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Alek Manoah RP | LAA
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Will get another start
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Sunday's 11-8 loss to the Nationals that Manoah will remain in the rotation for at least one more turn, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
After Manoah struck out 12 over six innings of one-run ball in the fifth start of his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo, the Blue Jays determined he was ready to return from a season-opening stint on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. While taking the hill Sunday for the Blue Jays for the first time since Aug. 10, 2023, Manoah unfortunately reverted to the poor form that he displayed throughout last season, as he was tagged for seven runs (six earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out six over four innings. Though Manoah remained plagued by spotty control (52 strikes on 92 pitches) and command, Schneider stressed that the right-hander's standing in the rotation wouldn't be determined by just one start. Manoah thus looks on track to get at least another opportunity to redeem himself, though it's not immediately clear when his next start will come. Manoah tentatively lines up for a home start next Sunday against the Twins, but the Blue Jays have off days Monday and Thursday and could get by with a four-man rotation until at least May 14 in Baltimore if they so choose.
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Randy Arozarena LF | SEA
Rays' Randy Arozarena: Starting to hit for power
Arozarena went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base Sunday against the Mets.
Arozarena took Edwin Diaz yard in the ninth inning to tie the game, tallying his fifth home run of the season and second in his last three starts. He also swiped his fifth base of the year and has yet to be caught. It's been an ugly start to the season for Arozarena, and even with this burst of power, he has failed to record multiple hits in a game since March 30. The slow start has been the result of some bad luck -- he has a .165 BABIP -- but he's also struck out at an elevated 29.8 percent clip across 141 plate appearances.
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Ceddanne Rafaela CF | BOS
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Cracks homer in win
Rafaela went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 9-2 win over the Twins.
Rafaela's fifth-inning, two-run shot gave Boston a lead it never relinquished. It was the Red Sox's first home run in a span of 220 at-bats dating back to April 27 when Rafaela connected as part of a four-hit game against the Cubs. He was hitting just .156 leading up to that four-hit game, which appears to have triggered his bat. Rafaela has hit safely in seven of the last eight contests, going 10-for-29 (.345) with six extra-base hits, seven RBI and six runs scored.
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Vaughn Grissom 1B | LAA
Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom: Collects first hit
Grissom went 1-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 9-2 win over Minnesota.
With Boston leading, 3-1, in the eighth inning, Grissom unloaded on a cutter from Kody Funderburk, driving it the opposite way for a two-run double. It was the first hit in a Red Sox uniform for Grissom, who was activated Friday after opening the season on the injured list.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: MLB updates ruling Friday
MLB changed the official scoring on a play during Friday's game, which left Houck charged with three earned runs over six-plus innings, not four, Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
A fielder's choice in the seventh inning was updated to a throwing error by catcher Reese McGuire. The ruling drops Houck's season ERA to 1.99 and gives him a sixth quality start.
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Jonah Heim C | ATH
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Sends game into extra frame
Heim went 1-for-3 with a walk and solo home run in Sunday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Royals.
Heim knotted the game at two runs apiece with a ninth-inning home run that set the stage for Nathaniel Lowe's game-winning single in the 10th. For Heim, it was his fourth homer and first in 12 games. He's appeared in 29 of the team's first 35 games, which is a lot for a catcher whose bat has tailed off in August and September in each of the past two seasons.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: No rehab assignment needed
Eovaldi (groin) isn't expected to require a rehab assignment prior to being activated from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy expressed optimism that Eovaldi, who was placed on the injured list Friday, will return when first eligible May 18. Jack Leiter is expected to be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to fill the gap in the rotation until Eovaldi and/or Max Scherzer (back/thumb) are ready to return from the IL.
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Esteury Ruiz RF | MIA
Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: MRI coming Monday
Ruiz, who was removed from Saturday's win over the Marlins with a wrist injury and was out of the lineup Sunday, is slated to undergo an MRI on Monday, Jessica Kleinschmidt of the Athletics' official site reports.
Manager Mark Kotsay hadn't ruled out Ruiz making an in-game appearance Sunday, but that situation never arose in an ugly 12-3 loss for the Athletics. Ruiz is now headed for further evaluation Monday, after which the severity of injury he suffered making a diving catch in Saturday's game will become clearer.
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Joe Boyle SP | TB
Athletics' Joe Boyle: Sustains back injury Sunday
Boyle, who was lifted after one inning in Sunday's loss to the Marlins, was suffering from lower-back pain that got worse the more he threw during the frame, MLB.com reports.
Boyle's performance clearly seemed to be affected by his physical limitations, as he allowed four earned runs on a hit and three walks over his sole inning on the mound. Manager Mark Kotsay confirmed Boyle would undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, at which point the right-hander's chances of making his next scheduled start Saturday against the Mariners will become clearer. Per Sonja Chen of MLB.com, right-handers Osvaldo Bido and Joey Estes, both of whom have big-league experience and are on the 40-man roster, are candidates to be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas should Boyle miss at least one turn through the rotation, although she adds Oakland has long relievers Mitch Spence and Kyle Muller as options on the big-league roster.
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Chris Martin RP | TEX
Red Sox's Chris Martin: Nursing injury to non-throwing shoulder
Martin wasn't available for Sunday's 9-2 win over the Twins and hasn't pitched since Wednesday due to soreness in his non-throwing shoulder, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.
Even though the injury is to Martin's left shoulder, the Red Sox are concerned that his mechanics could be affected as a result. If he's not feeling any better after an off day Monday, the Red Sox could move Martin to the 15-day injured list and call up another pitcher from Triple-A Worcester to take his spot in the bullpen.