MLB Player News

Santander went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 8-6 win over the White Sox.

Santander's homer was his eighth of the season and first since May 11. He's been battling a bruised knee over the last week, which could explain his 2-for-20 run at the plate over his last five games. The outfielder is slashing .206/.280/.424 with 27 RBI, 23 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 189 plate appearances. Aside from the knee issue and the occasional rest day, he's been a regular in the Orioles' lineup as the team's starter in right field.

Langford (hamstring) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The 22-year-old has been sidelined nearly three weeks by a strained hamstring but is in the latter stages of his rehab program. Assuming Langford is able to get in a couple games this weekend, he could rejoin the Rangers for an upcoming two-game series versus the Diamondbacks, which begins Tuesday.

Bleday went 1-for-6 with a two-run home run in an extra-innings win over the Rockies on Thursday.

Bleday stepped to the plate in the 11th with the Athletics having already cut a four-run deficit in half, and he delivered with a 409-foot shot to center to knot the score at 9-9. It was the second consecutive game in which Bleday left the yard, and the clutch homer also extended the outfielder's hitting streak to six games. Bleday has impressively laced 23 of his 44 hits for extra bases this season, and all three components of his .243/.315/.459 slash line are career bests.

Davis went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run in an extra-innings win over the Rockies on Thursday.

Davis gave the Athletics a serious boost in the eighth inning when he left the yard with Seth Brown aboard and Oakland down by three. Half of Davis' four homers on the season have come in the last three games, and with hits in each of those contests, he's pushed his OPS (.618) to its highest point since May 8.

The Twins recalled Alcala from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The club had previously optioned Caleb Boushley and now have announced Alcala as his replacement on the roster and in the bullpen. In eight appearances this season, Alcala has collected a 3.27 ERA and 10:6 K:BB. He figures to be utilized in middle relief.

Pop worked a scoreless seventh inning Thursday to record his second hold of the season in a win over the Tigers.

Entering the game to protect a two-run lead, Pop needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to set down the middle of Detroit's batting order. The right-hander has been effective since his promotion in late April, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB in 10 innings, but he could be the pitcher who gets bumped out of the big-league bullpen when Chad Green (shoulder) comes off the IL.

Bichette went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Tigers.

All three knocks were singles, but they continued a hot streak for Bichette that has seen him reel off multiple hits in three of the last four games and five of the last nine. Since May 8, the All-Star shortstop is slashing .380/.426/.580 with four doubles, two homers, one steal, six runs and nine RBI in 13 contests.

Varsho went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's rout of the Tigers.

His seventh-inning long ball off Jack Flaherty broke open what had been a 1-1 pitchers' duel, sending the Blue Jays on their way to an eventual 9-1 victory. Varsho has five multi-RBI performances in the last nine games, and on the season he leads Toronto in both homers (nine) and RBI (27).

Mountcastle went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the White Sox.

Mountcastle recorded hits in each of his first four at-bats, marking only the second time this month in which he's scored two runs in a contest. The first baseman saw his batting average jump 16 points with his fourth multi-hit performance this month, though he hasn't driven in a run since May 8. Mountcastle is also yet to draw a walk in May while striking out 17 times.

The Twins optioned Boushley to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

The club will announce a corresponding move prior to Friday's game against the Rangers. Boushley has yielded two runs over two relief innings during his brief time in the majors this season.