Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 17, 2022 Nestor Cortés recorded 12 strikeouts over five shutout innings Sunday in a no-decision against the Orioles. Cortes fired an immaculate fourth inning and needed just 88 pitches (66 strikes) to navigate five flawless frames. He scattered three hits and only issued one walk while generating 15 swinging strikes and finishing with a sublime 39 percent CSW (called strikes plus whiffs). The 27-year-old left-hander has reeled off nine consecutive scoreless innings with a 17/1 K/BB ratio to open the season. He'll square off against the Guardians on Saturday in New York and should be rostered in all fantasy formats. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-3 with an RBI on Sunday, lifting the Blue Jays to a 4-3 win over the Athletics. Gurriel put the Blue Jays on the board with an RBI sacrifice fly in the opening frame and went on to notch a pair of hits in the low-scoring affair. The 28-year-old burgeoning slugger is hitting .306/.350/.389 with seven runs scored and five RBI across 40 plate appearances this season. José Iglesias went 1-for-3 with a walk Sunday in his return to the Rockies' starting lineup. Iglesias missed a pair of games due to a right hamstring issue. It sounds like a relatively minor concern moving forward and the 32-year-old defensive wizard should be good to go as the Rockies' everyday shortstop. Randy Arozarena went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles against the White Sox on Sunday. Arozarena is still looking for his first homer (and first steal and first walk), but this makes four doubles. He still has just two RBI and two runs scored through nine games. Adolis Garcia went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Angels. Down by three runs in the bottom of the third, Garcia hit a 400-foot blast to left-center field off of Jose Suarez, bringing the Rangers within one run of the Angels. The slugging outfielder should continue to hit baseballs over the wall and swipe bags, but his batting average and on-base percentage will likely leave much to be desired. White Sox OF prospect Yoelquis Céspedes went 2-for-5 with two homers on Sunday for Double-A Birmingham. Céspedes picked up his first two homers of the season in the contest. The younger brother of Yoenis Céspedes, Yoelqui isn’t the same kind of talent as his older brother, but there’s a lot to like thanks to above-average power potential with a speed grade that isn’t far behind. He also has a strong arm like big bro, although not quite the cannon Yoenis had. Céspedes can be a regular, and because of the pop/wheels, he has a chance to be a fantasy helper. He could help Chicago before this season comes to an end. Yordan Álvarez said Sunday that he expects to return to the Astros lineup on Monday. Welcome news for fantasy managers. The 24-year-old slugger has been out for a week battling a stomach bug. He expects to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Monday's contest against the Angels. Apr 16, 2022 José Abreu slugs first homer. Abreu went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Rays. Abreu took Corey Kluber yard in the fourth inning to record his first homer of the season. It was his only knock of the game, and he entered Saturday having collected zero in hist last 12 at-bats while striking out six times in that span. Though he's hitting only .200/.273/.367 through 33 PA, Abreu has scored seven runs and collected four RBI. Luis Robert racking up steals. Robert went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Saturday against the Rays. Robert has failed to collect a hit in each of his last three starts, spanning 12 AB. However, he reached base Saturday after a throwing error, and proceeded to steal second base before coming around to score. Robert now has five stolen bases and six runs scored across 29 PA this season.

