MLB Player News

The move clears a roster spot for the recently-signed Jeff Francis. Rogers generated some trade interest last month and seems likely to be acquired or claimed off waivers for the prorated minimum.

Junk served up a solo homer to James Wood to open the game. Three more hits would bring another pair of runs in before Junk could escape the first inning. The Nationals plated one more run in the third on a triple and a sacrifice fly. Junk settled in to give the Marlins three more scoreless innings, ending his day after six with six strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander will take a 3.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 33/10 K/BB ratio across 44 1/3 innings into a start against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Friday.

Richard Lovelady had opened the game with two scoreless frames, striking out three. Littell took over in the third and surrendered a two-run homer to Kyle Stowers in the fourth inning. Miami would bring one more unearned run in to score in the sixth before Littell’s day was done. The 30-year-old right-hander holds an uninspiring 6.94 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and a 17/13 K/BB ratio across 36 1/3 innings. His next outing is scheduled to come on Friday at home against the Orioles.

Holliday, returning from a broken hamate bone, has been quite disappointing defensively at second base during his year and a half in the majors, mostly because of issues ranging to his right. A switch to third might help there, so it’s at least worth taking a look at. It still seems like that he’ll rejoin the team as a second baseman, with Jeremiah Jackson moving to third and Coby Mayo taking a seat or going to Triple-A.

Rooker extended the A’s lead in the third inning with a three-run blast off Shane Baz. He later drew a walk in the fifth and knocked a base hit in the ninth. The 31-year-old slugger is coming around at the plate after a cold April and time missed with an oblique injury, with three home runs in May. He’s hitting .195/.273/.379 with five homers and 18 RBI across 99 plate appearances.

It took Kurtz just two pitches in the game to extend his on-base streak to 33 games, knocking a double off Shane Baz and coming around to score on a base hit. He drew a walk and scored in the third, then doubled and scored again in the fifth. The 23-year-old slugger is now just three games behind Nick Swisher’s 36 for the longest single-season on-base streak since 2000. He still has a way to go to reach Mark McGwire’s team record of 62 set in 1996.

Civale was able to dodge trouble against the Orioles, holding them scoreless over five frames. He stranded six baserunners over four innings, then got out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fifth to strand nine total runners. Civale tossed 62 of 97 pitches for strikes and struck out six batters. The 30-year-old right-hander will carry a 2.59 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 33/13 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings into a start against the Giants in Sacramento on Friday.

Baz surrendered a run in the first inning on a pair of hits. Brent Rooker later got to him for a three-run homer in the third. A double and a sacrifice fly made it five runs for the A’s in the fifth and ended Baz’s day with two outs at 100 pitches. He struck out five. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a disappointing 5.48 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 38/19 K/BB ratio across 44 1/3 innings. He’ll get a road matchup against the Nationals on Friday.

Brock Stewart went back on the IL with a foot injury as the corresponding move. Snell, who was on the IL with shoulder fatigue, will make his season debut tonight against the Braves. He’s bumping Roki Sasaki, but Sasaki is still going to start Monday against the Giants with Tyler Glasnow landing on the IL.

Two appearances and then right back on the IL for the oft-injured Stewart. He came off the IL on Wednesday after spending the first six weeks rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

Felix Reyes replaced him after a half-inning in the field. Harper probably won’t miss any additional time with the ailment.