MLB Player News

The knee has been bothering for quite some time. Cronin finishes the year with a 4.35 ERA, but an ugly July weighs heavily there, and the fact that he allowed just one homer while posting a 72/25 K/BB in 70 1/3 innings is pretty encouraging. He should keep his spot and open next year back in the Marlins pen.

Delay had been designated for assignment by the Pirates earlier in the week, so they were willing to flip him for anything they could get. Given the Braves’ injuries behind the plate, the 30-year-old backstop will add some solid organizational depth. He’ll report to Double-A Columbus.

The Astros fell behind 2-0 in the first inning on Thursday but Walker helped to turn that around quickly as he crushed a 402-foot (104.8 mph EV) solo shot off of Joe Ryan to lead off the second inning. He also singled and was hit by a pitch in the ballgame, reaching base safely in three of his four plate appearances. The 34-year-old slugger is now hitting .185 (5-for-27) with one homer and one RBI through his first seven games with the Astros.

Peña went back-to-back with teammate Christian Walker off of Joe Ryan to start the second inning, with his 391-foot (101.8 mph EV) blast tying the game at 2-2. That would end up being his only hit in four at-bats on the afternoon. He’s off to a slow start overall at the dish this season, hitting just .130 (3-for-23) with a pair of homers, two RBI and one stolen base.

The 30-year-old southpaw needed just 13 pitches (nine strikes) to get the job done on Thursday, getting Byron Buxton to foul out to the catcher, Trevor Larnach on a swinging third strike and Ty France on a foul pop to first. He has now successfully converted each of his first three save chances on the season while registering a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 3/2 K/BB ratio over three frames. He remains one of the game’s truly elite closing options.

Brown scattered five hits on the afternoon and didn’t walk a batter. All of the scoring that was done against him came in the opening inning as Carlos Correa plated a run with a groundout and Trevor Larnach added an RBI single. He settled in beautifully after that though and the Twins never really threatened against him the rest of the way. The 26-year-old hurler generated 14 swings and misses on 91 pitches on the day — seven on his fastball which averaged 97.6 mph — while registering a strong CSW of 35 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling as he carries a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 15/3 K/BB ratio into Wednesday’s showdown against the Mariners in Seattle.

Buxton reached on an infield single in the home half of the first inning, swiped second base and then raced around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Trevor Larnach. He also reached on an infield single with two outs in the third inning, but was left stranded there. With his two-hit attack, the 31-year-old outfielder is off to a 6-for-25 (.240) start to the season with a homer, three RBI and a stolen base.

The 28-year-old right-hander struck out six opposing hitters on the afternoon and did not allow a base on balls. The Astros got him for a pair of solo home runs in the second inning from Christian Walker and Jeremy Pena, then Ryan allowed a two-run single to Brendan Rodgers in the fourth inning that barely squeezed through a drawn in infield. Ryan got 10 whiffs on 83 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of 31 percent. He’ll carry a 4.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and an 11/0 K/BB ratio into Wednesday’s matchup against the Royals in Kansas City.

The M’s have a spot open in their rotation after optioning Emerson Hancock to Triple-A Tacoma following his disastrous outing against the Tigers on Monday. It would be the first career start for the 30-year-old right-hander. It would also mean that the Mariners are starting different Luis Castillo’s in consecutive games after their star right-hander dominated the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.

The 28-year-old southpaw provided the M’s with a fresh arm in their bullpen over their final two games against the Tigers, working 1 1/3 scoreless innings with a punchout. He’ll continue to hone his craft at the Triple-A level until he’s needed once more. Expect the M’s to make a corresponding move prior to Friday’s battle against the Giants.

Rivas was with the clubs for a few days while Jorge Polanco was away on paternity leave, but with Polanco returning to the active roster he’ll head back to Tacoma. Rivas did not get into a game during his brief stay with the M’s this time around.