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 15, 2022 Cionel Pérez dealt with Anthony Rizzo with ease. Cionel Pérez, the lefty Cuban reliever that found new home in the rebuilding environment of Baltimore, came on relief on Friday night against Anthony Rizzo in the top of the 10th inning, and dealt with the situation with ease. Pérez ended up stranding a runner on second and using only three pitches to struck out Rizzo, who was seen defenseless against Cionel' slider. Cionel is showing with the Orioles what he is capable off, after a tremendous Spring Training where he pitched six scoreless innings with three hits allowed and a 7:2 K/BB ratio. Gurriel Jr. had first multi-hits game of the season. Gurriel Jr. had his first multi-hits game of the season on Friday night against the A's. Gurriel went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI on Toronto's 4-1 victory against the A's. The Cuban outfielder lifted his batting average to .241 for the year, and will face RHP Paul Blackburn - 4 RBIs vs. Blackburn - on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 and Randy Arozarena was hitless Friday against the White Sox. Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz doubled in runs off reliever Aaron Bummer in Tampa Bay’s third straight loss. The Rays have dropped four of five after starting the season 3-0. Díaz went 1-for-4 with his first RBI of the year. Meanwhile, Randy Arozarena went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts against Chicago. Arozarena is hitting just .167 for the year. Yuli Gurriel looked better in Houston 11-1 defeat against the Mariners. Yuli Gurriel had his third double of the season and overall went 2-for-4 on Saturday night againt the Mariners, in a crushing 11-1 defeat. The 2021 AL batting champion scored Houston's only run of the game in the top of the seventh, and saw his batting average rise to .250 for the year. Adolis García and Andy Ibáñez saw action against the Angels. While Adolis García went hitless - 0-for-4 - in Texas' 9-6 defeat against the Angels on Friday night, Andy Ibáñez played third base and went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Ibáñez is now hitting .231 for the season and has been able to put hits in five of the seven games he has played this year. Yadiel Hernández had another single on Friday night. Yadiel Hernández recorded his fifth consecutive game with a hit, after going 1-for-3 with a run on Friday night as the Nationals beat the Pirates 7-2. Hernández was also walked in the game and now the Cuban outfielder is hitting .400 (8-20) with 3 RBIs for the season. Hernández is in a hitting streak of five games and will face RHP Bryse Wilson - 1-for-3 against him - on Saturday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Robert, Abreu, and Grandal had a hitless night. The Cuban trio had a night to forget, going 0-for-11 with two strikeouts and leaving four men on bases. While Roberts already have 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and is hitting .250 after the first week of the season, Abreu - a traditional slow start player - and Grandal are still trying to find their swings. Raisel Iglesias gave up one hit and fanned two in a scoreless bottom of the ninth on Friday. After allowing a leadoff single to Corey Seager to begin the bottom of the ninth, he struck out two batters in a row and got Nathaniel Lowe to fly out to left field to end the game. The 32-year-old veteran is one of the safest closing options in fantasy. Vladimir Gutierrez allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over four innings in a loss against the Dodgers on Friday. After a clean first inning, Gutierrez allowed a double and a walk to start the second. Chris Taylor would bring the first run in for the Dodgers with a two-out base hit. Trea Turner would triple to drive in a run in the third. Gavin Lux led off the fifth with a triple before Gutierrez loaded the bases with a hit batter and a walk. Jeff Hoffman would take over on the mound and allowed an inherited runner to score. The 26-year-old right-hander will get a matchup against the Cardinals in Cincinnati his next time out. Aroldis Chapman walked the second batter he faced in the 11th inning to score the winning run in the Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Orioles on Friday. Chapman inherited a bases-loaded situation with one out in the 11th. He came out throwing oddly soft for him -- his fastball was merely in the mid-90s -- but that could have been a combination of him needing to throw strikes and him having worked the previous night. He struck out Cedric Mullins anyway, but he then walked Ramon Urias to end the game, with Urias getting the benefit of the doubt on a couple of close pitches. We're not particularly concerned about Chapman at the moment, but that will change if his velocity fails to bounce back next time out. He probably won't be used Saturday, which could result in a save chance for Chad Green or Jonathan Loaisiga. Astros placed DH/OF Yordan Alvarez on the COVID-19 injured list. Alvarez was set to miss his third straight game on Friday due to illness, so the team decided to place him on the injured list for health and safety protocols, giving them the ability to add Joe Perez to the roster. Once Alvarez is feeling better, he'll be able to be activated immediately and return to the Astros lineup.

