MLB Player News

Kurtz went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and an additional run scored in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Twins.

Kurtz extended the A's lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning with a 425-foot blast off Michael Tonkin, his 26th this season. With his two knocks Thursday, the rookie first baseman extended his hitting streak to six games -- he's gone 11-for-21 (.524) with three homers in that span. Kurtz has positioned himself as the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year by slashing .315/.404/.650 with 68 RBI and 65 runs scored across 367 plate appearances.

The Orioles placed Rutschman on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a mild right oblique strain, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rutschman missed time earlier this season with a left oblique strain, and now he'll be down at least until late August after tweaking his other oblique. Samuel Basallo is doing the catching for the Orioles on Thursday and will be the everyday guy behind the dish while Rutschman is out.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Yarbrough (oblique) will make at least one more rehab start, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

He's made two rehab starts thus far, with the last one coming with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, when he allowed two runs while striking out three over 3.1 innings. Yarbrough got his pitch count up to 50 in that outing and will continue to build up his stamina in case he's needed in the Yankees' rotation. As things stand right now, however, he might be destined for long relief once he rejoins the big club.

Urena (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the A's, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.

All six of the A's runs of Urena came in the second inning, when the right-hander allowed six consecutive men to reach base with two outs. The veteran Urena had been pitching well for the Twins prior to Thursday, allowing just three earned runs over 12.2 innings in his first three appearances. Overall, Urena sports a 5.00 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and 20:13 K:BB across 36 innings between the Twins, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Mets this year.

The Astros activated France (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

France has completed his rehab from shoulder surgery, but the Astros have elected to keep him at Sugar Land where he's been on a rehab assignment. The righty will provide rotation depth in the minors.

The Astros recalled Matthews from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Matthews is taking the roster spot of the injured Taylor Trammell (neck). The rookie had a .611 OPS and 45 percent strikeout rate during his first stint with the big club and is a candidate to be sent back down soon with Yordan Alvarez (hand) nearing his return from IL.

Bido earned the save in Thursday's 8-3 win over Minnesota, allowing a run on two hits while striking out four over three innings.

It's the first save for Bido in his three-year MLB career. The right-hander has been decent in a long-relief role of late, posting a 3.18 ERA across 17 innings in his last seven appearances. Overall, Bido sports a 5.37 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP and 49:25 K:BB through 65.1 innings this season.

The Astros placed Trammell on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a cervical muscle strain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Trammell suffered the injury in Wednesday's game versus the Tigers when he collided with the outfield wall. He will be eligible for activation Aug. 31, but it's unclear whether he will be ready to go on that date or need more time to recover.

Smith is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Baltimore.

Smith is hitless over his last four contests, and he'll get a day off to regroup. Jesus Sanchez will shift over to right field and Mauricio Dubon will play left field for the Astros.

Perkins (3-2) earned the win Thursday over the Twins, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out two.

Perkins, who joined the A's rotation earlier this month, has won his last three starts while posting a 4.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in that span (16 innings). Overall, the rookie right-hander sports a 4.19 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 37:18 K:BB across 38.2 innings this season. Perkins is currently lined up for a tough home matchup with the Tigers in his next outing.