MLB Player News

Severino (2-7) completed five innings against Houston on Wednesday, allowing two runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out five batters in a loss.

Though the Astros' offense exploded for 11 runs in the contest, most of the scoring came against the A's bullpen. That's not to say Severino had an impressive performance -- he needed 97 pitches to complete five frames and gave up nine hits -- but he mostly managed to work his way out of trouble, and the only extra-base hit he surrendered was a solo homer by Mauricio Dubon in the third inning. Severino began June with two rough outings during which he yielded 13 earned runs across 11.1 frames, but he's bounced back in his subsequent two starts, giving up just three earned runs over 12.2 innings in the latter span.

Valdez (8-4) earned the win over the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three batters over six innings.

Valdez didn't have his best stuff Wednesday -- he issued a season-high five walks and notched just three strikeouts -- but he admirably managed to mostly work out of trouble to register a quality start. The southpaw trailed 1-0 after two innings, though Houston's offense kicked into gear after that, helping Valdez cruise to a relatively comfortable win. The 31-year-old held a 1-4 record through seven starts this season, but since then he's collected seven victories in eight outings, posting a 2.13 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 62:18 K:BB over 55 frames during the latter span. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is projected to be a home tilt against the Phillies.

Ober (4-4) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against Cincinnati, giving up four runs on nine hits and no walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

Wednesday's first pitch was delayed by rain for about two hours, and Ober was not at his best during a truncated game that was called in the sixth inning following another delay. The right-hander did generate 10 whiffs, but it was discouragingly his third consecutive start where he yielded at least four runs. Ober owns a 4.54 ERA and 1.40 WHIP for the season, and his next start lines up as a home outing versus the Mariners.

Schneemann went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday in a 4-2 win against San Francisco.

Schneemann had the biggest hit of the night for either team with his three-run blast off Justin Verlander in the fourth inning. The long ball was his first extra-base hit since he rapped two doubles against the Yankees on June 4. Schneemann remains in a strong-side platoon role -- he regularly rests against lefty starters -- which dings his fantasy value despite a relatively promising campaign that includes a .775 OPS, eight homers, 21 RBI, 22 runs and five stolen bases through 56 games.

Clase notched a save against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning.

Clase inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead and worked around a two-out single to retire the side on 14 pitches. Though the veteran closer has allowed at least one baserunner in each of his past five appearances and has a mediocre 4:4 BB:K across 4.2 frames during that span, he's converted three of four save opportunities in that stretch. It certainly hasn't been Clase's smoothest season -- he's currently holding a 3.69 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, each of which is on pace to be a career-worst mark -- but he's managed to go 16-for-19 in save chances to remain comfortably in control of Cleveland's closer role.

Allen (5-4) earned the win over San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.1 innings.

Allen cruised through four scoreless frames before giving up a two-run homer to Heliot Ramos in the fifth. The lefty hurler finished that inning and was brought out for the sixth but faced just one batter -- whom he retired -- before being lifted at 95 pitches. Though that prevented him from notching consecutive quality starts for the first time this season, the outing as a whole was a positive one for Allen, who has picked up two straight wins for the first time on the campaign while giving up just four runs across 11.1 innings in those outings. Allen will look to keep that momentum in his next start, which lines up to be a home matchup versus Toronto.

Caballero went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases Wednesday against the Orioles.

Caballero has been splitting time almost exactly evenly with Taylor Walls at shortstop since the start of June, though the former drew a start in right field Wednesday. Caballero entered the game tied for the league lead in stolen bases, a title that is solely his following Wednesday's contest, as he now has 27 swiped bags in 33 attempts. His speed is his lone real source of fantasy value, however, as he's gone just 4-for-31 with one RBI and six runs scored across 14 games in June.

Fairbanks struck out one without allowing a baserunner across a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday against the Orioles.

Fairbanks was called upon to protect a four-run lead in a non-save situation and set down the Orioles on only 12 pitches. Wednesday's outing was Fairbanks' 30th of the season, 26 of which have been scoreless. Despite racking up only 26 strikeouts across 29.1 innings for the season, Fairbanks has been effective as the locked-in closer for the Rays, converting 13 of 15 save chances with a 2.15 ERA.

Aranda went 3-for-5 with two RBI on Wednesday against the Orioles.

Aranda capped off the Rays' comeback win with a two-run single in the seventh inning. The performance marked his seventh multi-hit game across 16 starts in June, and he's gone 20-for-56 with 10 RBI, eight runs scored and one home run in that span.

Lowe went 1-for-1 with a walk, a two-run home run and two runs scored Wednesday against the Orioles.

Lowe was out of the lineup with lefty Trevor Rogers on the mound, but the second baseman entered the game in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter. He blasted a two-run homer to tie the game at 8-8, which is his 15th long ball of the season and fourth across 16 games in June. Lowe has gone 20-for-60 with 10 RBI and 15 runs scored this month.