MLB Player News

Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Guardians.

The first baseman took Carlos Carrasco deep in the fourth inning, but it was all the offense the Blue Jays could muster in a 7-1 loss. Guerrero hadn't gone yard since June 6, and while he continues to scald the ball -- he's in the 99th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate -- a 5.9 degree average launch angle is costing him power. On the season, he's batting .281 with a career-low .406 SLG, eight homers and 31 RBI in 75 games.

Polanco (hamstring) played a full game at second base in Triple-A Tacoma's win over Las Vegas on Friday, going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and another RBI from a bases-loaded walk.

Polanco may have put the bow on a highly successful rehab assignment with Friday's performance. Not only were the offensive fireworks a welcome sight for a player who's struggled all season at the big-league level, but Polanco was also able to put in a full game on defense for the first time during his rehab stint. It would seem highly likely the Mariners will deem him ready for activation at this point, but they may opt to have Polanco finish out the weekend with the Rainiers before potentially meeting the club in Tampa Bay for the start of a three-game series against the Rays on Monday.

The Royals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

Cruz was recalled Thursday to bolster the Royals' bullpen after Dan Altavilla (oblique) was placed on the injured list. Cruz did not make a major-league appearance, and he will return to Omaha where he has registered a 4.50 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB over 26 innings. The move comes with Michael Wacha (foot) being reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

The Royals reinstated Wacha (foot) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start against the Rangers on Saturday.

Wacha was placed on the injured list June 2 due to a non-displaced left foot fracture he sustained on a comebacker against the Padres on May 31. He made a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out six over four scoreless innings. To make room for Wacha, right-hander Steven Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.

Newcomb (1-0) picked up the win Friday against the Twins after picking off Austin Martin for the final out of the eighth inning.

It was the first time in Athletics history a pitcher recorded a victory without officially facing a batter, as Newcomb was able to escape the two-out, two-on jam he inherited from Lucas Erceg with his pick-off throw. The quick two-pitch outing and win represent a much-needed reprieve for the veteran left-hander, who'd surrendered five earned runs on four hits and three walks over the 3.1 innings covering his previous two appearances.

Soderstrom went 2-for-2 with an RBI single, a two-run double, a walk and a run in a win over the Twins on Friday.

Soderstrom's stellar night at the plate began with a first-inning RBI single that plated Abraham Toro (hamstring) and was followed up by a two-bagger in the fifth that drove home Miguel Andujar and Brent Rooker. The rookie has been on a tear at the plate since early June, producing a .314/.397/.588 slash line with six extra-base hits, 11 RBI and an acceptable 20.7 percent strikeout rate across the 58 plate appearances covering his last 15 games.

Voth (2-1) was charged with the extra-inning loss to the Marlins on Friday, allowing a walk-off RBI single on the one pitch he threw.

Voth was asked to preserve a 2-2 tie when he entered in the 10th after both Ryne Stanek and Andres Munoz had already worked an inning apiece, but Voth immediately faltered by allowing a game-winning single to Tim Anderson that plated automatic runner Jake Burger. Despite the quick stumble Friday, Voth has been a picture of consistency in the later innings recently, allowing just one earned run in his last 12 appearances while generating an 0.43 WHIP, one win and six holds in the 9.1 innings covering that span.

Crawford went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run in an extra-inning loss to the Marlins on Friday.

The veteran shortstop hit safely for the third time in the last four games while also posting his second stolen base of the season, with the first having come back on May 30. Crawford's modest recent success aside, he mostly remains mired in a season-long funk -- his current .207 average and .299 OBP are both career lows, while his 21.2 percent strikeout rate is his highest since 2018.

Bliss went 3-for-3 with an RBI triple in an extra-inning loss to the Marlins on Friday. He also was caught stealing on his only attempt.

The rookie had his best night in the majors yet, posting his first multi-hit effort and first triple at the big-league level. Bliss was also caught stealing for the first time in five attempts, but this effort gave his batting average and OPS respective 59- and 145-point boosts to .238 and .700.

Meyers went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run Friday against the Orioles.

Meyers smacked his seventh home run of the season in the fifth inning, ending a 23-game drought without a long ball. He's hit only .195 in that span with seven RBI and seven runs scored, though he has still managed to chip in four steals. Meyers has maintained regular playing time in center field throughout his slump thanks to his excellent defense.