Byron Buxton Exits Early on Saturday
Byron Buxton (elbow) was forced to make an early exit during Saturday's game against the Houston Astros. Buxton initially remained in the game after getting hit by a pitch in the sixth inning. He was pulled out about an inning later, assuming due to elbow discomfort. The expectation is that Buxton will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Before exiting, Buxton went 0-for-2 with a stolen base and was hit by a pitch. Harrison Bader took over in center field and is likely to see increased playing time if Buxton misses any action. UPDATE: Manager Rocco Baldelli said the team is considering Buxton day-to-day for now and aren't worried about him long term. "I got hit. I can tell. I don't feel too good but I'll be alright," Buxton said.Source: Betsy Helfand
Minnesota Twins outfielder Jack Flaherty Hit Hard in Loss
Jack Flaherty (5-7) stumbled to his seventh loss of the season in an 11-1 blowout against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Flaherty entered the day riding a streak of four straight quality starts, but the Reds proved too much to handle. They pummeled Flaherty for seven runs on five hits, including three homers, in just 4 2/3 innings. Flaherty also struggled with control, totaling five walks against three strikeouts. The 29-year-old has posted a decent 4.03 ERA and 90:28 K:BB over 76 innings, but he has mixed in a few clunkers. Saturday's start ranks as his worst of the year. He'll attempt to rebound on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.Source: ESPN
Detroit Tigers right-hander Matthew Boyd Excellent in Victory
Matthew Boyd (6-3) pitched a gem Saturday to notch his sixth win of the season. Boyd led the Cubs to a 2-1 victory with six innings of one-run ball. He allowed only one hit, a first-inning solo home run by outfielder Andrew McCutchen, and tallied three strikeouts against one walk. It was the fourth straight quality start for Boyd, who has given up a mere four earned runs in 25 1/3 innings since May 28. Overall, Boyd has recorded a 2.79 ERA (3.46 xERA) with 73 strikeouts and 19 walks in 80 2/3 frames. Although Boyd didn't hit the 80-inning mark in any season from 2020-24, the Cubs took a two-year, $29 million gamble on him in free agency. The results have been great so far. Boyd will take the ball next against one of his former teams, the Seattle Mariners, on Friday.Source: ESPN
Chicago Cubs left-hander Elly De La Cruz Homers in Third Straight Game
Elly De La Cruz clubbed his 15th home run of the year Saturday as the team rolled to an 11-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. De La Cruz opened the scoring with a 402-foot solo shot off right-hander Jack Flaherty in the top of the fourth inning. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a walk and an additional run scored. The 23-year-old star has now gone deep in three straight games and is hitting a red-hot .350 (14-for-40) in 11 games this month. Along with his high HR total, De La Cruz is slashing .267/.348/.485 with 47 RBI, 20 steals, and 54 runs scored over 305 plate appearances. The switch-hitter has notched the lion's share of his production against righties, and he'll face another RHP in the Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long on Sunday.Source: ESPN
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Tyler Stephenson Hits Grand Slam in Win
Tyler Stephenson helped lead the team's offensive barrage in an 11-1 blowout of the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. With the Reds leading 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning, Stephenson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and connected on a grand slam against right-hander Jack Flaherty. Stephenson added a double and an additional run scored in a 2-for-5 afternoon. An oblique injury sidelined Stephenson through April, but the 28-year-old has logged quality production since he made his season debut May 2. Stephenson is hitting .262/.336/.475 with six homers and 22 RBI in 137 plate appearances. However, Stephenson's 35% strikeout rate (up from 22.7 last year) and unsustainable .377 batting average on balls in play point to negative regression. He tallied two more strikeouts Saturday in an otherwise excellent performance.Source: ESPN
Cincinnati Reds catcher Brendan Donovan Could Return Sunday
Brendan Donovan (toe) was not in the lineup for the team's game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. However, Donovan will return Sunday if he's able to get through batting practice Saturday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Donovan has missed four games in a row with a sprained big toe on his left foot, but the Cardinals have been reluctant to place him on the 10-day injured list. The versatile 28-year-old has been one of the Cardinals' best players this season. He's slashing .310/.379/.440 with four home runs, 26 RBI, and 35 runs scored over 278 plate appearances.Source: Katie Woo - The Athletic
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman/outfielder Tyler Mahle Dealing With Shoulder Soreness
Texas Rangers right-hander Tyler Mahle (shoulder) battled shoulder soreness in a start against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, manager Bruce Bochy revealed. The Rangers cruised to a 16-4 win in that game, but Mahle yielded fourread more...
