MLB Player News

Crawford has been on shelf since July 22 with a fractured finger and was originally hit with a 4-6 week timeline, so his return fits the original bill. The veteran should slide right back into the starting shortstop role with the Mariners, and the team needs him. Seattle was tied for the AL West division lead when he was placed on the injured list more than one month ago, but they are now 3 1/2 games back.

Verlander still wasn’t at his best tonight, but he had enough to quiet the Angels lineup, even as he finished with just two strikeouts. Verlander had lost four straight since returning from his neck injury last month, giving up 19 earned runs over 17 2/3 innings in the process. He’ll get to face the Angels again, this time at home, in his next start Friday.

Josh Hader was unavailable after working the previous two days. It’s actually the first time all year that Pressly has been asked to record more than three outs. He gave up a pair of singles, but thanks to an inherited runner being thrown out at home in the eighth and a double play in the ninth, he wound up throwing just 12 pitches anyway.

Anderson has given up 22 earned runs over 30 2/3 innings in his last six starts, taking his ERA from 2.99 to 3.60. He’ll unfortunately miss the White Sox series and face the Astros again next time out, making him a weak play in mixed leagues.

Tucker, who returned to right field on Friday after DHing in his first four games back, was excluded from the starting lineup tonight for the third time in eight games since he came off the IL. It’s awfully disappointing how he’s been used, but the homer tonight, his 20th in 67 games this year, helps a bit.

Musgrove gave up three homers and six runs to the same team last time out. Tonight, the Giants mustered just three singles off him and two more against the bullpen, never coming through with an extra-base hit in the game. They also never drew a walk. Musgrove moved to 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in seven starts since coming off the IL. He’ll face the lowly White Sox next week.

It was a dreadful night both offensively and defensively for the Giants, not that they really seem to be trying at this point anyway. Black was pulled after 79 pitches, even though he was working on seven days’ rest tonight. He’ll probably get another start against the Royals next weekend.

Tatis’s streak of three straight games with a homer came to an end, but he did get his first steal since coming back from a stress reaction in his leg. He was 8-for-11 there in 80 games before getting hurt.

Solano is batting .298/.354/.420 in 268 plate appearances since joining the Padres on May 5. It will again be a crying shame when he somehow remains unsigned into March and is forced to take a minor league deal.

Gamel was hurt running into the wall two innings earlier. Jason Heyward replaced him in right field for the Astros.

Crow-Armstrong’s home run was his ninth of the season. He hit a solo shot off Kyle Freeland in the seventh inning. The stolen base was his 27th of the year. Crow-Armstrong has been a bit of a drag on batting averages with his .238 average, but he’s rewarded patient fantasy managers with some power and good speed.