Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources
Yordan Alvarez went 3-for-3 with two homers and three RBI in a 5-2 win Saturday over the Twins for the Astros.
Alvarez also drew a walk. The 26-year-old slugger took Joe Ryan deep with a runner on in the first, and did more damage against Ryan with a solo shot in the fifth. That ups Alvarez’s total to 11 roundtrippers on the year, and he’s plated 25 over the first 59 games of the season for the Astros. Alvarez has hit safely in 13 of his past 14 games and is batting .377 (20-for-53) during that stretch, though he had only two RBI during that span before Saturday. Alvarez has been as good as any hitter in baseball the last few years, and it’s the only reason why those numbers and a .283/.357/.480 slash seem slightly disappointing.
Andy Pagés went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored on Saturday, propelling the Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Rockies.
It was a much-needed strong performance for Pagés, who has three multi-hit efforts over his last four contests after going just 3-for-29 over his previous seven contests. The 23-year-old rookie outfielder has held his own at the highest level since a mid-April promotion from Triple-A Oklahoma City and looks like he’s going to stick around moving forward. He is starting to get things figured out in the majors with three multi-hit efforts over his last four games. That surge has gotten the rookie outfielder back up to a .257 batting average, though his .685 OPS on the year remains middling. He's added five home runs, 17 RBI, 24 runs scored and a stolen base over 40 contests. Pagés continues to see a starting role in center field.
José Abreu hit first homer of season.
Abreu went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 win against the Twins.
Abreu took Minnesota starter Joe Ryan deep in the second inning for his first long ball of the campaign. It's been a rough season for the veteran first baseman, as he's slashing a meager .119/.167/.167 through 90 plate appearances. Abreu has been a bit better since returning to the big club May 27 following a demotion to the minors, going 3-for-13 (albeit with six strikeouts) over five games.
Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBI against the Orioles on Saturday.
Díaz brought two runs in to score with a line drive off the right field wall as he legged out a triple in the second inning. He was credited with a third RBI after drawing a bases-loaded walk in the third. The 32-year-old first baseman is slashing .243/.320/.350 with four homers and 28 RBI across 253 plate appearances.
Dairon Blanco picks up steal in loss.
Blanco went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Padres. Blanco briefly looked to be claiming a larger role in mid-May, but he's since returned to his usual status as a fourth outfielder. His steal Saturday was his first since May 13, giving him 12 thefts on the year. He's added a decent .255/.323/.364 slash line with one home run, four RBI, 15 runs scored and three doubles over 63 plate appearances. Blanco's last two starts have come against right-handed pitchers, but it appears that's more to give Kyle Isbel regular rest than it is a sign of Blanco earning a larger role.
Jorge Soler was not in the Giants’ starting lineup for Saturday night’s battle against the Yankees.
It was no more than a regular day of rest and maintenance for the 32-year-old slugger. Soler was hitless in his last 14 at-bats with four strikeouts and got a day off Saturday to regroup. He entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-2 with a double.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was scratched from Saturday’s lineup.
The veteran outfielder was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to flu-like symptoms, but he will be back in the starting nine for Sunday's series finale in Queens. Gurriel had a rough time at the plate in May and finished the month with a .213/.245/.287 slash line in 25 games.
Colás was called up to the White Sox on Saturday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Colás' call-up comes after Andrew Benintendi (Achilles) and Andrew Vaughn (finger) sustained in-game injuries Saturday, making it likely that at least one of the two will require a stint on the IL. Colás owned a .571 OPS in 263 plate appearances with Chicago last season and is slashing .244/.358/.406 with five home runs at Triple-A Charlotte this year.
