoff in June 2024, is currently hitting a career-low .241 with a .696 OPS and is 0-for-12 in his last three games, prompting manager Dave Roberts to give him Saturday off. Both Betts and Roberts believe his struggles stem from mechanical issues with his swing rather than his batting order position, and Betts utilized the All-Star break to work on his mechanics, with an expectation to move out of the leadoff spot when Max Muncy returns from the injured list.

Isaac Paredes Placed on 10-Day Injured List with Hamstring Strain

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Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain. The 26-year-old sustained the injury while running to first base on a single during Saturday night's 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners, which caused him to leave the game and be replaced by Zack Short. Paredes has been a significant contributor for the Astros this season, batting .259 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI.

Tylor Megill Progresses in Elbow Sprain Recovery, Nearing Mound Return

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New York Mets right-hander Tylor Megill is making significant strides in his recovery from a right elbow sprain, as confirmed by manager Carlos Mendoza. Megill has progressed to throwing at 120 feet and is anticipated to begin throwing from the mound in the near future. The 29-year-old pitcher was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 8, having initially been placed on the 15-day IL on June 17, retroactive to June 15. Before his injury, Megill posted a 5-5 record with a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 68.1 innings over 14 appearances this season, with his last outing occurring on June 14. Megill has expressed his commitment to not rushing his return to avoid the risk of re-injury.

Pete Alonso Held Out of Mets Lineup Due to Right Hand Contusion, 353-Game Appearance Streak in Jeopardy

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New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was held out of Sunday's starting lineup against the Cincinnati Reds due to a right-hand contusion near the base of his thumb, marking his first absence of the 2025 season and breaking his 99-game consecutive start streak at first base. While his impressive franchise-record 353-game overall consecutive appearance streak is at risk, Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed X-rays were negative, indicating no break, and stated Alonso is day-to-day, feeling significantly better after treatment on Sunday morning. Alonso, who experienced discomfort after going 0-for-4 in Saturday's game, could potentially pinch-hit to extend his appearance streak. Despite recently being in a 2-for-30 slump over his last seven games, the five-time All-Star holds a .276 batting average with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs this season. Mark Vientos started at first base in his absence.

Zebby Matthews Highlighted as Top Fantasy Pitching Stash After Strong Rehab Outing

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Pitcher Zebby Matthews is being highlighted as a strong fantasy baseball waiver wire addition due to his impressive underlying metrics and a recent rehab start. He showed excellent form in his Triple-A rehab outing, featuring a 97.4 mph fastball and recording nine strikeouts over four innings, despite a challenging first start back in Coors Field. Matthews has demonstrated a 12.1% swinging-strike rate and a 20.5% strikeout-walk percentage over 19 innings since May 15th, contributing to a 3.39 SIERA (Skill-Interactive Earned Run Average) that suggests better performance than his 5.21 ERA. He is considered a potential top-25 starting pitcher candidate for the rest of the season and a valuable long-term stash for fantasy leagues.

Mets Weigh Trade for Diamondbacks Pitcher Zac Gallen Amidst Inconsistent Contract Year

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The New York Mets are reportedly considering a trade for Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen, evaluating the pros and cons of acquiring the former ace. While Gallen boasts an impressive pedigree, including three top-10 NL Cy Young finishes and a 2023 third-place finish, he is currently experiencing a challenging contract year, holding a 7-10 record with a 5.40 ERA through 20 starts, and career-worst rates in home runs, strikeouts, and hits allowed per nine innings. Despite these struggles, Gallen recently demonstrated his past form with two strong outings, yielding just one earned run over 13 innings against the Giants and Padres, striking out 19. The Mets' interest stems from their rotation's recent struggles and depth concerns, but a potential acquisition of Gallen could come with a high prospect cost due to market inflation, despite his current inconsistent performance.

Tarik Skubal Projected to Allow Over 1.5 Earned Runs in Upcoming Start

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Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, a strong contender for a second consecutive AL Cy Young award, is projected to allow over 1.5 earned runs in his next outing against the Texas Rangers. This forecast is based on his recent form, as he has given up at least two earned runs in eight appearances this season, including three of his last five starts. In his most recent game, Skubal allowed four earned runs against the Seattle Mariners.

Merrill Kelly Projected for Under 17.5 Outs Against Diamondbacks' Conservative Strategy

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Merrill Kelly, a potential 2026 free agent and a valuable trade asset for the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks, is projected to record under 17.5 outs in his next start. This prediction comes as his starts are being viewed as auditions, and the Diamondbacks' front office is likely to manage his workload conservatively. In his last outing, Kelly pitched only five innings and reached 98 pitches due to four walks, despite allowing just one hit and one earned run. He has failed to complete the sixth inning in eight starts this season and has gone under the 17.5 outs mark in four of his last five home games.

Bryce Harper Continues Impressive Offensive Surge for Phillies

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper has been quietly dominant, hitting .500 with 11 extra-base hits, including four home runs and seven doubles, over his last six games. This hot streak includes three home runs in the first two games of the series against the Angels. Despite being overshadowed by teammate Kyle Schwarber's recent heroics, Harper's season numbers are climbing, now standing at a .272 batting average with 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, and an .881 OPS. Harper, who has repeatedly stated he is one of the best players, has his manager, Rob Thomson, in full agreement with his assessment.