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 14, 2022 José Iglesias collected another single and shines defensively. Shortstop José Iglesias is off to a good start this year, and on Thursday night he went 1-for-4 against Chicago Cubs at Coors Field, raising his batting average to .333. Iglesias also made a great defensive play in the third inning, reaching a ground-ball near second base and completing the play with a spinning throw to first base to get Frank Schwindel out, and keeping Jonathan Villar at second. Iglesias slash line during the first week of the season is .333/.400/.389 Abreu went hitless against Seattle. José Abreu went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Thursday afternoon as a DH, in a 5-1 loss to Seattle. Abreu batting average descended to .227 for the year. Aroldis Chapman walked all three batters he faced after coming into a save opp against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Fortunately, Michael King bailed him out in a 3-0 game, allowing none of the inherited runners to score. Chapman threw just four strikes among his 16 pitches tonight. He had looked strong up to this point -- he entered the game with a 5/0 K/BB ratio and no hits allowed in three innings -- but he's good for a few scares per year at this stage of his career. Luis Robert, first hitless game of the year. After hitting safely in each of the White Sox's first five games of the season, including back-to-back contests with a solo home run, Luis Robert went hitless on Thursday afternoon against Seattle. Robert went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, and now the Cuban outfielder is slashing .292/.320/.583 through the first week of the season. Yadiel Hernandez went 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs versus the Pirates on Thursday. Hernandez, who had a solid .273/.329/.413 line last year, is 7-for-17 in the early going. He probably would have been an adequate DH had the Nationals not signed Nelson Cruz for that role. Playing Hernandez in left does weaken the Nationals' outfield defense, so he shouldn't be a full-timer out there. It'd be easier to start him with the rangier Victor Robles in center than with Lane Thomas there, but it's Robles that the team needs to be replacing. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made a fielding error in Toronto's 3-0 loss in New York. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is having a terrible 2022 season start. On Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, the Cuban outfielder made a fielding error that allowed New York to score the first run of the fourth game of the series against Toronto. The run proved to be decisive. Gurriel, batting cleanup, went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts and a HBP. His batting average ascended to .192 from .174 the night before. Yasmani Grandal got the day off Thursday. Reese McGuire started at catcher and hit seventh versus the Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. Jose Abreu was at DH and Gavin Sheets covered first base in the afternoon tilt at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 14, 2022 Yasmani Grandal is getting the day off Thursday. Reese McGuire will start at catcher and hit seventh versus the Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. Jose Abreu is at DH and Gavin Sheets will cover first base in the afternoon tilt at Guaranteed Rate Field. Apr 13, 2022 Luis Robert homered for the second consecutive game on Wednesday, helping to power the White Sox to a 6-4 victory over the Mariners. Robert went back-to-back with teammate Tim Anderson off of reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray in the seventh inning -- extending the White Sox lead to 6-3. It was his only hit in four at-bats on a cold and rainy night in Chicago. The 24-year-old rising superstar is off to a sizzling start, slashing .350/.381/.700 with two homers, three RBI and four stolen bases through five games. Aledmis Díaz and Yuli Gurriel hitless on Wednesday. Aledmis Díaz and Yuli Gurriel went 0-for-4 each in Houston's 3-2 defeat against Arizona in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon. Gurriel struck-out once and Díaz twice, both having a difficult start of the 2022 season showing low batting averages of .167 and .150, respectively. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-3 scoring go ahead run in the seventh. Gurriel Jr. had a nice night at the plate scoring an important run in the seventh inning when the game was tied at 3-3. Gurriel went 1-for-3, walking one time against the New York Yankees on Toronto 6-4 win on Wednesday night. The young outfielder is having a low start of the season showing only four hits and 3 RBIs in 6 games and 24 AB for a poor .174 AVG. Yandy Díaz had a great day. The A's beat the Rays 4-2 on Wednesday night, and Yandy Díaz - batting fifth - had his best game of the new season. Díaz went 3-for-4 with a run, improving his batting average to .267. Later in the game he was replaced by PH Taylor Walls, and will lead off on Thursday final game of the series. Yordan Alvarez (illness) remains out of the Astros' starting lineup on Wednesday. Alvarez caught a stomach bug that has been traveling around the Astros' clubhouse. A few coaches are also currently affected. Michael Brantley will DH and hit second Wednesday afternoon against the Diamondbacks and right-handed starter Merrill Kelly. Aledmys Diaz, Chas McCormick, and Kyle Tucker are in the outfield. Apr 12, 2022 Guillermo Heredia scored three times Heredia went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, three runs and an RBI in Tuesday's win 16-4 over the Nationals. Heredia made most of his first start of the season, but he's unlikely to see a major uptick in opportunities as a result. he filled in in right field for Eddie Rosario due to the Nationals bringing lefty Patrick Corbin to the hill.

Four plate appearances, seven pitches, one hit: but you just can't stop it. That's how it is. Luis Robert went 1-for-4 on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, and any of us might remember that he hit just .250. However, being in this age of analytics and sabermetrics, it is important to get here: Robert, once again, seemed unstoppable. So the bottom line in a 4-1 game often seems too simple if you don't remember this: Robert didn't miss a swing. His hands furiously went after all seven pitches the Mariners threw at him on Wednesday night, and he hammered the ball every time. His last ball put into play was an 111.6-mph blast that wound up traveling 405-ft at Guaranteed Rate Field. Sometimes it happens, and you just can't stop it. This was one of those nights, and the final lunge Robert provided was enough for the White Sox bullpen to take over the final lead, 6-4.

