MLB Player News

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 6-5 win against Atlanta.

Vargas provided a key swing in the third inning, taking Grant Holmes deep for a two-run homer to put Chicago on the board. The blast was his 16th of the season. Vargas has now recorded a hit in nine of his last 10 games, launching four homers during that span. The third baseman is now slashing .243/.371/.498 with 10 doubles, one triple, 43 RBI, 49 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 286 plate appearances.

Fedde did not factor into the decision Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out one over five innings.

Working behind opener Brandon Eisert, Fedde entered with two outs and two runners aboard in the first inning after Eisert had already surrendered two runs. The veteran right-hander settled in nicely and helped keep the White Sox in the game, though he did allow a solo homer to Matt Olson in the third inning. Another run crossed the plate later in the frame when Fedde committed a fielding error. He has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in three straight outings and he now sports a 4.69 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 40:24 K:BB across 63.1 innings. Fedde will face a difficult test in his next scheduled start against the Dodgers.

Montgomery went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI on Tuesday against Atlanta.

Montgomery made his big-league debut Tuesday and hit sixth while starting in right field. He singled in a run in his second at-bat, but his heroic two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning was the highlight of his performance. Montgomery is one of the best prospects in the league and should get considerable run in Chicago's outfield moving forward.

Gelof went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Gelof took former teammate Joel Kuhnel deep in the eighth inning to tack on an insurance run for the Athletics. Gelof has hit safely in 14 straight games dating back to May 25, going 19-for-55 (.345) with two homers and six RBI in that span. The infielder is playing second base against southpaws and third base versus right-handers, but he's been too hot at the plate recently to get platooned. If Gelof's hitting turns cold, Max Muncy could poach some of the time at third since both players are right-handed hitters.

Bolte went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

It took 25 games, but Bolte now has the first homer of his career. He went deep in the second inning off Milwaukee starter Robert Gasser. Bolte has maintained a steady bat in June, going 8-for-26 (.308) this month, albeit with a 1:14 BB:K. The outfielder is hitting .295 with a .756 OPS, seven RBI, seven runs scored, four stolen bases and four doubles through his first 89 plate appearances. Bolte carries a .440 BABIP and a 31.5 percent strikeout rate, both of which are indicators of regression, as the swing-and-miss problem will be more apparent if his hitting luck dries up.

Soderstrom went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Soderstrom has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, going 20-for-50 (.400) with six homers and 13 RBI in that span. He also has a 12:6 BB:K during the stretch, showcasing his improved plate discipline for the year. Overall, the outfielder is still batting just .238, but he has an .804 OPS, 11 homers, 36 RBI, 30 runs scored, one stolen base, 17 doubles and two triples through 64 contests.

Kurtz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Kurtz has launched four homers over his last three games and seven long balls over his last 11 contests. This stretch has gotten the first baseman back in the neighborhood of what's expected of him from a power standpoint -- he now has 15 homers on the year. Kurtz is also batting .283 with a .969 OPS, 49 RBI, 46 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple and seven stolen bases over 302 plate appearances this season.

Barnett struck out four over two perfect innings to earn the save in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Barnett wasn't utilized in Monday's slugfest, leaving him fresh to pitch Tuesday while the bullpen was short. He delivered a tidy outing, collecting his six outs on 31 pitches (20 strikes) for his first career save. Barnett has allowed just two hits with a 12:4 K:BB across eight innings over three relief appearances this season. The Athletics have a hole in the rotation currently, but it may not be an issue until next week. Barnett came up through the minor leagues as a starter, which could make him a candidate for a spot start at some point later in the year. For now, he can be considered a long reliever.

Meckler went 1-for-2 with a double, three walks, three runs and two RBI in a 10-1 win over the Astros on Tuesday.

Meckler continued what has been an excellent start to his tenure with the Angels, reaching base in four plate appearances for the second time over his past seven games. The 26-year-old registered one of his team's two extra-base hits with a double and crossed the plate three times. Meckler has started each of the Angels' past seven games and has taken over as the team's primary left fielder. He's slashing an impressive .340/.417/.547 with two homers, 10 runs, 12 RBI, two stolen bases and a 7:10 BB:K through 60 plate appearances.

Heim went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Heim was the lone Athletic to collect multiple hits, and one of them was one of the team's five long balls. While his playing time remains limited, the catcher has gone 10-for-32 (.313) with four homers and two doubles over his last 10 contests, a stretch that dates back to May 17. He is batting .232 with a .777 OPS, five long balls, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored, six doubles and no steals through 90 plate appearances this season. Heim is in no position to challenge Shea Langeliers for starts behind the plate, but Heim has delivered when called upon lately, either in spot starts or off the bench.