MLB Player News

Lugo came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the Nationals, coughing up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out two.

The veteran righty served up two homers, including a first-inning grand slam to Nathaniel Lowe, before getting the hook after 92 pitches (53 strikes), but Lugo escaped a loss when Kansas City was able to tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth. Lugo's two worst outings of the season have been his last two, as he's been tagged for 13 earned runs in just eight innings. Over 30.1 innings since the All-Star break he's labored to a 7.42 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 22:16 K:BB. The Royals have a day off Thursday and have some options if they want to give Lugo extra rest, but he currently lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Rangers.

Smith came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Tigers, allowing two hits and three walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander put together one of his stingiest performances of the season, although it wasn't exactly efficient as he needed 92 pitches (56 strikes) to record 15 outs. Smith wasn't rewarded for his efforts, however, as the White Sox offense managed only two hits on the afternoon. Smith has looked good since returning from an ankle injury at the beginning of August, giving up four runs in 14.1 innings (2.51 ERA) with a 17:8 K:BB over three starts, but all three resulted in no-decision. He'll look for his first win since June 10 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Atlanta.

Vest struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 18th save of the season in a 1-0 win over the White Sox.

Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth inning against the bottom part of Chicago's order and got his first hold since coming over to Detroit, while Vest got the call in the ninth against the 9-1-2 hitters and got the job done on 11 pitches (six strikes). Vest has the Tigers' last two saves, but Finnegan got the three before that, and the duo could continue to split chances the rest of the way, with Vest perhaps being viewed by manager A.J. Hinch as the slightly higher-leverage option. On the season, Vest sports a 2.61 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 58:15 K:BB through 51.2 innings.

Melton (3-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 1-0 victory over the White Sox, allowing just one hit over five scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

Making his first big-league start since July 28, the rookie right-hander retired the first 12 batters he faced before Luis Robert doubled to lead off the fifth inning, but Melton made sure he would advance no further. Despite being on a limited pitch count, Melton lasted long enough to qualify for the win, firing an efficient 56 pitches (43 strikes). The Tigers don't have a vacancy in their rotation, so this was likely just a spot start to buy the team's regular starters some extra rest. Melton will head back to a long-relief role with a 2.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB over his first 22.1 MLB innings.

Jensen will not be in Triple-A Omaha's lineup Wednesday due to a right wrist contusion, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Jensen suffered the injury after his hand hit a batting helmet on a throw during Tuesday's game. The 22-year-old top prospect is considered day-to-day, and he could return to the lineup before the end of the week. Jensen is slashing .252/.358/.574 with two steals, eight doubles, nine home runs and 26 RBI over 135 plate appearances in Triple-A this season.

Kurtz is not in the Athletics' starting lineup against the Rays on Wednesday.

Kurtz will begin Wednesday's game on the bench after starting in the Athletics' last 14 games, with Tyler Soderstrom shifting over to first base and batting in the cleanup spot. Over that 14-game span, Kurtz has gone 13-for-50 (.260) with 10 runs, two doubles and three RBI.

Moore isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Now set to sit on the bench for the fourth time in the Angels' last five games, it seems Moore has fallen out of favor for the starting gig at second base in Anaheim. Luis Rengifo will get another nod at the keystone Wednesday while batting seventh for the Halos.

Carpenter went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the White Sox.

The 27-year-old struck out in his other two at-bats, but he managed to score the game's only run in the top of the sixth inning on a Wenceel Perez sac fly after starting the frame with a single. Carpenter has been hot lately, as he's now batting .294 this month with four home runs and 10 RBI in 12 games. The outfielder continues to do most of his damage against righties, posting an .865 OPS in those matchups, though he did record one of his two hits Wednesday against Chicago southpaw Martin Perez.

Finnegan worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the White Sox.

Finnegan covered the eighth inning and earned a hold while Will Vest got the save in the ninth. The same scenario played out Monday, with Finnegan picking up the win in relief and Vest earning the save. Before that, Finnegan had rattled off three straight saves for the Tigers, so it appears that the team's late-game bullpen usage is going to be a bit fluid moving forward depending on matchups. Both Finnegan and Vest have fantasy value in this arrangement, though they do cap each other's ceilings to a degree.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that O'Neill (wrist) could be sidelined until late August or early September, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

O'Neill is eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list Saturday, but his recovery from right wrist inflammation is coming along more slowly than expected. If O'Neill's progress continues to stall, he will require a rehab assignment before returning to the active roster.