MLB Player News

Kittredge earned a save against the Athletics on Saturday, allowing two hits with no walks or strikeouts in one scoreless inning.

Kittredge inherited a two-run lead in the ninth inning and allowed the tying run to reach second base on a pair of singles and a pair of stolen bases. However, the veteran righty got Tommy White to ground out to end the threat. Kittredge picked up his fourth save in August and his eighth overall this season. Four other Orioles relievers have notched at least one save in August, so Kittredge seemingly remains in a committee, but he appears to be the most likely of the team's pitchers to be handed the ball in save situations.

Rojas went 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 8-3 win over Cleveland.

Despite coming off the bench Saturday, Rojas registered his second career four-RBI effort. He's looking to make a case for more playing time, hitting safely in each of his last three games since being recalled from the minor leagues. Through 91 major-league plate appearances, Rojas is still slashing a pedestrian .247/.281/.365 with two homers, 13 RBI, one stolen base and nine runs scored.

Baz (5-14) earned the win over the Athletics on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.

Baz breezed through his first five innings, and Baltimore's offense staked him to a 4-0 lead. The righty faded in the sixth, giving up two runs on two hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch before he was pulled with two outs and the bases loaded. Reliever Alex Hoppe avoided further damage, and Baz went on to record his first victory since June 12. During his 12-start winless stretch, Baz went 0-8, though he pitched to a respectable 3.35 ERA over seven starts at home and a tolerable 4.02 ERA overall during that span. He'll try to build a winning streak his next time out, which is slated to be a matchup in Baltimore against Boston.

Rice went 2-for-9 with a run and three RBI over both games of Saturday's doubleheader split with Boston.

Rice went a quiet 0-for-4 in Game 1, but he bounced back with a 2-for-5 performance in the nightcap. His RBI single in the third inning of that game produced New York's first run of the twin bill, and Rice added a two-run single to cap the scoring in the eighth. The All-Star slugger struggled through most of August but has been heating up of late, batting .357 (10-for-28) with a home run, two doubles, six runs and six RBI over his past seven games.

Sogard went 3-for-8 with a home run, a double, two total runs and two total RBI during a doubleheader split with the Yankees on Saturday.

Sogard knocked an RBI double in Game 1 and added a solo homer in the nightcap. The utility man started at second base in both contests after making one start each at shortstop, first base and third base over his previous three games. Sogard came into Saturday in an 0-for-13 skid, but he's held his own at the plate overall in August, batting .260 with three homers, eight doubles, 17 runs and nine RBI through 27 contests.

Bello (5-7) took the loss against the Yankees in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 4.1 innings.

Bello had largely thrived as a reliever coming into the contest, but it was a different story Saturday, as he was tagged for three runs during his first full inning of work. The right-hander's four total runs allowed were his most since Baltimore bombarded him for eight runs over five frames during a June 4 start. Bello threw 94 pitches in the outing, so he'll presumably be down several days in order to allow his arm to recover.

Fried completed 3.2 innings in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Boston, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four batters in a no-decision.

Fried returned from a minimum-length stay on the IL due to a left elbow bone bruise. He served up a solo homer to Nick Sogard in the third inning but otherwise kept the Red Sox out of the scoring column. Fried was clearly on a pitch count following the injury, as he struck out the final two batters he faced but was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning at just 63 pitches. Still, it was a positive return for the veteran lefty, as he helped New York salvage a split of the twin bill. Fried is lined up to make his next start on the road in San Diego, and he'll presumably have some leash to pitch deeper into that contest.

Rodon completed 4.2 innings in a loss to Boston in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters.

Rodon gave up a solo homer to Wilyer Abreu in the first inning but wasn't scored upon again until there were two outs in the fifth frame. He didn't end up surviving that inning, as the left-hander needed to be rescued from a bases-loaded situation that was caused by two singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Rodon hasn't yet completed five frames since returning Aug. 18 from a lengthy stay on the injured list, though he did increase his pitch count to 88 on Saturday. He also racked up 16 whiffs, and he's posted a 2.84 ERA with an 11:5 K:BB across 12.2 frames since his return, so Rodon has been mostly effective as he builds his way back to a full workload.

Bennett (9-6) earned the win over the Yankees in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing three hits and notching seven strikeouts without walking any batters over six scoreless innings.

Bennett breezed through his six frames, throwing 59 of 83 pitches for strikes and scattering three hits. He racked up 14 whiffs and finished with his second straight quality start. It was the fourth scoreless outing of six-plus innings in what has been a very promising rookie campaign for the southpaw. He'll carry a 3.27 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 74:18 K:BB over 93.2 innings spanning 16 starts into his next appearance, which is lined up to be a road tilt in Baltimore.

Basallo was removed from the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Athletics due to an apparent right hand injury, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Basallo blocked a pitch with his right hand in the seventh inning and initially stayed in the game after being checked on by trainers, but he was removed from the contest following his plate appearance in the eighth, with Yohel Pozo taking over behind home plate. The Orioles should have an update on Basallo once he undergoes more tests.