MLB Player News

Higgins can refuse the assignment and become a free agent if he wishes. He was jettisoned from the 40-man roster on Wednesday to make room for Chris Paddack, since the Reds had earlier activated Jose Trevino from the injured list to be their main backup catcher.

Adames put the Giants on the board early, taking Patrick Sandoval deep for a solo homer in the first inning. He then added a single in the third. It was his second home run in the last three games and his 21st of the season while hitting .229/.289/.424 with 61 runs scored, 51 RBI, and five steals across 502 plate appearances.

Sandoval surrendered a solo homer to Willy Adames in the first inning. Andrew Knizer later went yard for a solo homer in the third. The two solo homers would be all the damage the Giants would do as Sandoval pitched into the sixth, collecting six strikeouts. The 29-year-old left-hander will take a 4.54 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and a 41/18 K/BB ratio across 39 2/3 innings into a start against the Yankees in New York on Friday.

Tidwell was outstanding on Saturday, keeping the Red Sox off the board as he pitched into the sixth. He scattered only three hits and two walks while collecting a career-high seven strikeouts. The bullpen would waste Tidwell’s strong performance, giving up three runs to blow the lead in the ninth. The 25-year-old right-hander will take a 3.58 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 27/12 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings into a start against the Diamondbacks in San Francisco on Friday.

Neto stayed hot with a three-hit game against the Rangers on Saturday, scoring two of the Angels’ three runs in the win. He’s on a five-game hitting streak and is 12-for-23 (.521) with four runs, a home run, eight RBI, four doubles and a triple in that span. Neto is hitting .235 with a .746 OPS and 61 RBI.

Walton put the A’s on the board with a solo homer off Hunter Brown to lead off the third inning. The 32-year-old veteran infielder has been filling in at shortstop with Jacob Wilson likely done for the season with a shoulder injury. Saturday’s homer was his fourth of the season while slashing .283/.374/.454 across 176 plate appearances.

Varsho knocked a base hit in the second inning, then later led off the seventh inning with a solo homer off Luis Medina. The 30-year-old outfielder is having a down season in the power department as Saturday’s blast was just his ninth home run of the season. He’s slashing .232/.297/.364 with 44 runs scored, 30 RBI, and 10 steals across 431 plate appearances.

After the A’s took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, Hogan Harris faced the heart of the Astros order before handing it over to Alvarado in the ninth. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out two in a clean inning of work to secure his third save of the season. Still, Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento.

Bradford gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out three. He fell to 0-2 with the loss. Bradford was solid in his fourth start back since returning from Tommy John surgery, but had no margin for error with the Rangers offense failing to score a run. He has a 3.05 ERA. Bradford is lined up to face the Brewers on the road next weekend.

Lopez was excellent against the Astros on Saturday, holding them scoreless through three innings before giving up a run on a walk and a double in the fourth. He’d give the A’s two more scoreless frames, collecting an impressive nine strikeouts through six innings while scattering just three hits and one walk. The 28-year-old left-hander will take a 4.98 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and a 90/47 K/BB ratio across 94 innings into a start against the Orioles in Sacramento on Friday.