MLB Player News

Mountcastle went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Cubs.

Mountcastle has gone 6-for-24 (.250) over six games in July, a continuation of his performance from June, when he batted .248 across 28 contests. It's a bit of a slump for the first baseman, but not one that has cost him playing time, though he has dropped in the order versus right-handers. He's slashing .272/.314/.454 with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 44 runs scored, 21 doubles and two stolen bases across 84 games this season.

Speier (shoulder) emerged from throwing live batting practice at Petco Park on Tuesday feeling healthy and will make rehab appearances Friday and Monday, MLB.com reports.

Speier will actually kick off his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma in Albuquerque on Friday before moving down to the Mariners' Arizona Complex League team for Monday's outing. If both appearances go well, Speier will likely be activated ahead of Seattle's first series coming out of the All-Star break against the Astros, which begins July 19.

The Orioles optioned Tate to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Tate will head to Triple-A after he permitted 11 runs on 18 hits over nine innings across his last seven appearances out of the Orioles bullpen. Baltimore selected the contract of right-hander Burch Smith from Norfolk in a corresponding move.

The Orioles selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

He'll join the Baltimore bullpen as a replacement for right-hander Dillon Tate, who was optioned to Norfolk in a corresponding move. Though he opened the season as a member of the Miami bullpen, Smith was cut in June after he posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 29.2 innings. He quickly caught on with the Orioles on a minor-league deal and turned in a pair of scoreless appearances with Norfolk before getting the call back to the majors.

Stripling (elbow) will remain with Single-A Stockton for his next rehab appearance, which will take place Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Stripling had been slated to work up to approximately 35 pitches in his rehab debut Tuesday, but he was pulled short of that mark after surrendering two runs over two-thirds of an inning. The right-hander had originally been projected to bump up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his second rehab start, but it seems the organization would like to give Stripling one more opportunity to work out some kinks at a lower level before moving his assignment to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with the Aviators. Stripling did emerge from Tuesday's 24-pitch start feeling healthy, so he presumably remains on track to return shortly after the All-Star break.

Blackburn (foot) will remain with Single-A Stockton for his next rehab appearance, which will take place Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Blackburn scuffled through a 23-pitch rehab debut Tuesday against Rancho Cucamonga, lasting just two-thirds of an inning and surrendering three earned runs. A previous report had indicated Blackburn would move up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his second rehab outing, but it appears Tuesday's rough showing led to those plans being scuttled. Blackburn presumably remains on track to return shortly after the All-Star break, as he came away from his first minor-league appearance feeling healthy.

Erceg was credited with his 11th hold in a win over the Red Sox on Wednesday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout.

Erceg filled his usual setup role with customary proficiency, generating his eighth straight scoreless appearance. The right-hander coaxed his ERA back under 3.00 (2.97) for the first time since May 25 with Wednesday's outing, and his season tally of 11 holds equals the total he mustered during his rookie 2023 campaign, albeit over 17 additional appearances.

Schuemann went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs in a win over the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Schuemann made plenty of noise out of the bottom of the order, generating one of two multi-hit efforts for the Athletics on the night while recording a steal for the second straight game. The rookie shortstop also has an eight-game on-base streak, and he's now posted multi-hit tallies twice in the last four contests.

Andujar went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run in a win over the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Andujar hit safely for the sixth time in the last seven games Wednesday and made good use of his one time on the basepaths. The veteran worked himself into scoring position after his third-inning single by recording his second stolen base of the season, and he eventually came home on Lawrence Butler's double. Andujar went hitless in his first game of the month back on July 2, but he's gone on to post a .300 average and .789 OPS across the 31 plate appearances he's logged in the subsequent seven contests.

Bleday went 1-for-5 with an RBI double in a win over the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Bleday led off for the 10th consecutive game but hit safely for only the third time during that span. The outfielder has just one extra-base hit, Wednesday's double, during that stretch as well, leading to an abysmal .071 average and .209 OPS across 44 plate appearances. With Esteury Ruiz (wrist) already in the midst of a rehab assignment and therefore potentially close to activation, the Bleday experiment at the top of the order isn't likely to persist much longer.