Nick Kurtz (illness) returns to A’s lineup

King was the Nationals’ first-round pick in 2024 and began the season with a blistering start in Double-A, hitting .336/.427/.562 with five homers and five steals in 35 games. He was then promoted to Triple-A, where he has hit .275/.338/.443 with five home runs and four steals in 33 games. King played some second base this year but is primarily playing shortstop, which will create some questions about how the team can make room for him if they want him in the lineup in 2027. For now, the team doesn’t believe his oblique injury is serious, and they hope it will only keep him out for a few weeks.

Breslow mentioned that the visit with Dr. Gary Lourie was just to confirm the rehab plan that Anthony was already on and that the severity of the injury has not changed: “Unfortunately, this is just an injury that is taking longer than expected to heal.” Anthony will continue to rehab at the Red Sox spring training complex in Florida, where, as Breslow put it, the team has all the facilities and resources he needs.

Harrington was the 36th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and a former top prospect in the Pirates’ system. Heading into last year, he was the 80th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and the third-ranked prospect for Pittsburgh, ahead of Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows. However, the command specialist struggled at the upper levels of the minors, posting a 5.34 ERA in 96 innings at Triple-A last year and a 6.52 ERA in 58 innings this season. He has since moved into a bulk relief role, which is likely how he will be used in Pittsburgh now.

Kelly is the Pirates’ 7th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and was up in the middle of June when he allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings against the Marlins. While twelve of his 17 appearances in Triple-A have been starts, he is likely up to give the Pirates some depth out of the bullpen since they got a short outing from Mitch Keller on Thursday.

Cogrove was just acquired from the Astros on July fourth after posting a 4.30 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 29/21 K/BB ratio across 29 1/3 innings in the minor leagues for the Astros. He has a 3.86 ERA in 70 career MLB innings.

We know Ryan Jeffers is going to be activated today, so it seems that the Twins will carry three catchers on the roster instead of having to designate Alex Jackson for assignment. Fedko was 0-for-16 in his first 19 MLB plate appearances.

Eldridge had three of the four hardest-hit balls of the game, coming in at 106.1 mph on his homer in the fourth, 108.5 mph on a lineout in the fifth and 108.1 mph on a single in the eighth. Hopefully, it means he’s escaping the drought that saw him hit .177 with one homer in his previous 17 games. That previous homer also came against Rockies pitching.

Both runs came in the second. Whisenhunt gave up a single and a walk to begin the inning, but he got a double play ball afterwards. He then got ahead of Willi Castro 1-2, only to miss with a bad changeup that was deposited into the stands in left center. Whisenhunt walked three more batters over the course of the outing, but the homer was the only damage. He’s won both of his starts for the Giants this season, and he’ll probably get a longer look in the second half. First, though, he might return to Triple-A until one or two spots open up at the trade deadline.

Getting pushed back a day to face the Giants, rather than the Dodgers, seemed like a good thing for Feltner, but it wound up not really mattering. He gave up solo homers in the first and fourth innings and then four hits and a walk before leaving in the fifth. Fortunately for Feltner, Victor Vodnik was able to strand the bases loaded after coming in with one out in the frame. Feltner will enter the second half 3-3 with a 4.55 ERA. That’s pretty good for a Coors pitcher, but his 47/24 K/BB in 63 1/3 innings isn’t impressive at all. He’s also given up 11 homers already.

With Mickey Moniak back from the IL and Kyle Karros establishing himself as the everyday third baseman, Castro has been losing playing time against righties lately. Fortunately for him, the Rockies have faced lefties in four of their last six games, getting him some extra playing time. He’s batting .265/.337/.385 in the first season of a two-year, $12.8 million contract. One imagines he’ll be very much available at the trade deadline if anyone wants to take on the rest of his deal.