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Stats

Mason Barnett protects three-run lead for save

Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Player Stats

Mason Barnett worked a scoreless ninth with a three-run lead for his second save Thursday against the Giants.

The A’s scored four times in the top of the ninth to go from trailing by one to creating a pretty easy save chance. They could have turned to usual suspects Hogan Harris or Elvis Alvarado at that point, but both pitched last night. Barnett got the chance and handled it quickly. His previous save came on June 9, when he pitched the final two innings of a 7-5 game. He’s probably still behind Harris and Alvarado in line for saves, but at least he’s in the mix. It is possible he could be stretched back out as a rotation candidate at some point.

- Matthew Pouliot

Recap

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'Boom or bust' for Phillies in NL playoff race

CC Sabathia and Ahmed Fareed dive into the potential matchups taking center stage in the NL Wild Card round and if the window is closing on the Phillies.

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‘Boom or bust’ for Phillies in NL playoff race

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Are Rays primed to represent AL in October?

Head to NBC, Peacock for 2026 MLB Wild Card Round

AL Central and West division races heating up

Who might clinch NL Wild Card spots?

Munoz dealing with knee injury

Ryan to make Tigers debut on Monday

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Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

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Mason Barnett gave up three runs over 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Guardians on Friday.

Barnett was staked to an early three-run advantage, but wound up giving it all back in the fourth inning when Brayan Rocchio came through with a two-run double before José Ramírez added a game-tying single a couple batters later. He finished with four strikeouts and also issied four walks. He’s not a recommended fantasy option when he closes out the season with a home matchup against the Astros on Thursday.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Athletics recalled RHP Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Barnett will start tonight’s game against the Guardians. Normally we can’t recommend streaming pitchers with a 7.08 ERA, and today will be no exception.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Athletics optioned RHP Mason Barenett to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Barnett was pelted for six runs across 2 2/3 innings on Monday night and has an ugly 7.08 ERA on the season. With Jeffery Springs (hip) due back to take his rotation spot, the Athletics opted to get some bullpen reinforcements up in the meantime.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Mason Barnett allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings and took the loss against the Royals on Monday.

Barnett gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out two. He fell to 1-4 with the loss. After another poor outing, Barnett has allowed 16 runs in 11 innings (13.09 ERA) over three starts so far in August. With Jeffrey Springs (hip) returning this week, Barnett could be the odd man out in the starting rotation.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Mason Barnett allowed six runs -- five earned -- with zero strikeouts over four innings in a loss against the Rays on Tuesday.

Barnett served up a two-run homer to Junior Caminero in the first inning. The Rays brought a third run in to score in the third before adding three more in the fourth on home runs by Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz. Barnett’s day would be done after four frames. He failed to record a strikeout. The 25-year-old right-hander will take a bloated 6.16 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and a 36/20 K/BB ratio across 38 innings into a start against the Royals in Kansas City on Monday.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Mason Barnett struck out seven but allowed three homers and five earned runs against the Reds on Thursday.

He pitched into the fifth inning for the second time as a major leaguer, but left with the bases loaded and the Reds wound up cashing in two inherited runs by walking twice with the bases loaded against Elvis Alvarado. Barnett’s got decent enough stuff to succeed in this role -- he had a 31 percent Whiff rate and only allowed four hard-hit balls -- but if all the hard-hit balls go over the fence, it’s not ideal. He’ll try to bounce back against the Rays next week.
Jeffrey Springs

ATH Starting Pitcher #59

Athletics placed LHP Jeffrey Springs on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Aug. 1, with right hip discomfort.

Springs’ hip has been a problem since at least April, though this is his first IL stint of the year. It’s not yet clear whether this will be a brief rest to try to get him closer to 100 percent or if he’s being shut down. The left-hander has a 6.17 ERA in 22 starts this year. With Springs going down, both Mason Barnett and Jack Perkins should keep starting for now. One was expected to be removed from the rotation with J.T. Ginn back.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Mason Barnett allowed three runs in five innings and struck out six against the Red Sox on Thursday.

All of the runs came in the fifth after a leadoff HBP and three groundball hits, only the first of which was a hard-hit ball. The big blow, a two-run double by Ceddanne Rafaela, could have at least been knocked down by Tommy White at third, even if it wasn’t turned into an out. Barnett allowed just one hit and one walk prior to the fifth. His ERA increased tonight, but it was a solid showing that should help his chances of getting another start. Whether that happens right away will probably hinge on J.T. Ginn’s availability as he looks to return from the IL next week.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Mason Barnett allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings and took the loss against the Twins on Saturday.

Barnett gave up four hits, walked one and struck out two. The 25-year-old had been starting exclusively at Triple-A, but the Athletics opted to have him follow an opener against the Twins on Saturday. Barnett came in during the third inning. He was able to hold the Twins off the scoreboard until the sixth inning when a two-out two-run Alan Roden single accounted for the only runs in the game. Barnett is lined up to face the Red Sox at home next Thursday.
Mason Barnett

ATH Starting Pitcher #63

Athletics recalled RHP Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas

Barnett has exclusively been starting in Triple-A but has only pitched out of the bullpen in the Majors this year. He’s taking J.T. Ginn’s place on the roster, and Ginn was set to start on Friday against the Twins, but there is no indication yet if Barnett will make that start in his place. It would make sense since Barnett was scheduled to start on Thursday in Triple-A.

