MLB Player News

Cleavinger returns to Tampa Bay’s high-leverage mix after missing five weeks at the outset of the season recovering from a calf strain. The 32-year-old southpaw figures to operate in a setup capacity behind closer Bryan Baker, but could wind up vulturing the occasional save in certain matchups.

Baldwin ambushed the first pitch that Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw in the home half of the first inning, crushing a splitter for a 402-foot (106.2-mph EV) solo shot that gave the Braves an early 1-0 advantage. That would be the lone tally for either squad in the game. The 25- year-old backstop finished the night 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. He’s now hitting .274/.356/.456 with 22 long balls and 66 RBI in what has been an impressive offensive campaign.

The 30-year-old infielder recorded one of just four Braves’ hits in the contest with a one-out single off of Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the third inning. He then swiped second base to get himself into scoring position, but the Braves couldn’t cash him in from there. He struck out in each of his other two plate appearances on the day and is slashing a cringe-inducing .088/.180/.088 over 89 plate appearances on the season.

Betts smacked a two-out single off of Sale in the opening inning and was left stranded at first base. He then led off the fourth inning with a double — the Dodgers’ only extra-base hit in the contest — but he never advanced from there. With his two-hit attack, the 33-year-old infielder is now slashing .239/.298/.407 with 16 homers, 47 RBI and just one stolen base (in three attempts) on the season.

The 28-year-old right-hander racked up eight strikeouts on the night while issuing one base on balls. The lone tally against him — and the only run scored by either team — came on a solo blast off the bat of Drake Baldwin in the opening inning. Unfortunately for Yamamoto and for fantasy managers, that was enough to do him in on Thursday. He got a whopping 20 swings and misses on 105 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 30 percent. Now 12-8 on the season, he’ll carry a 2.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 153/36 K/BB ratio (158 innings) into Thursday’s matchup against the Cardinals.

The 37-year-old southpaw piled up 11 strikeouts on the night and didn’t walk a batter, throwing a remarkable 80 of his 109 pitches for strikes. The only real threat against him came as Mookie Betts doubled to lead off the fourth inning, and he never advanced past second base. Sale got 20 swings and misses in the contest — 11 of those on his slider — while posting an elite CSW of 39 percent. Now 13-9 on the season, the Cy Young hopeful will carry a stellar 2.06 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 177/28 K/BB ratio (144 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Nationals in Washington.

Ahlstrom has struggled for most of the season in the Rangers’ bullpen, posting a disappointing 6.03 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 28/10 K/BB ratio over 31 1/3 innings in his 36 appearances. He’ll work on his craft at the Triple-A level for the time being. A corresponding move will be made prior to Friday’s series opener.

The 24-year-old outfielder has held his own in his limited action with the Cubs this season, slashing .240/.286/.360 with a homer, six RBI and an 11/2 K/BB ratio over 28 plate appearances. A corresponding move will be announced prior to Friday’s contest.

As anticipated, the 24-year-old hurler returns to start on Thursday against the Giants, taking the rotation spot previously held by Kohl Drake. Cabrera made four starts with the big league club earlier in the season, posting a dreadful 5.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 12/7 K/BB ratio across 17 2/3 frames.

The 29-year-old hurler was only with the big league club for five days after returning from the injured list and now gets sent out to make room on the club’s active roster for Jose Cabrera to start on Thursday. Jameson holds a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 13/10 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings with the D’Backs on the season.

The cycle continues. Once again the 36-year-old righty was designated for assignment, elected free agency and re-signed with the O’s on a minor league pact. Anticipate that he’ll get another opportunity with the big league club at some point in the next couple of weeks.