MLB Player News

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a double in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Buxton produced three of Minnesota's six hits in the victory, with his biggest knock being a sixth-inning solo homer. That long ball was the third over his past four games and eighth overall this season. Buxton is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .409 (9-for-22) with three homers, four runs, four RBI and a stolen base. He's increased his season OPS from .705 to .810 over the hot stretch.

Gausman (2-2) took the loss against Minnesota on Thursday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.

Gausman began the game with three scoreless frames, during which he retired nine of the 10 batters he faced. However, he then allowed a two-run homer in the fourth inning. After tossing a perfect fifth, Gausman gave up a pair of runs on a solo homer, a walk and a single in the sixth before being pulled with two outs. That snapped the veteran hurler's string of two straight quality starts, and the defeat also ended a stretch of two consecutive victories. Gausman gave up four runs in an outing for the first time this season Thursday, but he still holds strong season stats with a 3.10 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 40:8 K:BB through 40.2 frames.

Ober (3-1) earned the win over Toronto on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

He yielded just one extra-base hit -- a fourth-inning solo homer by Dalton Varsho. While Ober was far from overpowering with nine whiffs and just two punchouts, he got the job done en route to his third straight quality start. The right-hander recorded a 5.49 ERA through his first four outings this season, but during the aforementioned three-game stretch, he's yielded just three earned runs over 18.1 frames to bring that ERA down to 3.55. Ober has been all over the place in terms of punchouts this season -- he's registered as many as 10 and as few as one in an outing -- and his overall 6.9 K/9 isn't going to generate much buzz, but his overall numbers have indicated a bounce-back campaign after he posted a career-worst 5.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 146.1 frames last year.

Springs (hip) is expected to be available for his next scheduled start, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

Springs exited Thursday's 6-3 win over the Royals in the fourth inning due to right hip soreness, but manager Mark Kotsay noted after the contest that the pitcher's removal was precautionary. Kotsay explained that Springs was likely able to continue, and he "made the decision" for his starter, removing him from the game, but the manager doesn't "see any reason for him to miss a start." Springs is projected to face Philadelphia on the road early next week.

Lambert (1-2) took the loss in the opening game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

It was a decent effort overall from Lambert, who held Baltimore scoreless for three frames before giving up a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Since sliding into the Astros rotation, Lambert has posted a solid 3.52 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB in three starts (15.1 innings). The right-hander is currently scheduled for a tough home matchup with the Dodgers in his next outing.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and three total runs scored in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

Alvarez extended Houston's lead to 6-0 in the second inning of Thursday's nightcap with a 424-foot blast off Brandon Young, his 12th homer of the year, tying Aaron Judge and Munetaka Murakami for the league lead. It was another huge effort from Alvarez after he went 0-for-4 in the opening game of the doubleheader, ending a 13-game hitting streak. The 28-year-old slugger is now slashing an eye-popping .356/.462/.737 through his first 143 plate appearances this season with 27 RBI and 25 runs scored.

Young (2-1) took the loss in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out two.

Young was solid in his first two major-league starts, allowing just three runs over 10.2 innings. It was a drastically different story Thursday, however, as the Astros tagged the right-hander for five runs in the first inning and another four in the fourth. Despite the rough showing, Young figures to get at least one more look in Baltimore's rotation with Trevor Rogers (illness) and Dean Kremer (quadriceps) sidelined. He's tentatively lined up to face the Marlins on the road in his next outing.

Anderson signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Thursday.

Anderson elected free agency Tuesday after being designated for assignment by the Angels earlier in the week, but he will now return to the organization on a new deal. The right-hander made nine appearances with the Angels before being let go, compiling a 5.94 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over 16.2 innings. He will now look to get into a rhythm with Triple-A Salt Lake in an attempt to potentially get another look with the big-league club later this season.

McCullers (2-2) earned the win Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader with the Orioles, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out nine.

After allowing 17 runs (15 earned) in just 14.1 innings across his previous three starts, McCullers rebounded with an impressive performance against the Orioles, matching his season high with nine strikeouts. McCullers' ERA now sits at 6.32 with a 1.40 WHIP and 33:17 K:BB across six starts (31.1 innings) this season. He'll look to build on Thursday's performance in his next outing, tentatively scheduled as a tough home matchup next week against the Dodgers.

Espada was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros.

Espada was added to the major-league roster ahead of the doubleheader, and he pitched a scoreless inning, allowing two hits in the team's 10-3 win over Houston in the matinee. The right-hander will now return to Norfolk, where he has a 5.40 ERA and 7:9 K:BB across 10 innings this year.