Jose Ramirez Swipes Three Bases on Saturday
Jose Ramirez peppered the box score in a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Ramirez finished 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored, and he was a force on the bases, swiping three bags. The seven-time All-Star has now stolen three bases in a game twice this year. Already with eight steals in 12 contests this month, he's up to 29 on the season and on pace to surpass the career-high 41 he amassed a year ago. Along with that, the switch-hitting 32-year-old is once again posting outstanding numbers at the dish. He's slashing .297/.367/.510 with 18 homers, 48 RBI, and 53 runs scored in 387 plate appearances.Source: ESPN
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Ryan Helsley Takes First Loss of Season
Ryan Helsley (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season Saturday in a 7-6 game against the Atlanta Braves. Helsley came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning in a 6-6 game and surrendered a leadoff single to Nacho Alvarez Jr., who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Alvarez moved to third on a Drake Baldwin single before scoring on a Jurickson Profar groundout. Helsley didn't record any strikeouts or walks during an 11-pitch inning that snapped a modest streak of six straight scoreless appearances. The 30-year-old right-hander is having a decent season, but he hasn't been the lights-out option he was from 2022-24. Across 32 innings, Helsley has pitched to a 3.38 ERA with a mediocre 1.41 WHIP, 35:13 K:BB, and 18 saves in 23 opportunities.Source: ESPN
St. Louis Cardinals closer Raisel Iglesias Perfect in Save Opportunity
Raisel Iglesias recorded his second save in as many games in a 7-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. After the Braves called on him for the third straight day, Iglesias retired the Cardinals on 11 pitches (nine strikes) and struck out one in a perfect bottom of the ninth inning. The 35-year-old has now piled up 14 straight scoreless appearances. Thanks to his struggles earlier in the season, Iglesias still has a disappointing 4.42 ERA in 36 2/3 innings. To his credit, though, Iglesias has continued to amass strikeouts (42) while limiting walks (seven).Source: ESPN
Atlanta Braves closer Tanner Scott Nails Down 19th Save
Tanner Scott picked up his 19th save in a 2-1 nail-biter against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Scott pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning and struck out both Jung Hoo Lee and Casey Schmitt to help the Dodgers snap a seven-game losing streak. It was a much-needed rebound for the left-hander, who combined to surrender three earned runs on six hits over two frames in his previous two outings. Scott's 3.77 ERA through 43 innings is about two runs higher than his pristine 1.75 mark from last year, but he has logged a strong 1.09 WHIP with excellent strikeout and walk numbers (49:7 K:BB).Source: ESPN
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Randy Arozarena Continues Hot Hitting in Victory
Randy Arozarena had a huge game at the plate in a 15-7 beatdown of the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. Arozarena finished 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base to continue a power-packed July. In his first 11 games of the month, Arozarena has gone deep six times while knocking in nine runs and scoring 10 times. Arozarena got off to a slow start through the first couple of months this season, but he has been much better since early June and is on track for another prolific campaign. The 30-year-old is slashing .249/.356/.452 with 16 homers, 46 RBI, 52 runs, and 16 stolen bases in 407 plate appearances. At minimum, Arozarena looks like a shoo-in for his fifth consecutive 20/20 season.Source: ESPN
Seattle Mariners outfielder Noelvi Marte Goes Yard Again on Saturday
Noelvi Marte continued his recent power surge on Saturday, homering for the third time in four games in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Marte blasted a seventh-inning solo shot off right-hander Tyler Kinley for his lone hit in a 1-for-4 day. The 23-year-old missed most of May and all of June with an oblique strain, but he has made up for lost time since the Reds activated him July 4. In his first eight games back, Marte has gone 7-for-24 with three homers, five RBI, four runs scored, and 3:2 K:BB. The former top prospect has taken 100 trips to the plate this year and hit a highly productive .293/.340/.565 with six HRs, 22 RBI, 14 runs, and four steals. Marte has significantly cut his strikeout rate since last season, going from 31% to 15%, and the results have been encouraging.Source: ESPN
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Edwin Diaz Records Six-Out Save
Edwin Diaz secured his 19th save of the year in a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. The 31-year-old right-hander had to work harder than usual for this one, as the Mets called on him to pitch two innings. Diaz issued a one-out walk to Bobby Witt Jr. in the eighth inning, but he retired the other six hitters he faced and struck out one over 22 pitches. The three-time All-Star has now gone 12 straight appearances without allowing a run and has given up just one since the beginning of May. Diaz, who has only blown one save, owns a sparkling 1.66 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP and 55:13 K:BB.Source: ESPN
New York Mets closer Kyle Finnegan Blows Save, Loses on Saturday
