MLB Player News

The Rays outrighted Brantly to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

While Ben Rortvedt was on the paternity list last week, the Rays briefly added Brantly to the 40-man roster and had him serve as the No. 2 catcher for the big club behind Alex Jackson. Before the Rays cast him off the 40-man roster when Rortvedt rejoined the team Saturday, Brantly went 1-for-9 while appearing in three games, marking his first big-league action since the 2022 campaign. The 35-year-old backstop will now head back to Durham, but he could get another call-up in September if Rortvedt or Jackson misses time or if the Rays want to carry a third catcher.

Ober (12-6) yielded nine runs on seven hits and two walks over two innings while taking a loss against Atlanta on Monday. He struck out two batters.

Ober was tagged with a three-run shot by Matt Olson in the first inning and a two-run homer by Travis d'Arnaud in the second. Entering Monday's start, Ober had given up nine total runs over his previous six outings, going 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA during that span. The last time he allowed more than six runs in a start was his season debut against the Royals on March 31. Ober saw his ERA jump from 3.54 to 4.06 after the rough outing. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is lined up to be at home against the Blue Jays.

Hader (6-7) took the loss Monday, allowing an unearned run on a hit and a walk in an inning-plus of relief as the Astros fell 3-2 to the Phillies in 10 innings. He struck out three.

The fireballing closer struck out the side in the ninth inning to preserve a 2-2 tie, but when Hader came out to begin the 10th, a walk to Trea Turner was following by a walk-off single by Bryce Harper. Hader has still gone the entire month of August without giving up an earned run, and over his last 12 appearances he sports a 0.00 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB in 12.1 innings. The southpaw needs two more saves to record his fifth 30-save campaign, and he sits seven short of 200 for his career.

The Red Sox selected Hill's contract from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Hill made just one appearance with Worcester after inking a minor-league contract in mid-August, tossing two scoreless innings on Aug. 23. The 44-year-old threw 28 pitches in the appearance, so he's not ready to be used as a traditional starter initially. Hill posted a 5.41 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 146.1 innings with the Pirates and Padres in 2023.

Blanco came away with a no-decision in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander blanked Philly through four innings before giving up single runs in the fifth and sixth, and Blanco left the mound after 91 pitches (61 strikes) just short of his 13th quality start of the season. He's taken a big step back since the All-Star break, managing only one QS in seven trips to the mound while posting a 4.98 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 41:15 K:BB through 34.1 innings, and his career-high workload of 143.1 frames likely has something to do with that. Blanco will look for his first win since July 9 in his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Royals.

Ramirez went 4-for-8 with a walk, four doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Monday's doubleheader against the Royals.

The Guardians dropped both games of the twin bill, but that was through no fault of Ramirez -- the only other extra-base hit any Cleveland batter managed in either contest was a solo shot by Daniel Schneemann in the nightcap. Ramirez's barrage of two-baggers brought him to 31 doubles on the season, to go with 33 homers and 32 steals. It's the second time in his career he's produced a 30-30-30 campaign, and per Zack Meisel of The Athletic, it's a feat only one other player in Cleveland history (Grady Sizemore in 2008) has accomplished.

Allen (8-5) took the loss in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Royals, coughing up five runs on eight hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out one.

Called up to make a spot start in the twin bill, Allen tossed only 43 of 76 pitches for strikes, and when he did get the ball over the plate, Kansas City hitters tended to hit it hard -- four of the eight hits off the southpaw went for extra bases, including solo homers by Paul DeJong in the second inning and Salvador Perez in the fifth. The Guardians are still looking for a reliable fifth starter with Alex Cobb (finger) sidelined, but Allen doesn't appear to be a solution given his 5.73 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 2.03 HR/9 over 97.1 big-league innings this season.

Perez went 5-for-7 with two walks, two doubles, two home runs, three runs scored and six RBI across both games of Monday's doubleheader sweep of the Guardians.

The veteran slugger was behind the plate for the first game and DH'ed in the second, but Perez tore the cover off the ball no matter what his defensive responsibilities were. Both long balls came in the nightcap, as he launched a solo shot off Logan Allen in the fifth inning to snap a 4-4 tie before destroying a Tim Herrin curveball in the sixth for a grand slam. Perez has reeled off three straight multi-hit performances, boosting his August slash line to .302/.361/.616, and the 34-year-old is up to 25 homers on the season -- the fourth time in his career he's reached that threshold.

Witt went 2-for-6 with three walks, a double, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Monday's doubleheader sweep of the Guardians.

The AL MVP candidate took Hunter Gaddis deep in the eighth inning of the matinee to break a 3-3 tie and set the Royals on their way to winning both games. Witt has hit safely in 14 of the last 15 games, slashing .351/.448/.737 over that stretch with five homers, two steals, 10 RBI and 14 runs, and the 24-year-old is closing in on his second straight 30-30 campaign with 27 home runs and 27 stolen bases through 132 contests.

Lynch picked up his first career save in the second game of Monday's doubleheader sweep of the Guardians, giving up a hit and a walk over three scoreless innings of relief. He struck out one.

The southpaw was called up from Triple-A Omaha earlier in the day to provide some length to the Royals' bullpen, and Lynch finished up a 9-4 win in the nightcap with a 34-pitch outing. He's been effective in Triple-A since being sent down in mid-June, posting a 2.80 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 61:19 K:BB through 12 starts and 74 innings, but Kansas City doesn't have room in its big-league rotation for the 27-year-old at the moment.