MLB Player News

Lively (1-1) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out five batters over six innings.

Lively got through four scoreless frames before the Angels posted a run in the fifth, but that was all the scoring the right-hander ended up allowing. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has yielded exactly one run in each of his past three starts, and he's given up a total of five earned runs across 21.2 innings on the season for a sterling ERA of 2.08. It's a bit difficult to imagine Lively continuing this level of success given that he entered the campaign with a 5.05 ERA across 208.2 career innings as a major-leaguer, and his Statcast numbers show that despite his strong start to the season, he has given up plenty of hard contact while rarely getting batters to chase. However, it's also worth noting that his strikeout numbers have tangibly risen -- Lively had a career 6.9 K/9 prior to this season but is at a 10.0 K/9 through four starts this year.

Langeliers went 3-for-5 with a triple, a three-run home run and two additional runs scored in a win over the Marlins on Saturday.

Langeliers' 420-foot shot to left center with Kyle McCann and Lawrence Butler aboard in the eighth inning certainly wasn't necessary for the red-hot Athletics' victory, but it still had a bit of extra significance since it pushed Oakland's tally to 20 runs on the afternoon. Langeliers needed a prolific effort at the plate like Saturday's in the worst way, considering he'd come into the day with a .165/.222/.381 slash line. The three-bagger was Langeliers' first of the season after he legged out four triples a year ago.

Bleday went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, a three-run home run, a walk and an additional run in a win over the Marlins on Saturday.

Bleday was one of several Athletics hitters to put on a lights-out performance in the 20-4 rout, continuing a recent trend of improved play at the expense of the organization that drafted him in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft in 2019. Bleday has now left the yard on three occasions in the last four games, and the three-hit day tied a season best. Bleday coaxed his OPS to .775 with the prolific afternoon, with the fact he's laced 13 of his 28 hits on the campaign for extra bases playing a key role.

Rooker went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in Saturday's 20-4 victory over the Marlins.

HE became the first Athletics player to homer twice in the same inning since Mark McGwire did it in September of 1996. Rooker did it during Oakland's 10-run third inning Saturday, taking starter Trevor Rogers deep with a two-run shot and then reliever Darren McCaughan over the boards with a three-run blast. He also added a single and a walk. Rooker is up to eight home runs on the season even after going on the injured list last month. Of course, he's also hitting just .240 and striking out at a 36.5 percent rate, but fantasy managers knew what they were getting into with Rooker and should be satisfied with the returns 22 games in.

Kirby underwent an MRI on his right knee Saturday after being removed early from his start against the Astros on Friday, but the results are still pending, MLB.com reports.

Kirby's night ended Friday after a relatively modest 88 pitches due to the lingering right knee issue, which he conceded after the game he'd been dealing with "for the last couple of weeks." The general feeling after the game was he would be able to make his next start without issue, but manager Scott Servais said Kirby was sent for an MRI "just to make sure we're treating it the right way." Servais confirmed Kirby's arm felt good and added that he still expected the talented right-hander to make his next scheduled start, which is slated for Wednesday at Target Field against the Twins.

Harris went 2-for-5 with the first two hits and home runs of his major-league career in Saturday's 20-4 win over the Marlins.

Harris went hitless in his major-league debut Friday, but on Saturday he played a big part in the rout of the Marlins. The rookie took Darren McCaughan deep both times, hitting a solo shot in the fourth inning before following with a two-run blast in the sixth. Harris also drew a walk and scored an additional run. The 25-year-old should continue to see pretty regular reps at third base for Oakland.

Alexander (ribs) started Single-A Stockton's loss to Visalia on Friday, allowing an earned run on two hits over one inning. He struck out one.

Alexander located 12 of his 16 pitches for strikes and came away from his first game action in nearly two months feeling good, per MLB.com. The veteran left-hander is due for another rehab appearance with the Ports on Tuesday against San Jose, and if he remains free of setbacks, his rehab assignment will move to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Ruiz suffered a wrist injury on a diving catch in the sixth inning of Saturday's win over the Marlins and was removed from the game, MLB.com reports.

Ruiz appeared to hurt his glove hand and remained down for a brief time following the catch, cradling his left wrist as he exited the field with team trainers. Seth Brown replaced him in left field, and Ruiz could well be headed for a day off in Sunday's series finale, at minimum.

Banks struck out the only batter he faced to record the final out of Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Cardinals and collect his first save of the season.

The 32-year-old southpaw faced Ivan Herrera with the bases loaded and two outs after a rain delay that lasted over three hours interrupted the 10th inning, and Banks got the job done on four pitches. John Brebbia had originally gotten the call in the save situation before the delay, while Michael Kopech pitched the ninth, so Banks' usage was more due to the unusual circumstances than his prominence in the White Sox bullpen. On the season, Banks has a 5.65 ERA and 1.88 WHIP through 14.1 innings, but his 18:4 K:BB suggests he's been unlucky so far.

Fedde escaped with a no-decision Saturday in a 6-5 extra-inning win over the Cardinals, giving up five runs on four hits and five walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander blanked St. Louis for four innings despite issuing free passes in the first, second and fourth frames, but his luck ran out in the fifth. Fortunately for Fedde, the White Sox came back to tie the game up after he left the mound before winning in the 10th. Fedde threw only 48 of 91 pitches for strikes in his shortest outing of the season, and he has walked at least three batters in three of his last five starts. He'll take a 3.46 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB through 39 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Guardians.