MLB Player News

Saucedo goes back to Triple-A to make room for waiver claim José Castillo. He had a 7.43 ERA in 13 1/3 innings over 10 appearances.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay couldn’t report what was wrong with Civale, saying after the game: “Let’s just call it either... I can’t even comment on it right now.” The IL stint would obviously open up a spot for Jack Perkins if the A’s want to put him into the rotation after he threw 4 2/3 innings in relief on Monday.

Arozarena collected his sixth homer of the year off Jack Perkins to make it a 9-1 game in the ninth. He’ll have to pick up the pace ever so slightly there in order to pull off a sixth straight 20/20 season. It doesn’t look like steals will be a problem, as he already has 14 of those. Of course, Arozarena does like to take it down to the wire more years. In his previous five 20/20 seasons, he’s finished with exactly 20 homers three times and exactly 20 steals twice.

Castillo had thrown just 68 pitches and was one inning away from a win in 7-0 game, so he was none too happy about being lifted. Still, this is the arrangement the Mariners are using, with Castillo and Bryce Miller piggybacking. Something will give eventually, but at least both pitched well in a 9-2 win tonight. Castillo’s ERA dropped from 6.41 to 5.90. He’ll likely pitch again Sunday against the D-backs.

It seems wrong that Miller gets the win after coming into a 7-0 game to start the fifth, but that’s just the way MLB wants it. Miller struck out four and walked none in the 83-pitch outing. If the Mariners continue with this format, Miller will start over Luis Castillo at home against the Diamondbacks on Sunday and maybe he’ll be lifted after four innings like Castillo was tonight.

Luke Raley, Dominic Canzone and J.P. Crawford all homered off Civale, who was taken deep three times for the second start in a row. His ERA has jumped from 2.70 to 4.20 over the last week. The A’s will probably have him make his next start Sunday against the Yankees, though that seems dangerous. With off days Thursday and next Monday, they do have the option of moving things around and maybe letting Tuesday’s scheduled starter, Luis Severino, come back on four days’ rest against his former team.

It was really surprising to see the A’s go so long with Perkins, who doubled his previous season high of 2 1/3 innings pitched. The 26-year-old was briefly the team’s closer last month, picking up three saves before blowing two chances and losing the role. Now it looks like he might get another chance to start. He initially joined the Athletics’ rotation last August and won three of his four starts before succumbing to a shoulder strain. Perkins was a starter in 47 of his 58 career minor league appearances.

Hernández’s double down the left field line gave the Dodgers their only run until the seventh, when they came up with their remaining four. Hernández will likely start again Tuesday against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland before taking a seat Wednesday, assuming Max Muncy’s wrist is feeling better by then.

Sheehan got hit on his pitching arm by a comebacker in the fourth, but he stayed in after throwing what seemed like a full bullpen session under the watchful eyes of the Dodgers’ trainer and manager. He proved fine afterwards and got through six innings for the fourth time in 10 starts this season. He’ll be a solid option in mixed leagues next week with a road start in Arizona and a home outing against the Angels.

Tanner Scott was due for a night off after working Saturday and Sunday, so the Dodgers opted to mix and match tonight. They probably didn’t need to take out Alex Vesia with one on and two out in the ninth in order to achieve their desired outcome, but they did so anyway. It’s Treinen’s first save this year and 83rd lifetime. He has a 3.24 ERA in 16 2/3 innings over 21 appearances.

A rare appearance from Tovar’s bat this season. The 24-year-old has long displayed some of the game’s worst plate discipline, but his contact this year has been weaker than usual, even though one would think he’d be getting a little stronger as he approaches what should be his peak years. The homer was his second in 195 plate appearances. Two years ago, he hit 26 in 695 plate appearances.