MLB Player News

Taylor also swiped his first bag in his third game since being called up Wednesday. In another timeline, Taylor is a well-established MLB bench player thanks to his speed, versatility and modest on-base skills. It hasn’t worked out in this one, but as lacking as the Padres are at the moment, maybe he’ll play enough to offer some NL-only value.

Zack Gelof and Butler went back-to-back off Bryce Miller in the first. In the ninth, Gelof singled and then Butler homered off Andrés Muñoz, giving the A’s the win. It’s Butler’s fifth career two-homer game and first of this year. After a dismal first half, he’s hit .274/.354/.505 with 11 homers and 36 RBI in 54 games since the break.

Lopez allowed six hits and walked three before departing in the fourth. He’s given up nine runs in his last two starts after allowing only 15 runs and 13 earned in his previous nine starts. He’ll likely make his next start Saturday against the Guardians.

Alvarado kept the deficit at one run before Lawrence Butler hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth. Hogan Harris gave up a homer in the eighth today and was in line for the loss before the comeback. That’s definitely advantage Alvarado in the battle for saves going forward, but the A’s will continue to play matchups when appropriate.

Miller gave up back-to-back homers to Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler in the first. He went on to walk five afterwards, but he allowed no other hits and left with a 5-2 lead after five. That should have gotten him his first win since July 2, but then the Mariners pen gave up six runs in an 8-7 loss. Miller’s next outing is slated to take place in Coors Field on Saturday, though he might be piggybacking then if Emerson Hancock is deemed ready to throw a few innings.

Muñoz was forced into the game in the eighth today with one out and the tying run on third, and he stranded the runner by getting a strikeout and a popup. However, in the ninth, he gave up a single and a homer to the first two batters he faced, ending the game. It’s his 10th blown save and sixth loss, though he’s been quite good for three months now. He’ll certainly remain in the closer’s role for Seattle.

It’s the first time this year that Gelof has reached safely four times and the second time he’s scored three runs. Gelof homered in three straight games early this month, but even so, he came into this one hitting just .174/.262/.326 in his previous 24 games. He now has 18 homers in 99 games this year. That’s one more than he hit in 138 games two years ago.

Arozarena is doing his best to carry the Mariners, but it just doesn’t seem to be enough. He’s up to 25 homers, 75 RBI and an AL-high 99 runs scored on the season. It’s going to be fascinating to see what kind of contract he gets this winter, given that he’s probably best utilized as a DH going forward.

There was no injury announcement from the Royals, but hitting for Caglianone against a right-hander isn’t something the team would typically do, even if it was Vinnie Pasquantino replacing him. Caglianone struck out in both of his plate appearances before being plunked by Payton Tolle.

After Justin Foscue singled to open the game, Seager crushed the first pitch he saw from Eduardo Rodriguez, hitting a massive two-run homer. It left his bat at 110.8 mph, his highest EV of the season. Seager also reached 106 mph on both of his groundball singles today. He’s hitting .309 with seven homers since Aug. 12, raising his average from .192 to .231 and his OPS from .664 to .760.

Quantrill threw just 70 pitches to get 18 outs and likely would have kept going if not for the back issue. He said after the game that he expects to make his next start against the Jays. One of this season’s biggest surprises, he’s now 9-5 with a 2.90 ERA. It’s safe to say he won’t have to settle for a minor league deal again this winter.