-
Lawrence Butler RF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Tallies two doubles Thursday
Butler went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.
The outfielder has logged multiple hits in back-to-back games and has shown signs of life at the plate since the All-Star break, going 10-for-33 (.303) with six extra-base hits, six RBI and seven runs across 13 contests. It would be a welcome development for the Athletics if the 26-year-old is able to turn things around in what has been a disappointing campaign. Overall, Butler is slashing .209/.309/.330 with six homers, 28 RBI, 38 runs and six stolen bases over 101 games.
-
Matt Strahm RP | KC
Royals' Matt Strahm: Serves up walk-off grand slam
Strahm (3-4) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Twins. He allowed a walk-off grand slam to the lone batter he faced and was charged with one earned run.
Taking over for Lucas Erceg, Strahm entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning for a lefty-lefty matchup against Kody Clemens, but he wasn't able to get the job done. It was another tough appearance for Strahm, who has struggled to a 12.38 ERA and 2.13 WHIP across 11 appearances spanning eight innings in July. Overall, the veteran hurler owns a 7.27 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 34.2 innings in what has been a season to forget.
-
Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B | NYY
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm: Absent from Friday's lineup
Chisholm (leg) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
Chisholm had to be lifted from Thursday's game against the White Sox due to cramping in his leg. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that the infielder will be a "fully active player" for the series opener, per Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Chisholm's absence from the lineup is more about the Cubs starting a lefty in Shota Imanaga. Jose Caballero will handle second base for the Yankees.
-
Casey Mize SP | SD
Tigers' Casey Mize: No longer starting Friday
Mize will no longer start Friday's game against the Athletics as a precaution with the trade deadline looming, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
There's no trade in place at this point, but Detroit will go with a bullpen game Friday just to be safe. The Tigers are listing Mize as their probable starter for Tuesday's game in Seattle, but the pending free agent is likely to be traded before then. Mize has authored a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 85:19 K:BB over 86.2 innings covering 16 outings this season.
-
Wilyer Abreu RF | BOS
Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Clubs homer in comeback win
Abreu went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Athletics.
Abreu tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth inning when he launched the first of back-to-back homers with Willson Contreras, completing the comeback. Abreu has struggled since a memorable weekend coming out of the All-Star break in which he clubbed four home runs in two games against the Rays. He entered Thursday's contest batting .077 (3-for-39) over his last 10 games.
-
Alejandro Osuna LF | TEX
Rangers' Alejandro Osuna: Steals base, scores in loss
Osuna went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Osuna singled and scored ahead of Wyatt Langford's double in the fifth inning and then stole his fifth bag of the season in the seventh. Since Langford returned from an injury earlier this month, Osuna's playing time has taken a hit. He's started just five times and has 23 plate appearances over 15 contests since Langford rejoined the club.
-
Jeffrey Springs SP | ATH
Athletics' Jeffrey Springs: Confirmed to start Friday
Springs (hip) is listed as the Athletics' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Tigers in Sacramento.
The left-hander exited his previous start Sunday midway through the second inning due to right hip discomfort, but he was apparently able to navigate his between-starts throwing program without issue. Returning to the bump at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park, Springs won't be a recommended lineup option in the majority of fantasy leagues. He hasn't delivered a quality start since May 17 and has gone 0-6 with an 8.82 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in his last 11 outings.
-
Wyatt Langford LF | TEX
Rangers' Wyatt Langford: Double, RBI in loss
Langford went 1-for-4 with with a walk, a double and an RBI in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Rays.
Langford gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning with a run-scoring double. He seems to have moved past an ankle injury suffered last weekend, when he fouled two balls off his foot, even though he didn't miss any time. However, Langford has gone just 3-for-21 (.143) in the five games since.