MLB Player News

“I’m feeling better. Every day, I’m feeling better,” Bichette said during Sunday’s postgame celebration after Toronto clinched their first AL East division title since 2015. “I don’t know. I don’t have a date, but I will be doing everything that I possibly can to get back.” The 27-year-old shortstop, who is working his way back from a knee sprain, would’ve missed a Wild Card Series matchup this week, but it sounds like he’s optimistic that he’ll be ready in time for Toronto’s ALDS matchup against either New York or Boston.

The 31-year-old outfielder snapped a 3-3 tie as he deposited a 3-2 changeup from Jeffrey Springs into the seats in left field for a 401-foot (102.9 mph EV) solo shot, giving the Padres a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Laureano finished the evening 1-for-3 and is now hitting .217/.297/.385 with six homers and 20 RBI on the season.

Castellanos ambushed a first-pitch sweeper from Jeffrey Springs in the fifth inning, launching a 382-foot (107.2 mph EV) solo shot that tied the game at 3-3. That would be his only hit in three at-bats on the night. The 34-year-old has had a rough year offensively so far, slashing a miserable .198/.226/.366 with four homers and 19 RBI in 106 plate appearances.

Machado evened up the score in the home half of the first inning as he crushed an 0-1 fastball from Jeffrey Springs for a 370-foot (109.6 mph EV) two-run shot. That would be his only hit in the ballgame. On the season, the superstar third baseman is slashing an anemic .179/.271/.347 with eight homers, 24 RBI and just one stolen base across his first 200 plate appearances.

Buehler struck out four batters on the night but he also issued four free passes. The A’s scratched out a pair of runs against him in the opening inning, then tacked on another on an RBI single off the bat of Henry Bolte in the fourth inning. The 31-year-old hurler got eight swings and misses on 85 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll tote an uninspiring 5.05 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 41/18 K/BB ratio (46 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s tilt against the Phillies.

Bolte worked Walker Buehler for a one-out walk in the second inning but wound up getting stranded at second base. He then delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning that gave the A’s a 3-2 lead before getting caught trying to steal second base. He also reached on an infield single in the sixth inning. The 22-year-old outfielder has impressed in his limited action with the A’s so far, slashing .310/.382/.345 with three RBI and three stolen bases (in five attempts) through his first 34 plate appearances.

Springs struck out three batters in the ballgame while issuing three free passes. Unfortunately for him, all three of the hits that he allowed left the yard — with Manny Machado belting a two-run shot in the opening inning while Nick Castellanos and Ramon Laureano added solo homers in the fifth and seventh respectively. Springs got 11 whiffs on 95 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 26 percent. He’ll look to get back in the win column as he brings a 4.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 50/19 K/BB ratio (61 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Mariners.

Gilbert washed away the seven-run shellacking he took against the Padres last time out with a nice bounce back start here. He located his fastball well as that pitch lived in the strike zone and was practically never squared up. That set up his secondaries to miss bats low and below the zone. He didn’t command those quite as well though and struggled to put hitters away, which is why his pitch count wound up so high despite so few scoring chances for the Royals. On the season, Gilbert now has 4.04 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and 16 walks over 68 innings. He’s scheduled to face the Athletics in Sacramento next time out.

It took Muñoz 16 pitches to get through this uneventful ninth inning. There were some real battles, but they all amounted to nothing. This was Muñoz’s first converted save in 11 days after blowing his third on Tuesday. He’s yet to hit the dominant level we saw from him most of last year and still has an ugly 4.58 ERA on the season.

Garver’s two-run shot off Royals’ reliever Nick Mears drove home the only two runs scored in this game. This was only his second total hit in the eight days since taking over for the injured Cal Raleigh behind the plate, but both were home runs.

In a game where the Royals’ offense was practically nonexistent, Garcia himself got half their hits. None wound up going anywhere though and they truly only had a few chances to score. Garcia has hit safely in five of six games, but has only one extra-base hit over that span as he desperately searches for any power this season.