MLB Player News

Littell (1-1) took the loss Monday against the Tigers, allowing five runs on nine hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

Littell allowed a solo homer to Mark Canha on the third pitch of his start Monday and never seemed to recover. Despite surrendering five runs, Littell managed to generate 15 whiffs and match his season high in strikeouts with seven. The 28-year-old starter sports a 3.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB over 27 innings. His next start is scheduled against the White Sox on the road.

Mountcastle isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels due to knee soreness, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Skipper Brandon Hyde noted the team is holding Mountcastle out of the lineup in the series opener simply as a precaution. Hyde also stated that the first baseman will be available off the bench Monday if the situation arises.

Burdick was designated for assignment Monday.

Burdick was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for David Banuelos, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday. Burdick has appeared in 16 games this season for the Tides, slashing .182/.333/.455 with four homers, nine RBI, one stolen base and 11 runs.

Banuelos had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Monday.

Banuelos was optioned outright to Norfolk on Friday after clearing waivers, but he'll now return to the big-league roster. The catcher appeared in the team's 11-3 win over the Twins on April 16, failing to get on base in his only at-bat of the season. He'll replace Austin Hays (calf) on Baltimore's roster after Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, while outfielder Peyton Burdick was designated for assignment, opening a spot on the 40-man roster for Banuelos.

Hays (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Hays left Saturday's contest due to tightness in his calf, and after further evaluation, it's been determined that he'll require a trip to the injured list. Manager Brandon Hyde stated after the move that he's hopeful Hays will be ready to be activated from the IL by the time his 10 days are up, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com. David Banuelos had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk, and Peyton Burdick was designated for assignment in corresponding moves.

Woods Richardson will likely start Friday's game for the Twins in Anaheim, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Louie Varland was dispatched to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, and manager Rocco Baldelli confirmed that Woods Richardson is lined up to join the big-league rotation. Woods Richardson was effective in his lone MLB start earlier this season at Detroit, and he averaged 93.4 mph with his fastball in that outing after sitting at 91 mph with that pitch in 2022 and 2023. If Woods Richardson can just tread water in this role, he could stick in the big-league rotation indefinitely, given Minnesota's lack of viable options behind him on the organizational depth chart.

Gelof went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Monday's 2-0 win over the Yankees.

Gelof entered the ninth hitless in three at-bats but broke the scoreless tie by lifting a 2-2 pitch over the right-center field wall for an opposite-field, two-run blast, his third long ball of the season. Gelof, who entered the day hitting just .202, has now put together hits in consecutive games for the first time since April 7-11 by following up a two-hit day Sunday with Monday's game-winner.

Kiermaier is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Kiermaier will head to the bench after he had started each of the previous four games in center field, going 5-for-13 with two doubles, one walk, two runs and two RBI over that stretch. Daulton Varsho will shift over to center field in Kiermaier's place while Davis Schneider draws a start in left field.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Manoah (shoulder) will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday or Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

In his third and most recent rehab start Friday with Buffalo, Manoah covered 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out five. Over his last two rehab appearances, Manoah has shown dramatic improvement with his control, as he's issued just one free pass in nine innings. Schneider noted that he liked Manoah's fastball command and slider movement following Friday's outing, and if the right-hander can deliver another positive showing this week with Buffalo, his next start could come in the big-league rotation. Manoah has been on the 15-day injured list all season due to right shoulder inflammation, which kept him out of most of spring training.

Miller tossed a clean ninth inning, striking out all three batters he faced to pick up his fifth save during Monday's 2-0 win over the Yankees.

Miller needed just 14 pitches to strike out the side and finish off the listless Yankees. The game was scoreless through eight, but a Zack Gelof two-run homer gave the A's the lead in the top of the ninth, allowing Miller the opportunity to close out his fifth save. All five saves have come in Miller's last five appearances as he's put a stranglehold on the ninth-inning role for Oakland. The effort dropped his ERA to 1.80 and his WHIP to 1.00 while lifting his strikeout rate to 18.0 K/9.