MLB Player News

The Red Sox activated Mead following Sunday's 6-1 win over Toronto.

After being acquired from the Nationals earlier Sunday, Mead will be available to make his team debut Monday against the Athletics in Sacramento. The 25-year-old is expected to work primarily at second base with his new squad, even though he made just one of his 62 starts with Washington at that position. Mead had enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Nationals, posting a career-high .254 average with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 49 runs scored and six stolen bases over 87 contests. Boston optioned infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to Triple-A Worcester to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Mead.

Cheng was optioned to Triple-A Worcester after Sunday's 6-1 win over the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Cheng will head down to Triple-A to make room for Curtis Mead's activation ahead of Mead's debut with Boston on Monday. Cheng posted a .256 average with a double, five RBI and seven runs scored over 39 at-bats in 14 contests with the Red Sox following his promotion June 26, and he will likely get another shot with the big-league club relatively soon.

Kilby (hamstring) has gone 4-for-11 with a home run, a double, two walks, two runs and five RBI in three games for Single-A Tampa since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Friday.

Kilby had been on the shelf since April 3 due to a hamstring strain. The No. 39 overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Kilby quickly established himself as one of the Yankees' top lower-level prospects last season after producing an .898 OPS with more walks (13 ) than strikeouts (11) to go with 16 steals in 18 games at Tampa.

Cruz secured the save Sunday against the Tigers, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out two.

Closer Alex Lange was presumably getting Sunday off after picking up the save Saturday against Detroit, allowing Cruz to get a save opportunity. Cruz does have his two saves for the season in his past three appearances, so he at least appears to have worked his way into Kansas City's high-leverage mix along with Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm and Daniel Lynch. Through 37 innings, Cruz has a 4.62 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 45:17 K:BB.

Lewis went 1-for-5 with one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Athletics.

Lewis is up to 10 steals on the year, including four over his last four games. The infielder has struggled at the plate a bit since the All-Star break, going 5-for-32 (.156) over his last nine games, though he's also drawn six walks. Lewis is still batting a mere .212 with a .672 OPS, 10 home runs, 31 RBI, 35 runs scored and 13 doubles over 72 contests this season, and he looks to have a fairly secure starting role in the Twins' flexible infield.

Jeffers went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Athletics.

Jeffers picked up his first multi-hit effort since he returned from a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. He has gone 10-for-35 (.286) over nine contests since his return, picking up where he left off before the injury. The catcher is batting .293 with a .930 OPS, nine home runs, 35 RBI, 29 runs scored, nine doubles, one triple and one stolen base over 46 games on the year.

Avila took a no-decision Sunday against the Tigers, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

Avila struggled for efficiency Sunday, as he was unable to complete five innings despite throwing 89 pitches (50 strikes). The 24-year-old right-hander has battled control issues all season long and particularly as of late -- he's issued at least three walks in seven of his last 10 starts and four free passes on three occasions during that span. Avila is unlikely to have much streaming appeal for his next scheduled outing in Colorado, where he'll take a 4.81 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and an alarming 59:39 K:BB over 67.1 innings.

Clemens went 3-for-5 with two triples, one RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Athletics.

Clemens has three multi-hit efforts over nine games since the All-Star break, going 9-for-37 (.243) in that span. He's logged five extra-base hits (one double, two triples, two home runs) during that stretch, but his performance is otherwise in line with what he's done all year. The utility man is batting .243 with a .787 OPS, 18 home runs, 49 RBI, 49 runs scored, 19 doubles, five triples and seven stolen bases over 92 contests. Clemens has seen most of his time at second base lately, but he can play in both the infield and outfield -- he started in right field Sunday since Luke Keaschall shifted to center while Byron Buxton slotted in as the designated hitter.

McMahon is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

The left-handed-hitting McMahon will take a seat for a third day in a row to close out the series while the Phillies send another lefty starter (Cristopher Sanchez) to the bump. Amed Rosario will fill in for McMahon at third base and will bat third.

Kreidler went 3-for-4 with a triple, two doubles, one RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Athletics.

Kreidler hasn't been a regular source of speed this season, but that may be changing. He's logged all three of his steals over the last two games, and he's also up to three triples on the year. Kreidler had gone 13 games without a multi-hit effort prior to Sunday, batting just .114 (4-for-35) in that span, but he has a path to a near-everyday role since Tristan Gray was optioned Monday. Overall, Kreidler is batting .244 with a .720 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI and 24 runs scored across 62 contests this season.