MLB Player News

Moore went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 20-3 loss to the Rangers.

Moore provided one of the few bright spots for the Angels in the embarrassing loss when he stroked a solo homer to center field in the fifth inning. The rookie has started at second base in three of Los Angeles' past four games after starting just once in three games before that. It's worth noting, however, that both of the Angels' past two games have been against lefty starters, while Moore has began on the bench in three of the team's most recent five matchups with a right-handed starter. He may continue to be in and out of the lineup against righties given his rough .192/.304/.269 slash line against same-handed pitching this year.

Grisham went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 11-2 win over Washington.

Grisham set the tone right away for New York, swatting a 334-foot solo shot to open the bottom half of the first inning on a day when the Yankees ended up with six long balls as a team. The veteran outfielder continues to build on a career-best campaign, and through 24 games in August he's posted an .881 OPS with eight homers, 11 RBI, 17 runs, a stolen base and a 15:19 BB:K. Grisham has already blown away his previous career-best mark with 26 home runs this season, and on Wednesday he matched his previous best mark by scoring his 67th run of the campaign.

McMahon went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run against Washington in an 11-2 win Wednesday.

On a day when New York hit six long balls as a team, McMahon got in on the action with a three-run blast in the third inning. It was just the second homer McMahon has hit across 28 contests since being dealt to the Yankees on July 25, and this was his first one at home. The veteran third baseman hasn't done much with the bat since the trade, as he's posted a .649 OPS with a 32.0 percent strikeout rate during that 28-game stretch, though he's walked at a healthy 12.0 percent rate.

Smith (quadriceps) is likely to be placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener against the Dodgers, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Smith was removed from Wednesday's win over the Brewers due to left quad tightness. He won't stick around in Milwaukee for Thursday's series finale and will instead head back to Phoenix to undergo imaging. Assuming the MRI confirms a quad strain, Smith will likely require a stint on the IL. Tyler Locklear will start at first base Thursday and should serve as the Diamondbacks' primary option at the position while Smith is shelved.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that McCullers is available to pitch out of the bullpen, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Espada described the move as "short-term" and noted that McCullers is an option to start Monday's game against the Angels. Luis Garcia (elbow) is also an option to return from the 60-day injured list start Monday, and the two could be used in tandem if McCullers isn't needed out of the bullpen Thursday versus the Rockies or during the first three games of the series with the Angels over the weekend. In his most recent start this past Friday in Baltimore following his return from the IL, McCullers yielded three runs and walked five over four innings. He's now sitting on a 6.89 ERA in 12 starts this season.

Wells went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 victory versus the Nationals.

Wells capped New York's scoring in the contest with a solo shot to right field in the fourth frame. The backstop has three homers over his past six games, but he has only one other hit -- a single -- over 19 at-bats in that span and has struck out nine times. Wells is still getting regular starts behind the plate for the Yankees, but he's been in an offensive funk since mid-July; over his past 27 contests, he's slashing a woeful .143/.189/.298 with a 30 percent strikeout rate.

Yelich is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

With Milwaukee wrapping up its series against Arizona with a day game after a night game, Yelich will receive a breather after he had started in each of the last 17 contests. Yelich's absence will clear the way for William Contreras to get a break from catching yet remain in the lineup as Milwaukee's designated hitter.

Beck threw a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Cubs, striking out two.

After allowing a run in each of his previous three appearances, Beck retired all three batters he faced and threw 10 of his 15 pitches for strikes. Over eight appearances in August, the right-hander has allowed eight earned runs on 12 hits -- including one home run -- and three walks while striking out 10 and hitting one batter in 13 innings. He owns a 4.82 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 24:12 K:BB across 37.1 innings in 22 games this season.

Peguero threw two scoreless relief innings in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Cubs, striking out three.

Peguero retired all six batters he faced, throwing 18 of his 25 pitches for strikes. The right-hander had his contract selected from Triple-A Sacramento last Thursday, when he made his big-league debut. The 28-year-old has tossed three scoreless outings since joining the Giants, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out four across 5.2 innings.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez started in both of the past two days upon his return from the 60-day injured list, but he will get a breather for Thursday's matinee. Jose Altuve will occupy the designated-hitter spot and Mauricio Dubon will cover left field in the rubber match.