MLB Player News

It’s tempting to criticize Terry Francona for asking for too much from Abbott tonight, but it’s not really like Abbott ran out of gas; he just gave up three rather soft hits with two outs in the eighth. He was pulled with the Reds down 2-1, and Tony Santillan immediately gave up a two-run homer to Kyle Schwarber. Abbott dropped to 0-2 in five starts since the break, but not much has changed for him, and his ERA is only up to 2.41 because he’s given up six runs in the seventh and eighth innings of his last two outings. He’ll face the Brewers next.

Vaughn is sitting against the majority of righties while waiting for an opening in Milwaukee, but he’s batting an exceptional .364/.417/.557 with 17 RBI in 96 plate appearances when he gets to play. Tonight’s game was the first of his career with three extra-base hits and 10th with four RBI. He’d be a fine mixed-league first baseman as a regular, but things still need to work themselves out for that to happen.

Harrison has been brilliant in major league parks, but Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof all took him deep in Las Vegas tonight, and his ERA jumped from 1.57 to 2.72 as a result. There are unlikely to be any lingering effects, and he’s a fine play at home against the Phillies on Sunday.

This one should have been over in 10 and earned Aaron Ashby his 10th victory in relief, but Las Vegas Ballpark said no to that, as Ashby gave up two homers in his second inning of work. Abner Uribe then worked a scoreless 11th for the win, and Patrick notched his 12th save. Trevor Megill will likely be back in the closer’s role on Tuesday.

Springs allowed a pair of homers and six other hard-hit balls in an outing that might have been a little better in neutral park, but probably not by overly much. He should fare better against the Rockies on Sunday, but he’s not a mixed-league option at the moment.

Harris entered with a 10-8 lead in the eighth and immediately got a double play ball to escape a jam. However, he went on to allow two runs in the ninth to take a blown save. Nothing that happens in Vegas this week should be taken too seriously, so we’re not going to ding Harris for giving up two runs in what turned out to be a 15-14 loss. He still looks like the favorite for saves in Sacramento.

Kurtz homered in the sixth and 10th innings before the A’s eventually fell in 12. The walk was an intentional pass in the final inning of the contest. Kurtz now has 14 homers and is tied for third in the majors with 48 RBI. He’s first with a .434 OBP ahead of Yordan Alvarez at .427 and Shohei Ohtani at .417.

A series in Las Vegas was just what the doctor ordered for Soderstrom, who hasn’t had much luck while already playing his home games in a very friendly ballpark for offense. He hit homers on 99- and 104-mph flies tonight, bringing his season total to 10. He’s 19-for-47 with five homers and 11 walks in his last 14 games, raising his OPS from .655 to .790.

The go-ahead run scored on a popup behind second after Jose Altuve tagged from third and Logan O’Hoppe whiffed on the throw home. Hader got five missed swings on his 12 pitches in a tie game tonight. In three appearances since coming off the IL, he has one win, one save and seven strikeouts in three hitless innings.

The runs all came in the second inning, when Arrighetti hit a batter and issued two of his four walks. It’s the sixth time in 10 starts this season that he’s walked four batters. He’s an incredible 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA anyway, but there isn’t much reason to think he’ll be a top starter going forward, given that he’s always been wild and that he’s just average in terms or recording strikeouts. He’ll face the Royals next.

This likely would have been a blown save, but the antsy Angels just couldn’t resist sending automatic runner Mike Trout home on Jose Siri’s single to open the bottom of the 10th. Trout was thrown out, and Abreu then struck out Jo Adell before Denzer Guzman’s liner to center, which surely would have been a sac fly with one out, was caught to end the game. It’s Abreu’s fourth save, but he isn’t in line for many more with Josh Hader back.