MLB Player News

Canzone went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over Houston.

Canzone jumped on a four-seamer from Justin Verlander in the bottom of the fifth and sent it into the stands for his fifth home run of the campaign, tying the game at one run apiece. It was the outfielder's second long ball this month, during which he's batting just. 185 (5-for-27) with three RBI and three runs scored. Canzone hasn't recorded multiple hits in a game since April 8 in Toronto.

Brown is out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rays.

He had started each of the previous six contests but will give way to Daz Cameron in right field Thursday. Brown is slashing just .210/.252/.343 on the season, but he's been trending in the right direction with an .853 OPS and two home runs across his last 10 tilts.

Soderstrom is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest in Tampa Bay.

Soderstrom has now started just two of the last eight games for the Athletics and is hitless across his last six contests, so the 22-year-old would seem to be in danger of a demotion. Aledmys Diaz will get the nod at first base for Oakland on Thursday.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners.

Alvarez recorded a base hit in the top of the fourth before coming around to score Houston's only run of the contest on an RBI single from Jake Meyers. The outfielder would add another single in his next at-bat, giving him back-to-back multi-hit games, while also going on to swipe a bag for the second game in a row. Alvarez has now posted 10 multi-hit games this month and has nine extra-base hits in the stretch.

The Athletics recalled Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. He'll start the Athletics' series finale in Tampa Bay.

Harris is back up with the Athletics for the third time this season, but he'll be starting for the first time after his prior two appearances with Oakland came in long relief. The southpaw has been a full-time member of the rotation at Las Vegas for most of this season, logging a 7.67 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 29:24 K:BB over 29.1 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Harris' numbers over parts of two seasons in the majors (6.78 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 64:31 K:BB in 71.2 innings) aren't much better, so he won't make for a dependable streaming option Thursday.

Davis is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Tampa Bay.

Davis is on the bench for a second straight day. The Rays are using a right-handed opener in Shawn Armstrong, so it's possible Davis enters mid-game if Tampa Bay eventually turns to a lefty. Davis has a .776 OPS against southpaws this season versus just a .581 OPS versus righties. Aledmys Diaz will start at first base Thursday.

Verlander did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out nine.

Verlander got off to a great start, hurling 1-2-3 innings in three of the first four frames before surrendering a solo homer to Dominic Canzone in the fifth. The veteran right-hander would only allow a walk from that point on and managed to go seven innings for the third time in his last six starts. Verlander also matched his season high with nine strikeouts, which he also recorded in his previous start against the Athletics.

The Athletics placed Muller on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left shoulder tendinitis.

Muller looked to be a potential candidate to fill the opening in the Oakland rotation Thursday in Tampa Bay, but his shoulder injury will end up thwarting those plans. The Athletics called up lefty Hogan Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move, and he could factor into the team's pitching plans for Thursday's series finale.

Alexander won't start Thursday's game against the Athletics but is expected to be deployed in bulk relief behind opener Shawn Armstrong.

Though he was roughed up for eight earned runs over five innings while working behind Armstrong in his last turn through the rotation May 24 versus the Royals, Alexander won't be used as a traditional starter Thursday and will instead enter the game after Armstrong once again. Despite the poor showing his last time out, Alexander has generally been reliable this season at the back end of the Tampa Bay rotation. In his seven outings prior to the blowup against the Royals, Alexander delivered a 4.30 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 37.2 innings.

Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

He'll likely work no more than an inning or two before giving way to lefty Tyler Alexander, who is expected to operate as a bulk reliever. Armstrong has previously been used as an opener four times this season, striking out 11 over six innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks.