MLB Player News

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Mariners.

McNeil started the scoring for the Athletics with an RBI double in the first frame. After a lackluster first half of the season, the veteran has been on fire since the All-Star break, slashing .339/.368/.491 with five homers, 28 RBI, 24 runs and seven stolen bases over his past 45 games. Overall, McNeil is hitting .270/.319/.374 with eight homers, 54 RBI, 47 runs and eight stolen bases in 130 contests.

Kay (9-9) took the loss Friday against the Cardinals after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two over four innings.

Kay needed 67 pitches to complete four innings, but he tossed just 38 of his offerings for strikes. Kay has given up at least three earned runs in each of his last four appearances and is winless in his last six starts, going 0-4 with a 6.83 ERA over that stretch. The six-year veteran will try to turn things around in his upcoming start, as he's scheduled to take the ball on the road against the Guardians.

Gomez (2-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning Friday against the Cleveland. He didn't record a single strikeout.

Gomez entered the game in the top of the ninth inning but was largely ineffective, throwing just 12 of his 21 pitches for strikes and quickly running into trouble. He walked Bazzana before Angel Martinez doubled, and then Gomez uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Bazzana to score the go-ahead run. Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double that stretched Cleveland's advantage to three, and Gomez was removed after retiring just one of the five batters he faced. Gomez saw his run of four consecutive scoreless outings come to an end, and while he's posted seven scoreless appearances over his last nine, he's given up seven runs in that span. One subpar outing won't remove Gomez from his closing duties, however, especially since he's gone 22-for-22 in save chances in 2026 while posting a 3.92 ERA through 59 appearances in 2026.

Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Guardians after allowing one hit and four walks while striking out six over six scoreless innings.

Bradley worked around some early control issues, as he walked the leadoff hitter in each of the first three innings without allowing Cleveland to capitalize. Travis Bazzana supplied the Guardians' only hit against him with a leadoff single in the fourth, and no runner advanced beyond second base during Bradley's six frames. Bradley has allowed one or fewer earned runs in three of his last five starts, but he gave up four earned runs in both of the other two outings in that span. The strikeouts have been piling up -- he's on a run of five straight outings with at least six punchouts. Bradley is lined up to make his next start at home against the Yankees.

Smith earned his 36th save of the season after allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 5-2 win over the Twins. He did not record a strikeout or a walk.

Smith was handed a three-run cushion after Cleveland broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, and he got the job done en route to his 36th save of the season -- the second-highest total in the AL behind Bryan Baker's MLB-leading 39. Smith allowed a leadoff single to Josh Bell in the top of the ninth but quickly erased it by getting Kody Clemens to ground into a double play, and then Smith induced a Royce Lewis groundball to finish the victory. Smith owns a 2.18 ERA as Cleveland's primary closer this season. He's converted eight of 10 save chances since the All-Star break, posting a 0.83 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with a 32:11 K:BB across 20 appearances in that span.

Gaddis (4-3) earned the win in relief after allowing one hit and striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 5-2 victory over the Twins. He did not issue a walk.

Gaddis entered the game with two outs in the seventh and a runner on second after Erik Sabrowski had allowed the tying run to reach base. Kaelen Culpepper's RBI single tied the game at 2-2, with the run charged to Sabrowski, but Gaddis settled down afterward and retired the next four batters he faced. Gaddis has been extremely reliable for the Guardians this season, and this outing extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 13. Over that stretch, the right-hander owns a 0.62 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB across 13 innings.

Messick didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Twins after allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings.

Messick kept Minnesota quiet outside of the second inning, when Kody Clemens singled and Royce Lewis followed with an RBI double to open the scoring. The left-handed Messick allowed only one additional hit before departing with one out in the sixth, keeping Cleveland within a run until its offense eventually broke through. Messick owns a 2.51 ERA after the strong outing, though he was denied his 12th victory of the season. In 10 starts since the Midsummer Classic, Messick has a 2.09 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 68:11 K:BB across 60.1 innings. He's scheduled to make his next start at home against the White Sox in a matchup with plenty of playoff implications next week.

Houck (elbow) allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four over three innings for Double-A Portland on Friday.

Houck stretched out to 48 pitches after he was limited to 20 pitches during his first rehab outing. The right-hander's next step is an outing for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday.

Crochet (lat) threw 25 pitches during a side session Friday, MLB.com reports.

It was Crochet's third side session but carried some significance, as it was the left-hander's first on the main mound at Fenway Park while donning his home white Red Sox uniform. He continued to increase his intensity -- up to 80-to-90 percent -- and introduced his sweeper during the session. Crochet is scheduled to throw one more bullpen session early next week before potentially facing live hitters.

Contreras (hamstring) served as the designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Double-A Portland on Friday.

Contreras, who kicked off a rehab assignment Friday, is scheduled to play first base for the Sea Dogs on Saturday. The Red Sox will reassess where he's at following Saturday's game.