MLB Player News

McKinstry went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 10-5 win over the Twins.

Getting the start at shortstop and batting eighth, the utility player went deep in the sixth inning, launching the fourth of four homers off Bailey Ober on the afternoon. With Trey Sweeney optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, McKinstry figures to see a lot more action at shortstop in a timeshare with Javier Baez -- a strict platoon would benefit McKinstry as the left-handed hitter of the duo, but Baez's defense could tip the scales in his favor. McKinstry is making a case with his bat to be the primary option, batting .400 (12-for-30) over his last 10 games with a double, a triple, two homers, three steals, five runs and six RBI.

Giolito (4-1) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing one unearned run on six hits and one walk while striking out five across seven innings.

Giolito received plenty of run support from the Red Sox batters Saturday, and the extra rest between innings seemed to benefit the 30-year-old right-hander. He has logged four quality starts in a row and has given up only two earned runs over that span while striking out 24 batters in 25 innings. Giolito now sports a 3.99 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB across 58.2 innings this season. He's in line to face the Nationals on the road next weekend, when he'll look to make it three wins in five starts.

Greene went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 10-5 win over the Twins.

He took Bailey Ober deep in the fifth inning, one of four Detroit long balls off the right-hander. Greene has been red hot in June, batting .365 (35-for-96) over 25 contests with five of his 18 homers on the season, as well as nine doubles, 15 runs and 22 RBI.

Mize (8-2) picked up the win in Saturday's 10-5 victory over the Twins, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.

The Tigers' offense was relentless on the afternoon, putting at least one run on the board in seven straight innings as part of a 15-hit, four-homer attack, giving Mize more than enough cushion. The quality start was his fifth of the season, and since coming off the IL in late May, the right-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in seven straight trips to the mound -- a stretch in which he's delivered a 3.25 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB in 36 innings. Mize will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Cleveland.

Eflin was removed from Saturday's game versus Tampa Bay due to a lower-back strain, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Eflin noticed the issue while warming up in the bullpen prior to his start but thought he could pitch through it. However, the right-hander struggled through a four-run first inning before he was pulled, and it's logical to assume that the back issue contributed to the rough frame. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino indicated following the contest that Eflin may need to get imaging done on his back, and it's unclear at this time if the veteran hurler will need a stint on the IL. The Orioles do have one injured starter close to returning to the rotation, as Cade Povich (hip) threw 75 pitches in a rehab start Thursday.

Bassitt (7-4) took the loss against the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and four walks while striking out three across two-plus innings.

Bassitt entered Saturday's game having logged three quality starts over his last four outings. That momentum came to a crashing halt, as the veteran right-hander gave up three runs in each of the three innings he pitched, recording just six outs while tossing 70 pitches (44 strikes). The eight earned runs Bassitt gave up Saturday were as many as he yielded over his previous three starts combined, which inflates his ERA to 4.29 and WHIP to 1.36 across 94.1 innings this season. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is lined up to come against the Yankees at home next week.

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Tigers.

Getting a partial breather as the DH but still batting leadoff, Buxton continued a barrage that has seen him bat .340 (16-for-47) over the last 12 games with eight home runs, three steals, 10 RBI and 14 runs. The 31-year-old's 19 homers in only 66 contests this year match the second-highest total of his career, behind the 28 long balls he slugged in 2022 in just 92 contests. He's also a perfect 15-for-15 on the basepaths, which is his best performance in that category since he stole 29 bags on just 30 attempts in 2017. If Buxton can stay healthy, something he's been unable to do throughout his career, he's tracking toward a truly special campaign.

Manager Will Venable said after Saturday's game that Cannon (back) will start for the White Sox on Sunday against the Giants, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.

Venable said pregame that Cannon could potentially start Sunday's game, but the skipper left no doubt in the matter with his postgame comments. It'll be Cannon's first MLB appearance since being placed on the 15-day injured list June 3 due to a lower-back strain. The 24-year-old made one rehab start, throwing three scoreless innings with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. Cannon threw 48 pitches in the outing, so some sort of pitch limit should be expected.

Ober (4-6) took the loss Saturday, coughing up seven runs on 11 hits -- including four home runs -- and a walk over 5.2 innings as the Twins were downed 10-5 by the Tigers. He struck out five.

Detroit put at least one run on the board in seven straight frames beginning in the second inning, and Ober served up long balls in four straight frames starting in the third, getting taken deep by Kerry Carpenter, Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry. The right-hander has had trouble keeping the ball in the yard in the past, but not to this extent, and over his last six starts Ober has surrendered an incredible 15 home runs in only 34 innings, leading to an 8.47 ERA over that span. He'll try to snap a 10-start winless streak in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Rays.

Schmidt (4-4) took the loss Saturday as the Yankees were downed 7-0 by the A's, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander saw his scoreless streak end at 28.1 innings when Brent Rooker launched a solo shot in the fourth inning, and Schmidt then served up a three-run blast to rookie Nick Kurtz in the sixth. It was the first time since April 21 that Schmidt had been tagged for more than three runs, and over 11 starts since then he sports a 2.45 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 63:23 K:BB in 66 innings. He'll look to get back on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.