MLB Player News

Kikuchi was clearly off tonight. While his fastball velocity was pretty normal, the rest of his pitches were all down one or two mph. For his changeup, it was actually closer to three mph. He walked four and gave up homers to Aaron Judge and José Caballero. Now possessing a 7.50 ERA, Kikuchi seems like a particularly poor mixed-league option. He’ll face the Padres on Saturday.

Gelof smacked an RBI triple in the fifth inning that increased the A’s lead to 9-1. He then added the exclamation point to the blowout with a 389-foot (101.8 mph EV) two-run blast after a nine-pitch battle with Chase Shugart in the seventh. The dynamic 26-year-old has looked at least capable since returning from Triple-A, slashing .269/.309/.519 with three homers and 10 RBI.

Rooker tagged rookie right-hander Andrew Painter for a 384-foot (100.2 mph EV) two-run shot in the top half of the first inning — his squad’s second two-run homer in the frame. He also added a run-scoring single in the fourth that increased the A’s advantage to 8-0. He’s off to a painfully slow start at the plate this season, slashing a woeful .177/.256/.342 with four homers and 15 RBI, so hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.

As so often happens, Langeliers flexed his dad strength in his first at-bat back from the paternity list, launching an 0-2 fastball from Andrew Painter for a 412-foot (108.4 mph EV) two-run shot in the opening inning, giving the A’s a lead they would never relinquish. He also singled in the fourth inning and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Brent Rooker. With his two-hit effort, the 28-year-old backstop is slashing an impressive .338/.391/.640 with 11 homers and 20 RBI.

Ginn allowed just three hits on the night while issuing only one base on balls. The only blemish on his day came on a solo home run off the bat of Kyle Schwarber in the fourth inning. Aside from that one pitch, he was brilliant. Ginn generated 10 swings and misses on 96 offerings in the contest, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He now holds a 3.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 31/15 K/BB ratio over 37 1/3 innings through his first nine appearances (six starts). He’ll try to keep the good times rolling when he squares off against the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Schwarber got the Phillies on the board in the fourth inning of this one, tagging JT Ginn for a 377-foot (108.8 mph EV) solo shot that pulled them to within seven runs at 8-1. That would be his lone hit in four at-bats on the day. For the season, the 33-year-old is now slashing .216/.355/.540 to go along with 12 long balls and 21 RBI.

Painter also issued three free passes on the night while striking out only two. The A’s got to him early in this one, with Shea Langerliers and Brent Rooker each blasting two-run homers in the opening inning. Josh Wilson added a two-run shot of his own during a three-run uprising in the third. The 23-year-old righty got 10 whiffs on 88 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll try to pick up the pieces and improve upon his 6.89 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 30/12 K/BB ratio (32 2/3 innings) when he does battle against the Red Sox in Boston on Wednesday.

The A’s had designated the 32-year-old hurler for assignment on Wednesday, so they were willing to move him for anything that they could get at this stage. Ferguson has given up four runs on four hits in just 1 1/3 innings at the big league level this season.

Nothing has changed in the prognosis for the 33-year-old hurler, who has still yet to begin throwing off of a mound as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. This was done as a procedural move to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster for the addition of Rodolfo Castro on Thursday.

Wagner had been shelved since the end of spring training due to a right oblique strain. He was already stationed at Triple-A El Paso on a minor league rehab assignment, and he’ll remain there in an everyday role until his services are needed in San Diego.

With Luis Campusano (toe) hitting the injured list, the Padres had a need for an extra catcher on the big league roster, so Duran will get his shot. The 28-year-old has hit .238/.356/.429 with four homers and 20 RBI in 102 plate appearances at the Triple-A level this season. He’ll share the load behind the plate with Freddy Fermin until Campusano is able to return.