MLB Player News

It’s hard to believe Cashner, who started just six of his first 93 appearances in the big leagues, hadn’t fallen into a save before Tuesday, but there’s a first time for everything. The timing of it is also serendipitous because the appearance was Cashner’s first since being moved to the bullpen from the starting rotation following his latest disastrous start on Sunday. He did strike out two while giving up a hit in the inning of work, but too much shouldn’t be read into the outing -- the Sox had already used Matt Barnes, Nathan Eovaldi and Brandon Workman to get to that point in the game. Workman appears to be manager Alex Cora’s closer du jour at the moment, but the hard-throwing Cashner could work himself into a high-leverage role -- and possibly even into the closer conversation -- if he shows well in his new relief role.

Haase got the start on Tuesday, with Jesus Rodriguez getting a breather. He came through with a solo homer off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the third inning. Haase did it again in the fifth, going back-to-back with Harrison Bader for his second of the game. He nearly hit a third one out in the seventh, sending a 399-foot fly ball just in front of the center field wall. The 33-year-old backstop has performed well in his limited time, going 6-for-18, but he’s unlikely to see regular playing time ahead of Rodriguez and eventually Daniel Susac.

Ohtani came into this one 4-for-36 in the month of May and hadn’t homered in 13 games since April 26. He knocked a base hit and scored a run in the first inning, then led off the third with an opposite-field blast off Adrian Houser. Ohtani later drew a walk in the fifth to reach for a third time. The 31-year-old two-way star is scheduled to take the mound for Wednesday’s contest. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Ohtani will likely be held out of the lineup either Wednesday or Thursday. He’s hasn’t started at designated hitter his last couple of games on the mound. If that’s the case again, look for him to take his normal leadoff spot in Thursday’s series finale.

Kilian was summoned with two outs and the bases loaded with a four-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. He extinguished the Dodgers’ threat with a flyout, then returned for a clean ninth inning, striking out one batter for his second save of the season. Kilian should be in line for regular save opportunities with Ryan Walker optioned to Triple-A, though don’t expect manager Tony Vitello to settle on one guy in the ninth, as he’ll tend to play the matchups.

Houser pitched well for the second straight outing, holding the Dodgers to two runs into the sixth inning. Los Angeles brought a run in on a sacrifice fly in the first inning, followed by a solo homer by Shohei Ohtani in the third. Houser would depart with a runner on and two outs in the sixth at 91 pitches. He struck out four. The 33-year-old right-hander earns his first win and will take a 5.79 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and a 23/14 K/BB ratio into a start against the Athletics in Sacramento on Sunday.

Yamamoto retired the first eight batters before Eric Haase took him deep for a solo homer in the third inning. He then stranded a runner in the fourth and gave up a pair of solo homers in the fifth to Harrison Bader and again to Haase for his second of the game. After a clean sixth, Yamamoto returned for the seventh and allowed two hits and recorded one out, leaving at 93 pitches. Both inherited runners would come in to score. He generated 15 whiffs to strike out eight. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 48/10 K/BB ratio across 50 innings into a start against the Padres in San Diego on Monday.

Wetherholt drew a walk and scored a run in the first inning, then later took Joel Kuhnel deep for a two-run blast in the sixth to extend the Cardinals’ lead. He added a base hit in the eighth to reach for a third time. The 23-year-old second baseman is hitting .242/.356/.427 with eight homers, 32 runs scored, 22 RBI, and five steals across 188 plate appearances.

Langeliers brought a pair of runs home on a double in the second inning. He later led off the eighth with a solo blast off George Soriano. It was the 12th of the season for the 28-year-old backstop. He’s slashing an incredible .340/.396/.641 with 29 runs scored and 25 RBI across 169 plate appearances.

O’Brien was summoned in the ninth inning with a two-run lead to close out the game against the A’s. He walked the leadoff man, then induced a ground ball double play before recording the final out for his 12th save of the season. The 31-year-old right-hander has been one of the best closers in baseball, recording a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 23/2 K/BB ratio across 20 innings.

Pallante gave the Cardinals five solid innings in Sacramento, with all three runs against him coming in the second inning on four straight hits, including a two-run double by Shea Langeliers. Pallante would face the minimum over his final three innings. He struck out four. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 4.46 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 33/19 K/BB ratio across 42 1/3 innings into a start against the Royals in St. Louis on Sunday.

The Cardinals got to Springs right away, putting four runs on the board on a walk and four hits in the opening frame. He settled in to give the A’s four more scoreless innings, scattering three more hits and two walks while collecting five strikeouts. The 33-year-old left-hander will take a 4.22 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 44/15 K/BB ratio across 49 innings into a start against the Giants in Sacramento on Friday.