MLB Player News

Stripling fired 4.1 scoreless relief innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.

Starter JP Sears was atypically ineffective and chased after 3.2 innings and 90 pitches, so Stripling was called on to deploy his multi-inning capabilities and ideally spare some of his bullpen mates. The one-time starter came through as hoped, getting 13 outs on 68 pitches to serve as a bridge to the ninth inning. The outing was only Stripling's second since officially being moved to the bullpen, with his first relief appearance having come nine days prior against the Mets.

O'Neill (finger) isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Finger inflammation caused O'Neill to be scratched from the lineup prior to Friday's game, and he'll take another day off Saturday as he continues to recover. Rob Refsnyder will receive another start in right field and bat fifth.

Hamilton isn't in Boston's lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Hamilton will sit down for Saturday's contest after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Friday's series opener. His absence will allow Mickey Gasper to pick up a start at second base while batting seventh.

Brown went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in a loss to the Brewers on Friday.

Brown recorded the only multi-hit effort for the Athletics on a relatively quiet night for the offense, snapping a brief three-game hitless skid in the process. The 32-year-old is showing some modest signs of life at the plate of late, with Friday's performance his third multi-hit tally in the last six starts. That stretch is a microcosm of the improvement Brown has shown since being promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas on July 11, as he sports a .302 average, .873 OPS, eight extra-base hits, 14 RBI, six walks and 10 runs in the 94 plate appearances he's logged across 30 games over that span.

Springer isn't in Toronto's lineup for Saturday's game versus the Angels.

After going 0-for-8 with an RBI and two strikeouts through the first two games of the series, Springer will get Saturday off to regroup. Addison Barger will fill the void in right field and bat seventh.

Wagner isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels.

Wagner has slashed .344/.364/.438 with five RBI through the first 10 games of his MLB career. He'll get a chance to rest Saturday, opening up second base for Davis Schneider.

Kirk isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels.

Kirk will get a breather after recording four hits and three RBI through the first two games of the series. Brian Serven will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.

The Twins designated Okert for assignment Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Okert will lose his spot in the Twins' bullpen after posting a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings on the season. Scott Blewett was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the open roster spot.

The Twins selected Blewett's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Blewett elected free agency after being DFA'd by the Twins on Aug. 13 but eventually re-signed with the club on a minor-league deal last Saturday. The right-hander will now return to Minnesota's bullpen to replace Steven Okert, who was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

Whitcomb went 1-for-2 with two walks Friday against the Orioles.

Whitcomb was originally called up to replace Alex Bregman in the lineup, but his defensive versatility has allowed him to see consistent playing time -- most recently filling in for Yordan Alvarez (neck) on Friday. Whitcomb has now started seven straight games and has gotten on base at a .423 clip while striking out at just a 19.2 percent clip across his first 26 plate appearances in the majors.