Justin Verlander's Influence on Youth Pitching and Injury Trends Highlighted

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As concerns mount over the widespread pitching injury crisis in baseball, reports indicate that young pitchers are often attempting to emulate hard-throwing veterans such as Justin Verlander. This drive to achieve professional-level velocities and performance, inspired by players like Verlander, is identified as a significant factor in the increasing number of arm surgeries among amateur athletes.

Jacob deGrom Cited as Influence in Rising Youth Pitching Injuries

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Amid a growing epidemic of pitching injuries across all levels of baseball, youth pitchers are increasingly emulating their professional heroes, including stars like Jacob deGrom. This aspiration to match the high velocities and performance of deGrom and other hard-throwing veterans is contributing to the alarming trend of young athletes requiring arm surgeries, mirroring the procedures undergone by pros.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Ben Casparius Struggles in Dodgers' Loss to Brewers

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Dodgers pitcher Ben Casparius, along with Emmet Sheehan, struggled on the mound as the team fell 8-7 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. This marks the fifth time the Brewers have defeated the Dodgers this season, with Los Angeles's pitching staff, including Casparius, unable to effectively contain Milwaukee's offense, contributing to the team's latest defeat.

Trent Grisham's Ninth-Inning Grand Slam Secures Yankees' Comeback Victory Over Braves

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Trent Grisham delivered a game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning against Raisel Iglesias, launching a 1-1 slider over the right field wall to put the New York Yankees ahead 12-9. This decisive hit completed a significant comeback for the Yankees, who had been down by five runs against the Atlanta Braves. Grisham also contributed earlier in the game with a leadoff double in the fifth inning and was named the Game MVP, with his 17th home run of the season tying his career high and preventing his team from falling further behind in the AL East standings.

Brendan Rodgers Sustains Concussion and Broken Nose During Minor League Rehab Assignment

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Houston Astros second baseman Brendan Rodgers suffered a concussion and a broken nose after colliding with a teammate during his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday night. Rodgers was playing in his first rehab game since being sidelined on June 15 with a left oblique strain. The 28-year-old, who is batting .191 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 43 games for Houston this season, is expected to undergo further evaluations over the next few days.

Brandon Nimmo Confident in Mets Offense Despite Struggles, Reflects on David Wright's Ceremony

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Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo expressed confidence that the team's offense will improve despite another disappointing showing, where New York went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Nimmo, who went 1-for-4 in the game, believes that by continuing to put pressure on opponents, the hits will eventually come. He also reflected on David Wright's number retirement ceremony, calling it a 'special moment' and 'surreal' after Wright publicly stated he would want his son to play like Nimmo, highlighting their mentor-mentee relationship and the deep appreciation Nimmo holds for the former captain. Nimmo acknowledged the team's urgency to secure a playoff spot, emphasizing that 'one game can decide' their postseason fate.

Mookie Betts Given Day Off by Dodgers Amid Lingering Career-Worst Slump

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to give Mookie Betts a day off on Saturday, a decision made after Betts went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the second-half opener, extending his slump to 0-for-12 and his season batting average to a career-low .241 with a .688 OPS. Betts has openly expressed his frustration, stating he's 'never been this bad for this long,' and admitted to feeling the weight of letting the team down. His season-long struggles, which included batting just .185 over 31 games before the All-Star break, are believed to stem from a spring training stomach illness that caused significant weight loss and disrupted his hitting mechanics, with the hitting coach identifying inefficiencies in his arm and hand 'load.' While playing shortstop full-time is considered a contributing factor, the Dodgers have no plans to move him from the position or change his batting order spot. Roberts expects Betts to return to the lineup Sunday, though he remains open to another day off, emphasizing that the break is for mental benefit and not due to injury.

Alec Bohm Placed on 10-Day Injured List with Fractured Left Rib

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Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has been placed on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with a fractured left rib. The injury originated a week ago when he was hit by a pitch from San Diego's Yu Darvish, causing him to miss a game before the All-Star break, and was further aggravated during his last at-bat in Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Prior to the IL stint, Bohm was batting .278 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 92 games this season, including a strong .304 average over his last 64 games. Utility player Weston Wilson has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and the Phillies plan to use multiple players at third base in Bohm's absence.

Luis Gil Impresses in Second Rehab Start, Nearing Yankees Return

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New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, continues to progress well from a right lat strain suffered in spring training, leaving manager Aaron Boone impressed after his second rehab start with Double-A Somerset. In that outing, Gil threw 3.1 innings, striking out seven batters, allowing two hits, two runs (including a two-run homer), and two walks on 57 pitches (39 for strikes), with his fastball consistently in the 95-97 mph range. This follows a strong first rehab appearance on July 13, bringing his minor league total to 6.2 innings with opponents hitting just .167. Gil is scheduled for one more rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 23, positioning him for a potential activation to the Yankees' major league rotation shortly thereafter.

Kyle Schwarber Delivers Grand Slam, Phillies Prioritize Extension Discussions

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber continued his dominant week on Saturday, smashing a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning that propelled the Phillies to a 9-5 victory over the Angels. This marked Schwarber's eighth career grand slam and his 32nd home run of the season, tying him for the National League lead with Shohei Ohtani. He also added a double, continuing a power surge that includes earning All-Star Game MVP honors and homering in his first at-bat after the break. Off the field, Phillies owner John Middleton has confirmed that extending Schwarber beyond his current four-year, $80 million contract, which ends in 2025, is a top priority for the team, despite the player tabling initial extension talks in spring training. Schwarber, who will be 33 in March, has consistently hit over 38 home runs in his last three seasons and holds the third-most homers in MLB since 2022.