MLB Player News

Buxton (back) will start in center field and bat second in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Buxton sat out three contests with lower-back stiffness but is feeling well enough to give it a go in the first game of a twin bill. The 30-year-old has clubbed five home runs in 13 contests since the All-Star break.

The Angels optioned Kochanowicz to Double-A Rocket City on Thursday.

Kochanowicz was up as the Angels' 27th man during Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees but did not make an appearance. He'll go back into Rocket City's rotation.

Raley went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a second run scored and a walk in Thursday's win over Detroit.

Raley launched a solo homer off lefty Bryan Sammons in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Mariners on the board. The outfielder then kick-started a rally in the bottom of the ninth, recording an infield single to open the frame before scoring on Mitch Haniger's walk-off double. Raley has homered in each of his last two games and in three of five contests to open the month of August. For the month he's slashing .333 (5-for-15) with four extra-base hits, seven RBI and four runs scored.

Sammons did not factor into the decision in Thursday's loss to the Mariners, allowing one run on two hits and one walk over 4.1 relief innings while striking out four.

The lefty took over for opener Brenan Hanifee in the bottom of the third inning and retired the side in order before going on to hurl another two scoreless innings. Sammons would eventually cough up a solo homer to Luke Raley in the sixth, but still pitched into the seventh before being replaced by Tyler Holton. It was only the third appearance of the season for Sammons, though he's pitched at least four innings in two of them while posting a 9:2 K:BB.

Vest (2-4) retired two batters via strikeout but also allowed two runs on two hits and a walk to blow the save and take the loss Thursday against the Mariners.

Detroit's top closing option, Jason Foley, had pitched each of the previous two games, so the Tigers turned to Vest on Thursday. The righty struggled as he blew his fifth save chance of the season. Vest still has a solid 3.16 ERA overall, and he should continue to see high-leverage work, but the late-inning situation in Detroit's bullpen remains murky. Foley hasn't recorded a save since July 10 but still leads the team with 15, while Vest, Tyler Holton and Shelby Miller are seem like candidates to get save opportunities down the stretch as well.

Meadows went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners.

Since returning from the injured list Saturday, Meadows has rattled off four straight two-hit games, raising his season batting average from .131 to .186 in the process. That's still a rough figure overall, and the 24-year-old is striking out 33 percent of the time, but his recent stretch is showing glimpses of his immense potential. Fantasy managers who have shown patience with Meadows could be rewarded down the stretch.

Woo did not factor into the decision in a win over the Tigers on Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over 6.2 innings while striking out seven.

Woo was rolling early, taking a perfect game into the top of the fifth inning before Bligh Madris poked a leadoff single. The right-hander would surrender another three hits in the frame, including two for extra bases, as Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but those would be the only runs allowed by Woo on the night. He's posted quality starts in back-to-back outings since exiting his start July 27 due to hamstring discomfort. Over that two-game stretch he's produced a robust 13:1 K:BB.

Fairbanks picked up the save over the Cardinals on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning.

Fairbanks took the mound with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side on just eight pitches to lock down his 22nd save of the season. The right-handed reliever has yet to allow a baserunner in three appearances this month, and he's converted his last 12 save opportunities. Fairbanks has surrendered only one hit over his last six innings (six appearances) while posting four strikeouts over that stretch.

Baz did not factor into the decision in a win over the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings while striking out two.

Baz was shaky in the first inning, walking the leadoff man and then hitting Willson Contreras with a pitch two batters later before eventually allowing three runs to come across in the frame. The right-hander was then tagged for another run in the third after allowing three consecutive batters to reach with two outs. Baz failed to make it through five innings for the third time in six starts this season, and his two strikeouts marked his second-lowest total of the season. He's also issued multiple free passes in three of his last four outings. The rookie will look to secure his first win of the season when the Rays take on the Astros at home next week.

Cowser went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Thursday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Cowser put Baltimore on the board in the third inning with a two-run homer to left field. He added a two-run single in the ninth to pull the Orioles within a run as part of a rally that fell just short. Cowser's four RBI tied a season-high mark, and he's now at 53 runs batted in along with 17 home runs, seven steals and a .250/.332/.458 slash line through 372 plate appearances on the campaign.