MLB Player News

Butler went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

Butler put the Athletics ahead in the seventh inning with his first long ball since April 29. The outfielder has slipped into a part-time role, and he's not helping his cause in June, going 3-for-18 (.167) over eight games this month, even with the homer. Overall, he's batting .165 with a .507 OPS, four homers, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, three doubles and four stolen bases through 183 plate appearances. Butler will need to show some consistency at the plate to displace Carlos Cortes from the starting job in right field versus right-handed pitchers. There was room in the lineup for both of them Wednesday since Brent Rooker sat out due to knee soreness.

Alvarado struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

The right-hander was trusted to lock things down in the ninth inning while pitching for the second day in a row, becoming the fifth different Athletics' pitcher to record a save since May 30. Alvarado struggled early in the season after making the Opening Day roster and was demoted in mid-April, but he's allowed just one hit while striking out nine over 4.1 innings across three appearances since returning to the majors last week. He's collected a save, four holds and a 2-0 record on the year despite a 5.79 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB through 14 innings. Alvarado is the ninth pitcher overall to earn a save for the team this season, as the closer situation remains a muddled committee for the A's.

Perkins allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Wednesday.

Perkins was a little better this time out, but he still wasn't very efficient in his second start of the year. He threw 56 of 89 pitches for strikes and allowed two home runs while pitching at hitter-friendly Las Vegas Ballpark. In his two starts, he's allowed eight runs on 10 hits and five walks while striking out 10 over eight innings. Combined with his work out of the bullpen this season, Perkins has a 6.25 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 43:12 K:BB through 36 innings over 19 appearances. If the Athletics still need his help in the rotation, Perkins would be tentatively lined up for a home start in Sacramento against the Pirates next week.

Lambert was removed from his start against the Angels on Wednesday after getting hit on the hand by a comebacker, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Nick Madrigal hit a groundball in the seventh inning that bounced up and struck Lambert's right hand, leading to the latter's removal. The 29-year-old righty said after the game that he feels fine, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, but the Astros will likely monitor his health leading up to his next turn through the rotation, which is lined up to come next week against Detroit. He gave up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks over 6.1 frames prior to his exit.

Lewis went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Tigers.

Lewis hit the second-longest home run (444 feet) of his career to left-center field in the second inning off of Framber Valdez. The 27-year-old Lewis has gone 4-for-15 with a home run and a double since returning to the big leagues after a brief stay with Triple-A St. Paul. The former top prospect slashed just .163/.261/.279 across his first 31 games of the year to earn the demotion, but he had a 1.303 OPS in 15 contests at Triple-A to secure a spot back on the MLB roster.

Buxton went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 win versus the Tigers.

Buxton's moon shot to center in the fifth gave Minnesota a 4-1 lead, which it would not relinquish. It's the 20th homer of the season for the two-time All-Star and the third time he's reached that threshold during his MLB career. The center fielder returned to the lineup Tuesday after he sustained a shoulder bruise from a collision with the outfield wall last week, and he's homered in his first two games back from the injury.

Gomez picked up the save in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Tigers, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout over one inning.

The saves leader for the Twins secured another one Wednesday despite a shaky ninth inning that saw him give up his first earned run since May 24. Gomez has now converted all five of his save chances with Minnesota this season as he maintains a light grip on the closer role. Since coming over from Tampa Bay in early May, the right-hander has given up only two earned runs with a 19:7 K:BB across 15 innings.

Valdez (3-5) was tagged with the loss Wednesday in the 6-4 defeat to the Twins after he allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in five innings.

Valdez gave up home runs to Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton, which accounted for all of the damage against him. The lefty took his fourth loss in his past seven starts and has a 5.54 ERA and 1.42 WHIP during that span. The two-time All-Star's strikeout rate this year is down more than five points to 17.9 percent, which would be a career low.

Paredes allowed a run on one hit and two walks with four strikeouts over three innings during Wednesday's win against the Tigers. He did not factor in the decision.

Paredes stepped into a starting role for the Twins after two long-relief outings to begin his big-league career. The 25-year-old set a season-high in strikeouts and now has a 4.35 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB across 10.1 major-league innings. Parades has not pitched more than five frames with Triple-A St. Paul or the Twins this season, so his potential upside as a starting pitcher is limited until he can work deeper into games.

Brieske worked around three hits and a walk to toss 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins.

Brieske wasn't particularly sharp, but it was still a step in the right direction for him, as he had allowed three runs in each of his first two outings of the season. The righty had been on the injured list all year after suffering a left adductor strain toward the end of spring training, and it looks like he's still shaking off some rust after being reinstated in late May. Brieske should see his bullpen role grow as he settles in, though he may have limited fantasy upside working in middle relief.