MLB Player News

The 35-year-old backstop was designated for assignment earlier in the week as the Orioles chose Alex Jackson to stick around following the return of Adley Rutschman. Stallings is expected to accept the outright assignment and will serve as extra catching depth for the O’s at Triple-A Norfolk.

Soroka struck out three, didn’t hand out a free pass and needed just 83 pitches (60 strikes) to complete six frames and pick up his seventh win of the year. The 28-year-old has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five consecutive starts and nine of his first 11 outings during his Diamondbacks debut this season. He’s been one of the more pleasant surprises in among the consensus late-round dart throw tier in fantasy drafts earlier this spring. He’s in line for a challenging matchup his next time out against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

McDonald certainly deserved better in this one as he limited Arizona to just three runs while working into the seventh inning for the third time in five starts since joining San Francisco’s rotation back on May 4. He finished with six strikeouts and only issued two walks. It was an encouraging rebound effort after being tagged for seven runs over 3 2/3 innings against the White Sox his last time out. He’s posted a respectable 4.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 27/6 K/BB ratio across 29 innings of work. There’s a strong possibility he’s the odd-man out with Giants ace Logan Webb (knee) returning from the injured list later this week.

It was Langford’s first time taking on-field batting practice since hitting the injured list with a right forearm strain back in late April. There’s optimism he’ll progresses to facing live pitching on Friday before heading out on a minor league rehab assignment. There’s a chance he’s ready to return at some point in early June.

Gilbert joined Nathan Eovaldi and teammate Emerson Hancock as the only pitchers so far this season to pitch at least six scoreless innings in a start at Sutter Health Park. No A’s pitcher has done it. Gilbert has pitched scoreless ball in three of his last four starts, though he unfortunately gave up seven runs in his other start during the stretch. He’s 3-4 with a 3.69 ERA and a 69/16 K/BB in 68 1/3 innings, and he’s due to pitch at home against the Mets next time out.

The unearned runs came in the first after Jeff McNeil’s error with two outs extended the inning for Rob Refsnyder to hit a three-run homer. However, things never would have gotten started in the first place if Springs hadn’t been slow to cover first base on J.P. Crawford’s infield single to begin the inning. Springs struck out seven on the day. His ERA dropped ever so slightly to 4.07, but he’s now 3-6 this season. He’ll face the Cubs at Wrigley next week.

Refsnyder’s third homer was a 368-footer that would have stayed in play in 15 of the 30 parks. Mariners manager Dan Wilson has been getting criticism for sticking with Refsnyder against lefties amid a horrible start to his season. Even after today, the 35-year-old Refsnyder is hitting just .122/.200/.243 in 85 plate appearances.