MLB Player News

Butler went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.

The outfielder has logged multiple hits in back-to-back games and has shown signs of life at the plate since the All-Star break, going 10-for-33 (.303) with six extra-base hits, six RBI and seven runs across 13 contests. It would be a welcome development for the Athletics if the 26-year-old is able to turn things around in what has been a disappointing campaign. Overall, Butler is slashing .209/.309/.330 with six homers, 28 RBI, 38 runs and six stolen bases over 101 games.

Abreu went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Athletics.

Abreu tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth inning when he launched the first of back-to-back homers with Willson Contreras, completing the comeback. Abreu has struggled since a memorable weekend coming out of the All-Star break in which he clubbed four home runs in two games against the Rays. He entered Thursday's contest batting .077 (3-for-39) over his last 10 games.

Osuna went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay.

Osuna singled and scored ahead of Wyatt Langford's double in the fifth inning and then stole his fifth bag of the season in the seventh. Since Langford returned from an injury earlier this month, Osuna's playing time has taken a hit. He's started just five times and has 23 plate appearances over 15 contests since Langford rejoined the club.

Langford went 1-for-4 with with a walk, a double and an RBI in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Rays.

Langford gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning with a run-scoring double. He seems to have moved past an ankle injury suffered last weekend, when he fouled two balls off his foot, even though he didn't miss any time. However, Langford has gone just 3-for-21 (.143) in the five games since.

Interim Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Thursday that Anthony (finger) has started swinging a bat again, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Anthony began hitting off a tee this week, and he's built up to 30 swings at a time at the moment. The outfielder has been sidelined since early May while nursing a torn tendon in his right ring finger, and Tracy outlined that "there's no clear next steps yet" in Anthony's recovery. The team is expected to take their time with the 22-year-old, and he will likely remain at his current level of activity for a "little while" according to Tracy. A return to action with the Red Sox in mid-to-late August might be the best-case scenario at this point for Anthony.

Caglianone went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Twins.

Caglianone gave Kansas City the lead in the third inning with a 438-foot blast off Bailey Ober, his 17th homer of the season and first since July 19. Caglianone has logged two hits in back-to-back contests after going 0-for-18 in his previous six games. Overall, the 23-year-old is slashing .254/.313/.455 with 40 RBI and 47 runs scored across 390 plate appearances this year.

DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.

DeLuca tied the game 2-2 in the sixth inning with a 415-foot blast off Peyton Gray, his seventh homer this season. Over his last nine games, DeLuca's gone 11-for-33 (.333) with a pair of home runs and nine RBI. Overall, the outfielder is slashing .262/.297/.441 with 33 RBI, 28 runs scored and 11 stolen bases across 214 plate appearances this season.

Thomas is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Minnesota.

It's the first day off since June 24 for Thomas, who is likely to be traded before Monday's deadline. John Rave will patrol center field for the Royals while Thomas rests.

Antonacci is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

The left-handed-hitting Antonacci doesn't always sit versus lefties, but he'll take a seat Thursday as the Yankees go with southpaw Ryan Weathers on the bump. Randal Grichuk will play left field for the White Sox.

Simpson is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.

It looks to be a routine day off after Simpson started each of the previous 11 contests. Jonny DeLuca, Cedric Mullins and Victor Mesa will patrol the outfield for the Rangers in Thursday's rubber match.