MLB Player News

With Mickey Moniak joining the big league roster after the Angels deal with the Phillies, Thomas became the odd-man out. The 29-year-old is just 1-for-11 (.091) with six strikeouts in his limited action with the big league club this season.

The struggling Hernández had gone 17 games without a homer before taking Jeremiah Estrada deep in the sixth inning. The ball left his bat at 108.6 mph and traveled a projected 420 feet. It was his only hit of the game to go along with two strikeouts and two routine flies, but hopefully it will get him going. He had been 3-for-38 with one RBI since May 31.

Although he settled for two strikeouts and just two missed swings, Casparius was able to get 12 outs on 54 pitches in his longest outing this season. If the Dodgers keep stretching him out, he’ll probably offer some mixed-league value, even if his ERA seems likely to increase in the rotation. He has a 2.86 ERA and a stellar 46/9 K/BB in 44 innings to this point. Unless something changes, he’ll face the Padres again next Monday or Tuesday.

Kopech came in with a 4-2 lead to the start the seventh and got Jake Cronenworth to ground out after three straight pitches around the zone. His control disappeared afterwards, and with no idea where the ball was going, he brushed back Elias Díaz three times in his plate appearance. Kopech fared a little better on the next walk to Fernando Tatis Jr., but he was then pulled with the bases loaded. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Anthony Banda came in and got Luis Arraez to pop up and Manny Machado to ground out (on a 3-0 pitch) to end the threat.

The Dodgers had Tanner Scott, who earned a save Monday, face the heart of the order while up 4-2 in the eighth today, leaving the bottom of the lineup for Vesia in the ninth, and Vesia wound up striking out Jake Cronenworth, Tyler Wade and Elias Díaz for the save. Vesia is definitely behind his fellow lefty in line for saves right now, but he’s still an option in deeper leagues.

The Padres are really cracking down on getting Vásquez out of the game before the lineup hits for a third time, and it seems to be doing some good. He faced 18 batters today and then made way for Adrian Morejon with Shohei Ohtani coming back up. Ohtani went on to ground out to end the inning with the score still tied at 1-1. Of course, as a consequence of all of these quick hooks, Vásquez hasn’t received a decision in his last four starts. The Padres did end up losing today, but they’re still 8-6 on the year when Vásquez pitches. He’s set to face the Dodgers again next week.

Adell’s homer came off Osvaldo Bido, the third pitcher in the frame after starter JP Sears was lifted and Grant Holman failed to retire any of the three batters he faced. Adell was losing playing time before Mike Trout returned and seemed to be very much in danger of falling out of the Angels’ plans, but he’s timed this hot streak very well; he’s hitting .333 with seven homers in 55 plate appearances over his last 15 games.

JP Sears outpitched Hendricks today, but Hendricks outlasted him and got the win after the Angels scored six times in the sixth. It’s Hendricks’ fourth victory to go along with six losses. It’s hard to see him improving a whole lot on his current 5.20 ERA, but he’s giving the Angels a chance; this makes eight straight outings in which he’s pitched at least five innings and allowed no more than four runs. We’ll see if that holds up with a Yankee Stadium start next on the docket.

Kenley Jansen was down today after working the previous two days and four of the previous five. Detmers made it look easy in his place, earning his second career save eight days after his first one. We still say he belongs in the rotation, but that’s probably not happening at any point this year. He’s pitched 11 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts in his last 11 appearances.

Sears left up 3-0 in the sixth, but the Angels went on to score six times in frame, with two of the runs being charged to Sears. He actually wound up getting ejected three batters after departing. Still, it’s definitely nice to see a nine-strikeout game from Sears. His previous season high was seven, and he had fanned a total of 19 batters in his previous seven starts. Sears will take a 5.08 ERA into his next start at home against the Astros.

The A’s needed Rooker to do it one more time in the ninth, but he flew out to center in a one-run game. It’s Rooker’s first two-homer game of the year and seventh of his career. He has 15 homers and 15 doubles through 70 games.