Kyle Finnegan (1-3) blew his sixth save of the year and ended up with his third loss in a 6-5 game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The Nationals called on Finnegan to pitch the bottom of the ninth and preserve a 5-3 lead, but he wasn't up to the challenge. Finnegan retired just one batter while allowing three hits, two walks (one intentional), and three earned runs. Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin walked it off with an RBI single. It was the worst outing for Finnegan since he gave up three earned runs in a loss to the Colorado Rockies on June 16. He had totaled eight straight scoreless appearances since then to lower his ERA to 2.36. That number is now up to a still-solid 3.12 through 34 2/3 innings after Saturday's meltdown. Finnegan also has a 1.18 WHIP with 18 saves and 27:12 K:BB.Source: ESPN
Washington Nationals closer DJ LeMahieu Drawing Interest from Multiple Teams
DJ LeMahieu is reportedly drawing interest from multiple organizations. LeMahieu was released by the New York Yankees on Thursday. Despite still being owed $22 million, LeMahieu was let go by the organization. Now, LeMahieu can decide where he wants to play for the rest of the season. LeMahieu hasn't been terrible at the plate this season. He's slashing .266/.338/.336 with two home runs and 12 RBI across 45 games. He's able to play multiple positions and his postseason experience could be helpful for a contending team. His fantasy value is dependent on where he lands. However, LeMahieu probably won't be anything more than a deep league option, but is someone to keep an eye on right now.Source: Jon Morosi
According to Jon Morosi, free-agent infielder Brady House Homers Twice on Saturday
Brady House made some noise with the bat during Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Coming into this game, House had zero home runs over his first 21 games. He blasted his first career home run off right-hander Brandon Woodruff in the fourth inning. The fun didn't stop there as House went deep again in the eighth inning. He finished this game 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in the loss. House is 13-for-42 at the plate over his last 10 games. He's worth a look in deep leagues at the very least right now.Source: mlb.com
Washington Nationals third baseman Alec Bohm Makes Early Exit on Saturday
Alec Bohm (ribs) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. Bohm was hit in the rib cage by a pitch from Yu Darvish in the second inning. He remained in the game for a few more innings until being replaced by Edmundo Sosa in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bohm is reportedly dealing with a bruised left rib cage, so he figures to sit out on Sunday. The expectation is that it's a day-to-day issue and Bohm should be ready to go following the All-Star break. Fantasy managers should check back on Sunday just in case he is available to play.Source: Todd Zolecki
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Andrew Vaughn Drives in Four Runs
Andrew Vaughn has come alive with the bat since joining his new team. His success at the plate continued during Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals. Vaughn went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI in the 6-5 win over the Nats on Saturday. The right-handed slugger is 6-for-14 with 10 RBI since joining the Brewers on Monday. Vaughn figures to continue getting regular playing time while Rhys Hoskins (thumb) is out. Fantasy managers looking for a boost in their lineup right now should consider adding Vaughn while he's hot at the plate.Source: mlb.com
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Brandon Woodruff Records 10 Strikeouts
Brandon Woodruff made his second start since returning from shoulder surgery on Saturday. Woodruff only gave up one earned run on two hits during his season debut last Sunday. The veteran right-hander wasn't quite as good in this one, but still delivered a solid performance. Woodruff allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out 10 batters across 4.1 innings of work against the Washington Nationals on Saturday. This was only an 81-pitch outing from Woodruff as the Brewers didn't want to push him too hard. He has pitched well enough through the first two outings that he deserves to be rostered in most fantasy formats. It's unclear where he'll line up to pitch following the All-Star break.Source: mlb.com
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara Optioned Back to Minors
Shinnosuke Ogasawara has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday. The rookie left-hander will head to the minors following his lackluster outing on Saturday. Ogasawara allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out only one batter over four innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers. This isn't a shocking move given Ogasawara has allowed seven runs over 6.2 innings of work so far in the big leagues. The assumption is that Ogasawara will be back after the All-Star break. This could be a procedural move in order to get an extra bullpen arm ahead of the break. The Nats haven't announced who will take the spot on the active roster or that Ogasawara would return following the break. Regardless, the rookie southpaw isn't someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats.Source: Nationals Communications
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Byron Buxton Continues to Shine, Hits for Cycle in Win
Byron Buxton continues to shine in what is shaping up to be the best season of his professional career. Buxton hit for the cycle on Saturday, leading the Twins to a 12-4 win over the Pirates. He went a perfect 5-for-5, capping off the afternoon by taking Andrew Heaney deep in the seventh inning. The 31-year-old now has 21 home runs and 17 stolen bases on the year, delivering the elite five-tool production that injuries have often kept out of reach. With his value peaking, Buxton managers might consider selling high heading into the second half.Source: MLB.com
Minnesota Twins outfielder