MLB Player News

Van Belle was placed on the IL over the weekend with elbow inflammation after just four appearances out of the Rays pen. He’s done for the year with a 5.40 ERA in 8 1/3 innings in his major league debut.

Soriano gave up nine hits, walked none and struck out two. He improved to 10-6 with the win. Soriano was able to get by while allowing nine hits because all of the hits were singles, he didn’t walk a single batter and he was able to pitch out of jams. He has a 3.23 ERA. Soriano is lined up to face the Yankees on the road on Sunday.

Callahan’s home run was the first of his major league career. He hit a solo shot off Braxton Ashcraft in the fifth inning. Callahan is 4-for-9 (.444) with a home run and five RBI in the first three games of his career. As long as his bat stays hot, he’ll continue to see regular playing time against right-handed pitching until Riley Greene (hamstring) returns.

Mesa has been battling a lingering hamstring issue, which caused him to miss three games earlier this week. It sounds like he could wind up requiring a trip to the injured list since he lasted just four innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in his return to Tampa Bay’s lineup.

Cruz’ home run was his 15th of the year. He hit a two-run shot off Keider Montero in the fifth inning. Cruz was playing in his first game since suffering a hand injury on June 7. He’s hitting .265 with an .832 OPS and 46 RBI this year.

Montgomery allowed no runs while recording two strikeouts in the ninth inning. It was a dominant performance that earned him his fifth save of the year. Montgomery has two saves in the last five days, but only three total in August so far.

Montero gave up four hits, walked one and struck out three. He fell to 9-8 with the loss. Montero took the mound in the fifth inning with a 1-0 lead, but allowed three runs in the frame. Oneil Cruz hit a two-run home run and Spencer Horwitz had a two-out RBI single. Montero has a 3.30 ERA and has established himself as a long-term cog in the Tigers rotation this season. He’s lined up to face the Rays at home on Monday.

Ashcraft gave up five hits, walked none and struck out four. He improved to 13-5 with the win. Ashcraft allowed a solo home run to Brett Callahan in the fifth inning, but otherwise held the Tigers scoreless over eight innings. He’s allowed two earned runs in 17 innings with 14 strikeouts and one walk over his last two starts. Ashcraft has a 3.68 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Padres on the road next Monday.

Basallo will get a couple additional tune-up games in this week before returning to spearhead Baltimore’s catching mix for the final five-plus weeks of the season. The 22-year-old former top prospect has been out with shoulder inflammation since late July.

Gray threw 15 pitches in his first game action since last September. He entered the contest out of the bullpen in the fifth inning. The 28-year-old righty was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball roughly a half-decade ago before injuries derailed his promising career.