Rodolfo Castro homered, doubled and drove in three runs Wednesday against the A's.
After spending a few weeks on the short side of a platoon, Castro has reemerged as a starter recently, getting the call in five games in a row while splitting time between second and short. The switch-hitter has had a solid offensive line throughout -- he's currently batting .268/.360/.436 with six homers -- but the vast majority of his production has come against lefties. In fact, he's yet to homer against a right-hander. That's obviously going to have to change if he wants to stick as a full-timer.
Luis Ortiz pitched five innings and allowed two runs in relief Wednesday against the A's.
Ortiz was available because his last start Saturday ended after just two innings due to a rain delay. That he threw 91 pitches today will push back his next start, which had been scheduled for Friday, but it's not an issue for the Pirates, who have both Thursday and next Monday off.
Roansy Contreras lasted just one-third of an inning and gave up seven runs in a disastrous start Wednesday against the A's.
Incredibly, Contreras gave up six hits in the first without the benefit of a hard-hit ball. Still, he made things worse for himself by walking two and not making a play on a tapper in front of him. Contreras had his rotation spot saved a couple of weeks ago by the Vince Velasquez injury, but after two poor starts in a row, he's almost certainly looking at a demotion to the bullpen or to Triple-A.
Hogan Harris got his first victory Wednesday by allowing three runs over five innings against the Pirates in his first big-league start.
Harris's previous two appearances were starter-length, but he pitched a bulk guy in those. He found himself on the mound with a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first today, and though he wasn't stellar, he held on to the majority of that lead before departing. He has a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings since being recalled from the minors.
Ryan Noda went 2-for-4 with a homer and two walks Wednesday as the A's topped the Pirates 9-5.
With a .255/.415/.473 line in 212 plate appearances, Noda has overtaken Brent Rooker to become the most likely choice to represent the A's in next month's All-Star Game. He's currently third in the majors in OBP behind Luis Arraez (.451) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (.429).
Seth Brown reached five times, going 3-for-4 with a double and two walks, in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.
Brown came into the day with a .241 OBP, but that's up to .281 now after his first multihit game since May 22. He hadn't reached base safely even three times in a game previously this season.
Alex Bregman is not in the Astros' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
It'll be rookie Grae Kessinger at third base and batting ninth on Wednesday in his major league debut. Utility specialist Mauricio Dubón is at shortstop with Jeremy Peña also getting a rare day off.
Brewers optioned 2B Brice Turang to Triple-A Nashville.
Turang has been jettisoned with starting shortstop Willy Adames returning for Wednesday's game against the Orioles. The 23-year-old rookie second baseman got off to a hot start, but has faded over the last month, batting just .139 (10-for-25) in 25 games.
Jorge Soler is absent from the Marlins' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Soler missed a pair of contests earlier this week due to right thumb soreness, so it's not a complete shock to see him sitting out Wednesday's series finale against the Royals. The 31-year-old slugger, who has 17 homers and 36 RBI in 246 plate appearances this season, should be ready to roll for Friday's series opener against the White Sox in Chicago.
Yandy Díaz is not in the Rays' lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Twins.
Díaz has played in six consecutive contests for the Rays since last Wednesday, so he's certainly earned a breather, especially with a Thursday afternoon series finale on tap. The 31-year-old on-base machine has put together a long-awaited power breakthrough this season, launching 12 round-trippers in just 52 games so far. It'll be Luke Raley at first base on Wednesday night in his place.
Reds manager David Bell told reporters TJ Friedl (hamstring) could return on Saturday.
Bell added that Nick Senzel (knee) is also trending towards a return this weekend. Friedl has been dealing with a left hamstring issue for a couple weeks at this point, so it's clear that the club believes he's put the issue behind him in order to feel confident bringing him back so quickly.
Royals recalled LHP Austin Cox from Triple-A Omaha.
Cox is joining the Royals for the second time this year, having pitched two scoreless innings the first time. The 26-year-old had a 3.83 ERA and a 36/20 K/BB ratio in 42 1/3 innings for Omaha.
Royals placed RHP Josh Staumont on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 6, with a strained neck.
Staumont had given up three runs in his last two appearances, leaving him with a 5.40 ERA in 20 innings. The former closer of the future has no saves and just one hold this season.
Rays recalled RHP Luis Patiño from Triple-A Durham.
It's the first time Patiño has seen the majors this season. The Rays moved him to the pen at Durham after he opened up with a 6.66 ERA in six starts. He'd posted a 10.24 ERA since, but most of those runs came in one ugly outing early on. In his last five appearances, he'd allowed only one run, though he'd also struck out just two. He doesn't seem like a very good bet right now.
Rays placed RHP Calvin Faucher on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 6, 2023, with right elbow inflammation.
Faucher had allowed one run in five innings since returning from Triple-A on May 25. Maybe it's not a factor, but the irregular schedule he's had this year, shifting between the pen and the rotation and the majors and minors, probably didn't help his elbow.
Trent Grisham is back in the starting lineup Wednesday for the game against the Mariners.
Grisham missed two games with lower back soreness. He's hitting ninth today.
Phillies sent OF Cal Stevenson outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
It's his first outright assignment, so he doesn't have the option of declaring free agency. He'll head to Lehigh Valley and hope to earn a look later.
Jarred Kelenic has been dropped to sixth in the Mariners lineup Wednesday against the Padres.
The last time Kelenic hit this low in Seattle's order was Apr. 27. This is against a right-hander, too. Kelenic, though, is 5-for-39 with 22 strikeouts in his last 11 games. He's hit .231/.297/.385 since the beginning of May.
Jose Barrero is on the bench for a sixth straight game Wednesday against the Dodgers.
Barrero hasn't started in the infield since May 17, and his path to any playing time there seems gone now with Elly De La Cruz out. The Reds also prefer both Stuart Fairchild and Will Benson to him in the outfield right now. He seems destined to be optioned to Triple-A whenever any of the five Reds hitters currently on the IL gets activated.
Nationals designated RHP Erasmo Ramírez for assignment.
Ramírez did a great job for the Nationals last season, posting a 2.92 ERA in 86 1/3 innings while averaging a career-best 93.3 mph with his fastball. This year, though, his velocity is down about 1.5 mph and he's struck out just 13 in 27 innings while amassing a 6.33 ERA. He'll probably have to go pitch well in Triple-A in order to earn another shot.