Victor Caratini homers, draws pair of walks

Leiter started slow, but he’d allowed just one run in his last 14 innings of work out of the A’s pen, and he’d recorded three holds as an eighth-inning guy over the last couple of weeks. His absence should result in more late-game work for Mason Barnett.

Hartlieb, 32, will be making his 2026 season and Athletics’ debut. The journeyman has a 7.95 ERA in 68 major league appearances since debuting with the Pirates in 2019. He had a 3.48 ERA and a 41/10 K/BB in 33 2/3 innings in a tough Triple-A environment this season.

Okamoto was hit by a pitch and scored in the seventh inning, then stepped to the plate with two runners on in a tie game in the eighth. He punished a fastball in the heart of the plate by Jacob Webb, launching it 377 feet to left field for a go-ahead, three-run blast. The 29-year-old third baseman hasn’t been able to translate his contact skills over from Japan, but has put his upper-tier power on display with 16 homers and 45 RBI while slashing .229/.310/.443 across 306 plate appearances.

Varsho, making his first start back off the injured list, broke through for the Blue Jays in the seventh inning with a three-run blast off Trent Thornton to put Toronto on the board. The home run was the start of a comeback for the Blue Jays, who entered the seventh down 5-0. It was Varsho’s first home run since May 13 and sixth of the season while hitting .256/.329/.419 with 28 runs scored and 20 RBI across 240 plate appearances.

Crow-Armstrong’s tear at the plate did not stop on Saturday against the Blue Jays. After drawing a walk in the fourth inning, he took Lazaro Estrada deep for a two-run blast in the sixth. He later added a base hit in the eighth to reach for a third time. The 24-year-old outfielder is now hitting .286/.363/.521 with 16 homers, 47 runs scored, 40 RBI, and 18 steals across 329 plate appearances.

What a gutsy performance by Varland. The 28-year-old right-hander was summoned in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and no outs with a three-run lead. A groundout brought a run in, but Varland escaped further damage with a strikeout and a flyout. He returned for the ninth to finish out the game and worked around an error to shut the door on the Cubs for his 15th save.

The Yankees are keeping Ali Sánchez, who is out of options, over Escarra with Austin Wells returning Sunday. Escarra was 5-for-23 with a couple of doubles while Wells was out.

The move makes room for Sunday’s spot starter, Elmer Rodríguez. Bird has a 27/7 K/BB in 24 innings for the Yankees this season, but it’s only gotten him a 4.88 ERA. He’ll be back.

Corbin tossed a scoreless first inning, then allowed the first two batters to reach in the second for Matt Shaw, who took Corbin deep for a three-run blast to put the Cubs on the board. He labored through the next two innings and left the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth at 101 pitches, only 57 for strikes. He scattered six hits and three walks in all while striking out four. The 36-year-old left-hander will take a 4.73 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and a 47/23 K/BB ratio across 64 2/3 innings into a start against the Rangers in Toronto on Thursday.

Rea was perfect through four innings, holding the Blue Jays without a baserunner until Brandon Valenzuela led off the fifth with a base hit. He stranded the one runner and started the sixth with two straight hits allowed. He recorded one out, then was replaced on the mound at 78 pitches. Both inherited runners were stranded. It was Rea’s best start in over a month as he came into this one with a 5.35 ERA. The 35-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 4.99 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and a 59/28 K/BB ratio across 79 1/3 innings. He’ll take on the Mets in New York on Thursday.