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Samuel Basallo

BAL Catcher #29
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Orioles placed C Samuel Basallo on the 7-day concussion injured list.

Basallo was hit with a foul tip on Monday, and it turns out that will end his 2026 season. The 22-year-old struggled in his first MLB season, playing through a shoulder injury and hitting .222/.291/.406 with 18 home runs, 54 RBI, and a nearly 27 percent strikeout rate. With Adley Rutschman no longer in town, Basallo will enter 2027 as the starting catcher, but his fantasy value will be impacted by how much of his struggles this season can be attributed to his multiple injuries.
- Eric Samulski

Transaction

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Owen Murphy

ATL Starting Pitcher
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Braves optioned RHP Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett

Murphy threw three innings out of the bullpen on Tuesday, so he was the option to head to the minors when the Braves needed to activate Robert Suarez. Murphy has just a 6.00 ERA in 12 MLB innings this season, so it remains to be seen what changes the Braves have in store for the 22-year-old as he heads into the offseaosn.
- Eric Samulski

Transaction

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Robert Suarez

ATL Relief Pitcher #75
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Braves activated RHP Robert Suarez (forearm) from the 60-day injured list.

Suarez has missed over two months with a forearm strain, so his return is a huge addition for the Braves bullpen heading into the season. The Braves have said they plan to use Suarez a couple of times over the final few days of the season to get a sense of what role he would best occupy for them during the playoffs.
- Eric Samulski

Transaction

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Gus Varland

WSH Relief Pitcher #47
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Nationals recalled RHP Gus Varland from Triple-A Rochester

Varland has a 2.76 ERA with eight saves and a 39/12 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings at Triple-A. He will try to see if he can carry any of that success over into the big leagues to bring down his 6.82 ERA from 31 2/3 innings earlier this season.
- Eric Samulski

Transaction

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Anthony Volpe

NYY Shortstop #11
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he’ll play Anthony Volpe at third base in some games this week.

Jazz Chisholm is back from the injured list, and Boone told Talkin’ Yanks that he prefers to keep Chisholm at second base and George Lombard at shortstop. That will mean that Volpe needs to play third base in order to remain in the starting lineup, which would push Jose Caballero back to the bench. Volpe is hitting .263 in 11 games in September with one home run, seven RBI scored, and four runs scored. He’s certainly better than Ryan McMahon, but how he handles the position defensively will determine if he’s a better option than Caballero.
- Eric Samulski

Source: Talkin’ Yanks
José Caballero

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

George Lombard Jr.
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Samuel Basallo

BAL Catcher #29
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Samuel Basallo (possible concussion) is not in the lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Basallo got hit in the catcher’s mark with a foul tip on Monday and left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He’s not in the first game today, and Heston Kjerstad is with the team on the taxi squad. The Orioles are carrying three catchers, so Kjerstad could be the corresponding move if Basallo winds up having to go on the injured list.
- Eric Samulski

Source: Matt Weyrich
Heston Kjerstad
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Francisco Alvarez

NYM Catcher #4
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Francisco Alvarez went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI against the Rangers on Tuesday.

Alvarez doubled to lead-off the third inning and came around to score the first run of the game. Then in the sixth inning, his two-run double put the Mets ahead 4-3. Alvarez has five RBI over his last three games. He’s hitting .234 with a .718 OPS and 42 RBI this season.
- Nick Shlain

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Carson Benge

NYM Right Fielder #3
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Carson Benge went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI against the Rangers on Tuesday.

Benge hit a ground-rule double and scored on an error in the fourth inning. He later hit an RBI double to put the Mets up 6-3. Benge has three doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in 19 games in September. He’s hitting .277 with a .764 OPS and 62 RBI with five games left in the regular season.
- Nick Shlain

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Carlos Cortes

ATH Right Fielder #26
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Carlos Cortes went 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored to lead the Athletics to a 9-7 win over the Angels on Tuesday.

Cortes entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning following the departure of left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi. With a runner on, he cut into the Angels’ lead with a triple before scoring on a base hit. Cortes then put the A’s ahead with a two-run homer off Sam Bachman in the eighth inning. The 29-year-old outfielder has hit .257/.323/.408 with ten homers and 43 RBI across 368 plate appearances.
- Jorge Montanez

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Denzer Guzman

LAA 3rd Baseman #23
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Denzer Guzman went 1-for-4 with a home run and four RBI against the Athletics on Tuesday.

Guzman put the Angels on the board with an RBI groundout in the first inning. He then extended the Los Angeles lead with a three-run blast off Brady Basso in the third. The 22-year-old third baseman has flashed some power potential, hitting eight homers while slashing .226/.272/.350 across 286 plate appearances.
- Jorge Montanez

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