MLB Player News

Moore went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 20-3 loss to the Rangers.

Moore provided one of the few bright spots for the Angels in the embarrassing loss when he stroked a solo homer to center field in the fifth inning. The rookie has started at second base in three of Los Angeles' past four games after starting just once in three games before that. It's worth noting, however, that both of the Angels' past two games have been against lefty starters, while Moore has began on the bench in three of the team's most recent five matchups with a right-handed starter. He may continue to be in and out of the lineup against righties given his rough .192/.304/.269 slash line against same-handed pitching this year.

Grisham went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 11-2 win over Washington.

Grisham set the tone right away for New York, swatting a 334-foot solo shot to open the bottom half of the first inning on a day when the Yankees ended up with six long balls as a team. The veteran outfielder continues to build on a career-best campaign, and through 24 games in August he's posted an .881 OPS with eight homers, 11 RBI, 17 runs, a stolen base and a 15:19 BB:K. Grisham has already blown away his previous career-best mark with 26 home runs this season, and on Wednesday he matched his previous best mark by scoring his 67th run of the campaign.

McMahon went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run against Washington in an 11-2 win Wednesday.

On a day when New York hit six long balls as a team, McMahon got in on the action with a three-run blast in the third inning. It was just the second homer McMahon has hit across 28 contests since being dealt to the Yankees on July 25, and this was his first one at home. The veteran third baseman hasn't done much with the bat since the trade, as he's posted a .649 OPS with a 32.0 percent strikeout rate during that 28-game stretch, though he's walked at a healthy 12.0 percent rate.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that McCullers is available to pitch out of the bullpen, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Espada described the move as "short-term" and noted that McCullers is an option to start Monday's game against the Angels. Luis Garcia (elbow) is also an option to return from the 60-day injured list start Monday, and the two could be used in tandem if McCullers isn't needed out of the bullpen Thursday versus the Rockies or during the first three games of the series with the Angels over the weekend. In his most recent start this past Friday in Baltimore following his return from the IL, McCullers yielded three runs and walked five over four innings. He's now sitting on a 6.89 ERA in 12 starts this season.

Wells went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 victory versus the Nationals.

Wells capped New York's scoring in the contest with a solo shot to right field in the fourth frame. The backstop has three homers over his past six games, but he has only one other hit -- a single -- over 19 at-bats in that span and has struck out nine times. Wells is still getting regular starts behind the plate for the Yankees, but he's been in an offensive funk since mid-July; over his past 27 contests, he's slashing a woeful .143/.189/.298 with a 30 percent strikeout rate.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez started in both of the past two days upon his return from the 60-day injured list, but he will get a breather for Thursday's matinee. Jose Altuve will occupy the designated-hitter spot and Mauricio Dubon will cover left field in the rubber match.

Diaz (hand) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz will be held out of the starting nine for the third game in a row while he manages a hand injury. Cesar Salazar will get the nod behind the plate in place of Diaz, who can be considered day-to-day heading into the Astros' weekend series with the Angels.

Basso allowed no hits and a walk with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Tigers.

Basso made his season debut for the Athletics, tossing a scoreless ninth inning to close out an impressive sweep of the Tigers. The southpaw has spent most of the year sidelined by a left shoulder strain suffered in March, then was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas upon activation Aug. 11 before being recalled ahead of Wednesday's contest. Though a starter by trade, Basso has been working out of the bullpen since returning from injury.

Sterner struck out the side in a perfect inning during Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Tigers.

Sterner retired the side on strikeouts in the eighth inning Wednesday, the first time this season he's done so in order. The right-hander has been sharp in August, posting a 1.98 ERA and 0.59 WHIP across 13.2 innings in 11 appearances.

The Red Sox could promote Tolle from Triple-A Worcester to start or make a bulk-relief appearance in Friday's game against the Pirates, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Boston has confirmed that Dustin May will start the second game of the series Saturday, and Lucas Giolito appears on track to start Sunday's series finale, but the club still has an opening in its rotation for Friday after Richard Fitts (arm) was removed from his bulk-relief appearance in Monday's game against the Orioles before landing on the injured list. Kyle Harrison -- who is already on the Red Sox's 40-man roster -- made an abbreviated three-inning start for Worcester on Tuesday to keep him in play for a promotion to the big leagues Friday, but Tolle has established himself as the organization's top pitching prospect this season and may have done enough to make a case for his first MLB call-up. After accruing a 2.93 ERA and racking up 116 punchouts across 76.2 innings through his first 17 outings of the season between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, the 22-year-old lefty has continued to shine since moving up to Worcester earlier this month. Through three starts at Triple-A, Tolle has accrued a 3.60 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 15 innings.