Jordan Walker Activated From 10-Day Injured List
Jordan Walker (wrist) from the 10-day injured list, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The team optioned Michael Siani to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Walker will bat seventh and start in right field as the Cardinals take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. It'll be Walker's first action since May 28, when he began dealing with inflammation in his left wrist. The former standout prospect, 23, batted a woeful .215/.273/.310 with three home runs, 23 RBI, and a career-worst 33.1% strikeout rate in 172 plate appearances prior to his IL stint. The Cardinals have received better production in right from Alec Burleson, but he'll shift to left for Saturday's game. Slumping left fielder Lars Nootbaar will take a seat for at least one game.Source: Katie Woo - The Athletic
The St. Louis Cardinals have activated outfielder Gary Sanchez Activated From 10-Day Injured List
Gary Sanchez (wrist) from the 10-day injured list and optioned fellow backstop Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk, per Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com. Sanchez is returning after landing on the IL back on April 28. Signed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract in free agency, Sanchez batted an ugly .100/.200/.100 with no home runs, four RBI, and 12:1 K:BB in 35 plate appearances before suffering his injury. He hit a far more encouraging .367 with three homers in seven games with Norfolk. The 32-year-old has typically been a capable hitter, and he should give the Orioles a credible backup to Adley Rutschman. With Rutschman entrenched as the starter, Sanchez has minimal fantasy value.Source: Rich Dubroff - BaltimoreBaseball.com
The Baltimore Orioles have activated catcher Mark Vientos to Begin Rehab Assignment Early Next Week
Mark Vientos (hamstring) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse early next week, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Vientos landed on the 10-day injured list with a low-grade right hamstring strain on June 3, continuing a disappointing start to the season for the 25-year-old. After bursting on the scene last year with 27 home runs and 71 RBI, Vientos has batted a mediocre .230/.294/.380 with six HRs and 21 RBI in 208 plate appearances this season. Brett Baty has been the Mets' primary third baseman with Vientos out, while Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna have also picked up starts. With Vientos likely to return in the next couple of weeks, the team could option either Mauricio or Acuna to Triple-A.Source: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
New York Mets third baseman Paul DeJong Nearing Rehab Assignment
Paul DeJong (face) could begin a rehab assignment next week, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. DeJong has been out since Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller hit him in the face with a 92.7 mph fastball on April 15. "I'd like for him to take it easy the first couple times, maybe two at-bats or so and then go from there," manager Dave Martinez said in regards to DeJong's rehab. DeJong mostly worked at third base before suffering his injury, but he struggled to a .204/.246/.278 line with no home runs in 57 plate appearances. Washington still doesn't have a clear answer at the hot corner, where it has primarily turned to the light-hitting Jose Tena. DeJong should see time there whenever he comes back, though well-regarded prospect Brady House could force his way to the majors soon.Source: Jessica Camerato - MLB.com
Washington Nationals infielder Masataka Yoshida Ramps Up Throwing
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is making progress as he works back from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Yoshida returned to "making throws from left field to second base at increased intensity and velocity" on Thursday, per MLB.com. He's on track to make his season debut sometime after next month's All-Star break. The former Japanese star hit a respectable .285/.343/.433 .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers and 56 RBI over 421 plate appearances in his second season in the bigs last year. It's unclear how much playing time he'll receive in the majors this season, however, as Rafael Devers is occupying the full-time DH position. Yoshida figures to play outfield on a part-time basis, limiting his fantasy value.Source: MLB.com
Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Jonathan India Not in Lineup Saturday
Jonathan India (shoulder) is not in the lineup Saturday for the club's meeting with the Athletics. Nick Loftin will man the keystone in India's place and bat sixth. India exited the Royals' 6-4 loss to the Athletics in the seventh inning Friday after suffering a shoulder subluxation diving for a ball. The injury doesn't seem severe, but India will get Saturday off as he recovers. The former Red, 28, is hitting .249/.332/.336 with three home runs and 18 RBI over 274 plate appearances in his first season as a Royal.Source: MLB.com
Kansas City Royals second baseman Shane Bieber to Resume Throwing Program Soon
Shane Bieber (elbow) received a positive update this week on his surgically-repaired elbow. Bieber, who is recovering from April 2024 Tommy John surgery, had to halt his rehab last week after experiencing soreness. Dr. Keith Meister informed Bieber he's dealing with normal soreness, not any structural damage. Manager Stephen Vogt expects Bieber to "resume his throwing program in the next few days," per Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com. The former Cy Young winner's return to the majors is not imminent, but at least he remains on track to pitch in the bigs this year.Source: Josh Kirshenbaum - MLB.com
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins Starting Rehab Assignment on Monday
Garrett Mitchell (oblique) and Blake Perkins (lower leg) are slated to begin a rehab assignment on Monday in the Arizona Complex League. Mitchell has been held out of action since April with an oblique strain. He recently began participating in baseball activities and could return to the majors before the end of the month. During his first 25 games of the season, Mitchell held a .206/.286/.294 slash line with four doubles, no home runs, and three stolen bases. Perkins suffered this leg injury during spring training. He was initially placed on the 10-day injured list but was eventually shifted to the 60-day injured list. Given his current status, fantasy managers should expect Perkins to participate in a more extended rehab assignment than Mitchell. Mitchell will likely compete for a full-time role while Perkins will compete for a depth role when they return to action.Source: Curt Hogg
Milwaukee Brewers outfielders