MLB Player News

Caglianone went 2-for-4 with a walk, one RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers.

Caglianone has wielded a hot bat in August, going 17-for-40 (.425) over 10 games this month. He's added four homers, 13 RBI and two steals in that span. For the season, Caglianone is batting .269 with an .810 OPS, 21 homers, five steals, 53 RBI, 53 runs scored, 21 doubles and two triples over 112 contests. He's seen most of the playing time at first base in the absence of Vinnie Pasquantino (wrist), though Caglianone would likely push right fielder John Rave back into a bench role once Pasquantino's rehab assignment is completed.

Wacha allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out five without walking a batter over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Wacha put together a quality start for the fourth time in five starts since the All-Star break. In that span, he's allowed 10 runs (eight earned) over 31.1 innings. Wacha remains effective at eating innings -- he's covered six or more frames in 18 of his 24 starts this season while pitching to a 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 117:41 K:BB through 150.2 innings overall. The veteran's next start is projected to come at home versus the Athletics.

Caminero went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 12-4 win over the Athletics.

Caminero opened the scoring in his first plate appearance, taking Mason Barnett deep for a two-run homer. The third baseman has now homered in consecutive games and six times over his last 11 contests, bringing him into a four-way tie for the MLB lead with 35 long balls. Caminero's .277/.369/.554 slash line has all three marks above his career-year performance from last season, and with 35 homers already, he has a legitimate chance to surpass the 45 he launched a year ago.

Walls went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's 12-4 win over the Athletics.

Walls delivered a rare display of power by homering from both sides of the plate Tuesday. He ended a 105-game regular-season homer drought dating back to July 27 of last year by going deep left-handed off Mason Barnett in the fourth inning before launching another homer as a right-handed hitter off Brady Basso in the sixth. The two long balls were his first of the season and were particularly surprising considering Walls has just 24 homers across 581 career games. He entered Tuesday batting just .135 over his previous 14 contests. Walls owns a .216 average with a .605 OPS and 18 stolen bases across 97 games this season.

Brown (3-2) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Tuesday.

Brown threw 56 of 89 pitches for strikes in a decent outing, but the Astros didn't give him much help. The right-hander has surrendered 12 runs over 28.1 innings while adding a 28:13 K:BB over five starts since the All-Star break, providing solid but unremarkable pitching in most of his outings in that stretch. For the year, he's at a 3.68 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:35 K:BB through 63.2 innings over 12 starts. Brown's next start is projected to be in a favorable home matchup versus the Angels.

Barnett (1-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Rays, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks while failing to record a strikeout over four innings.

Barnett surrendered a two-run homer to Junior Caminero in the first inning before running into more trouble in the fourth, when Taylor Walls and Yandy Diaz launched back-to-back bombs. The right-hander recorded just one whiff on 67 pitches as he failed to punch out a single hitter. He has now allowed three home runs in consecutive outings and has surrendered 14 runs (13 earned) across 13.1 innings while working as a traditional starter over his last three appearances. Barnett owns a 6.50 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 35:18 K:BB across 36 innings this season. He may need to show out in his next scheduled outing against a weak Kansas City offense if he wants to make a case to remain in the rotation.

Quero went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Reds.

Quero has been in the lineup for three of four games since he was promoted to the majors, with all of those starts coming against lefties. The usage makes it unclear whether he will play ahead of Drew Romo against righties, or if the two will operate in more of a platoon while the White Sox are without Kyle Teel (ankle) and Joey Bart (hand). Quero has at least taken advantage of his opportunity to this point by going 2-for-8 with three walks and no strikeouts following his call-up from Triple-A Charlotte.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Reds.

Vargas led off the fourth inning with his 25th home run of the season and third in his last 10 starts. He's hit only .189 in that stretch, but has struck out just 24.4 percent of the time while chipping in seven runs scored and five RBI. Vargas now has 79 runs scored -- one off matching his career-best mark -- and has already set career highs in most statistical categories.

Martinez (12-3) earned the win Tuesday against the Athletics, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five over nine innings.

Martinez needed just 101 pitches, throwing 68 for strikes, to go the distance for the first time in his career. Lawrence Butler took him deep for a two-run homer in the fourth inning, but Martinez limited the Athletics until the ninth when Tampa Bay already held a commanding lead. The right-hander has now completed at least five innings in 11 consecutive starts, collecting seven wins during that stretch. Across 23 starts this season, Martinez owns a 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 78:20 K:BB over 138 innings. He's scheduled to face the Orioles at home Monday.

King will serve as the Astros' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

King owns a 3.83 ERA through 49.1 innings this season but has given up 12 earned runs in just his last 9.1 frames. Despite his recent poor form, the Astros will give him his first MLB start. Tatsuya Imai or Ronel Blanco is expected to pitch in bulk relief once King exits, likely after covering the first inning or two.