Mason Miller
P OAK
Thu 5/9/24 10:17 AM

Miller fired two perfect innings during which he recorded four strikeouts in the first game of a doubleheader against the Rangers on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Miller had last taken the hill May 1, so manager Mark Kotsay opted to give his closer some much-needed work with the Athletics up by five runs. The extended layoff didn't seem to faze Miller in the least, as he located 24 of 32 pitches for strikes in an relatively efficient showing. The hard-throwing right-hander lowered his ERA and WHIP to 1.10 and 0.67, respectively, in the process, and with the Athletics much more competitive than expected thus far, Miller's prospects for save opportunities over the long term are brighter than when the season began, despite the recent stretch of inactivity.

Abraham Toro
2B/3B/DH OAK
Thu 5/9/24 10:10 AM

Toro went 3-for-5 with an RBI single, a double, a walk and two runs during a loss to the Rangers in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Toro continued to wield one of the hottest bats in the majors during the nightcap, bouncing back from an 0-for-3 showing in the matinee of the twin bill with his seventh multi-hit effort in the last nine games. Toro's strikeout rate during that stretch is a minuscule 7.1 percent, and his slash line now sits at a season-best .293/.351/.447 across 134 plate appearances.

Peter Lambert
P COL
Thu 5/9/24 10:07 AM

Lambert (2-2) took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on nine hits over three innings. He struck out two.
EDGE Analysis
Lambert went 1-2-3 through the first inning before getting lit up for six runs in the second, beginning with a leadoff homer from Michael Conforto. The right-hander would allow another run on a Blake Sabol double in the third and wouldn't return to the mound for the fourth. The seven earned runs marked a season high for Lambert and he's now allowed at least four runs in three of his last four starts. He's still looking for his first win since April 8 against the Diamondbacks.

Elly De La Cruz
SS/3B CIN
Thu 5/9/24 10:03 AM

De La Cruz went 0-for-4 with two stolen bases in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.
EDGE Analysis
After reaching base on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning, De La Cruz promptly stole second and third base, but the Reds couldn't bring him home. The 22-year-old phenom is up to 21 steals on the season, tops in the majors by a healthy margin -- second place is a three-way at 14 between Ronald Acuna, Brice Turang and Jose Caballero. De La Cruz has gone 0-for-15 over the last four games, but he still sports a .254/.356/.516 slash line on the season with eight homers, 19 RBI and 27 runs in 36 contests.

Max Schuemann
2B/OF OAK
Thu 5/9/24 10:03 AM

Schuemann went 3-for-7 with a double, two walks and two runs during Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
Schuemann did the majority of his damage in the nightcap, when he got on base thrice via a pair of singles and a walk and came around to score twice. The rookie has now reached safely in five consecutive games, a stretch during which he 's lifted his batting average and on-base percentage to .216 and .348, respectively.

Graham Ashcraft
SP CIN
Thu 5/9/24 9:57 AM

Ashcraft (3-2) took the loss Wednesday, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings as the Reds fell 4-3 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.
EDGE Analysis
After back-to-back quality starts, Ashcraft took a step backwards Wednesday, walking more batters than he struck out for the first time this season and managing only 14 called or swinging strikes among his 86 pitches. The 26-year-old right-hander has still had a solid first month-plus of the campaign, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB through 39.2 innings. He lines up for a rematch with the D'backs in Arizona early next week.

Jordan Hicks
P SF
Thu 5/9/24 9:56 AM

Hicks (3-1) earned the win over the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames.
EDGE Analysis
Hicks pitched well for most of the contest and allowed just one run up until the fifth inning. However, that's where the right-hander would run into trouble after allowing four consecutive batters to reach with one out, ultimately leading to two more runs coming across for Colorado. The seven hits and three runs allowed both marked season highs for Hicks, who has now failed to go beyond five innings in back-to-back starts. He now holds a 5.00 ERA over two May starts to go along with an 8:6 K:BB.

Brett Harris
3B OAK
Thu 5/9/24 9:56 AM

Harris 2-for-6 with a solo home run, an RBI sacrifice fly, two walks and an additional run over both games of a doubleheader against the Rangers on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie uncorked his first homer since belting his first two big-league round trippers in only his second career game on Saturday versus the Marlins. Harris also continued to display some solid plate discipline for a rookie by drawing another pair of free passes, pushing his walk rate to a stellar 19.4 percent across his first 31 plate appearances.

Joe Mantiply
P ARI
Thu 5/9/24 9:51 AM

Mantiply struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning to record his first save of the season in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Reds.
EDGE Analysis
With Paul Sewald unavailable after making his season debut Tuesday and Kevin Ginkel struggling to shut the door in the ninth inning, Mantiply got the call and fanned Will Benson before getting Jonathan India to fly out with the winning run on second base for Cincy. Sewald will be the top option for saves in the Arizona bullpen, but as the team's top lefty in the bullpen, Mantiply could see further situational chances. He's been reasonable effective this season, posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 15.1 innings.

Jordan Montgomery
SP ARI
Thu 5/9/24 9:46 AM

Montgomery (2-2) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings in a 4-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out two.
EDGE Analysis
While he again wasn't dominant, Montgomery did work seven frames for the second time in four starts since joining the Arizona rotation and delivered his third quality start. The veteran southpaw will take a 4.70 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB through 23 innings into his next outing, which lines up for a home rematch with Cincinnati early next week.