MLB Player News

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was ejected after the first balk and Buehrle was tossed after the second. Buehrle was uncharacteristically animated following the second balk call, dropping his glove to the ground. He had to be restrained by Joey Cora and A.J. Pierzynski before leaving the field. He was replaced by left-hander Randy Williams with a runner on second base and one out.

The Mariners were down 4-2 when Rodríguez sent a David Robertson curve 419 feet down the left field line for his 15th homer of the year. It gave Rodríguez his first four-hit game since July 9 and first three-RBI game since May 26. Rodríguez wound up with the three hardest-hit balls of the game, all of them right at 112 mph.

Hancock’s stuff tonight was clearly down from his nine previous major league starts this season, but he kept the Mariners in the game while throwing in the low-90s with his fastball and sinker. He’ll likely face the Yankees next time out, and even though that start will be in Seattle, he seems like a poor play.

Muñoz has two saves in three days after collecting just one in six weeks. He’s not promised every remaining ninth-inning opportunity with the Mariners picking their spots with him, but it was a strong showing tonight.

There was a slim chance deGrom might go five if everything broke right tonight, but he was quite impressive in getting his 11 outs. His fastball averaged 97.2 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph. He wound up with 10 missed swings and a 33% CSW in the 61-pitch outing. It looks like he’ll make his next start Friday against the Blue Jays. That would leave him with just two starts over the remainder of the season.

Goodman had a two-run homer in the second and a grand slam to break a 5-5 tie in the eighth. It was quite a game from someone who just spent half of August in the minors for no good reason and has often been overlooked while in the majors. It’s hard to say whether Goodman really has a chance of making it as a primary catcher, but his solid bat and versatility should make him a useful player for a long time. Since the Rockies have finally decided to give him a real shot, he might be a sneaky play during the final two weeks.

Gomber left with a two-run lead in the quality start, but the Rockies pen blew that before Colorado ultimately won the game. It was Gomber’s 12th quality start, which doesn’t count the three times he pitched at least six runs and allowed four runs or fewer in Coors Field. If there were any flexibility when it came to quality starts, those would count. He’ll make his next start at home against the Diamondbacks.

Vodnik surrendered a game-tying three-run homer, only to wind up with the victory after the Rockies scored four times in the bottom of the eighth. Vodnik is currently working in a setup role in front of Tyler Kinley, so there’s no sense in using him in mixed leagues right now. He should be unavailable Saturday after making his third appearance in four days tonight.

That’s a perfectly decent effort for a Denver start. Alas, the Cubs were down two when Assad exited, and while they did tie the game in the eighth, the good times didn’t last for long. Assad’s next start will come at home against the A’s. We don’t entirely trust him right now, but that’s a solid enough matchup for those hunting victories.

The Cubs could have sat Busch against a lefty tonight, but they stuck with him, and he delivered, even if the big blow did come against a right-handed reliever in Victor Vodnik. The homer, which briefly tied the game in the seventh, was Busch’s 18th of the year. He probably earned himself another start versus southpaw Kyle Freeland on Saturday.

Basso wasn’t as sharp tonight as in his previous start against the Tigers, but he didn’t need to be versus this lineup. He wound up with six missed swings in the 77-pitch outing, and he gave up nine hard-hit balls. Still, all five hits he allowed were singles. Things will get a bit more difficult with the Cubs next up for him. He’s a mediocre play in mixed leagues.