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 12, 2022 Andy Ibanez went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies. With men on first and second and two out in the bottom of the second, Ibanez connected on a 95 mph sinker from Chad Kuhl and sent it to left field, scoring Mitch Garver and putting the Rangers on the board, 1-0. The 29-year-old is an above-average contact hitter and he's seen time at third base, first base, and designated hitter to start the season. Given how shallow third base is in fantasy land, he could be worth a look in the right situation. Lourdes Gurriel went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts versus the Yankees on Tuesday. The Blue Jays were shut out by the Yankees in this one, picking up only five hits along the way. Gurriel is off to a rough 3-for-20 start this season, with his one extra-base, hit coming back on Opening Day. Luis Robert homered, walked, stole two bases and scored a second run Tuesday as the White Sox edged the Mariners 3-2. Robert's homer off Matt Brash was his first of the year, a 408-foot to right-center. He's off to a nice 6-for-16 start at the plate, and he's already swiped four bases in four tries. On Tuesday, Luis Roberto also made a great running catch on Jesse Winker's long fly ball to center field in the third inning, saving two runs. Yordan Alvarez was away from the Astros on Tuesday because of an illness. Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that a number of coaches are absent too because of a stomach bug that has been making its way around the clubhouse. Aledmys Diaz will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and bat sixth on Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks and lefty starter Madison Bumgarner. Astros activated 1B Yuli Gurriel from the paternity leave list. Gurriel will start at first base and bat cleanup in his return to action Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks and left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Joe Perez was already optioned out to make room.

Perez, who is also president of the Cuban Softball Federation, was elected by the General Assembly on Monday, 11 April. Juan Reynaldo Perez Pardo was elected as the new president of Cuban Baseball Federation during the General Assembly held on Monday, 11 April, at the Cuban Olympic Committee headquarters in La Habana. Pérez Pardo also serves as president of the Cuban Softball Federation. “Congrats my friend Juan Reynaldo! I’ve known him for a long time and I know he works with passion, love and capacity for our sport," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said on Twitter. "I wish you all the best and I hope to see you soon!” Pérez Pardo, who has served as national commissioner since September 2021, is a doctor of Physical Culture Sciences and succeeds Higinio Vélez Carrión, who passed away last year. "His legacy, and what baseball means for Cuba, increases our commitment to assume this work," Pérez Pardo said in a brief speech in reference to Carrión. The General Assembly, which was attended by the heads of the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) and Inder (National Institute of Sports Physical Education and Recreation), Roberto León Richards and Osvaldo Vento Montiller, also elected the organization’s new Executive Board: President: Juan Reynaldo Pérez Pardo Vice President: Rodolfo Puente Zamora Vice President: German Mesa Fresneda General Secretary: Carlos del Pino Muñoz Treasurer: Luis Daniel del Risco del Rio Member at large: Margarita Mayeta Hierrezuelo Member at large: Eros Bernal Morales Member at large: Victor José Cuesta Padrón Member at large: Yovani Aragón Rodríguez Member at large: Judith Langaney Marrero Member at large: Wilfredo Sánchez González

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 12, 2022 Randy Arozarena is back in the Rays' starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics. Arozarena got the night off on Monday evening for the series opener, but is back in there to face rookie Adam Oller in this one. Brett Phillips is in center field with Kevin Kiermaier getting a breather. Yasmani Grandal is back in the White Sox' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners. Grandal got the day off Sunday against the Tigers and will be back behind the plate for Tuesday's series opener. With AJ Pollock (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list, Gavin Sheets gets the start in right field. Apr 11, 2022 Raisel Iglesias allowed a run in an inning of work Monday in a non-save situation against the Marlins. It was a non-save situation as Iglesias came in with a five-run lead, and he gave one of those runs back on a solo homer by Jesús Sánchez. It's disappointing for those who get hurt in the ERA, but there will be much more good from Iglesias than bad in 2022. Jose Iglesias collected four hits, including a double, in five at-bats Monday against the Rangers. Iglesias could have some fantasy value in deeper leagues while playing in Coors half of the time, though he had his nice game today in Texas. It'd help if he could steal a few bases; though he hasn't been very aggressive there since swiping 15 bags in 2018. Iglesias became very emotional last Friday after his first single of the season, dedicating it to his dad that passed away weeks ago. Adolis Garcia went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two walks against the Rockies on Monday. Garcia was caught stealing after over sliding the bag in the eighth. We know Garcia is going to hit homers and steals bases as long as he plays. What remains to be seen is whether he can best last year's .286 OBP. The multiple walk game is a rarity for him; he had just four last year. He never had a game, like this one, in which he walked twice and didn't strike out. Randy Arozarena is not in the Rays' starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Athletics. It appears to be a routine day off for Arozarena, who started all three games of the Rays' season-opening sweep of the Orioles. It'll be Brett Phillips entering the lineup in right field and Josh Lowe shifting over to left field on Monday evening.

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 10, 2022 Luis Robert singled and scored a pair of runs Sunday in the White Sox' one-sided win over the Tigers. Robert wasted zero time against Tigers' lefty Tarik Skubal in this one, crushing a 105.8 mph single to center field and immediately stealing second base in the opening frame. It wound up being his lone hit of the blowout victory. The 24-year-old outfielder has hit safely in three consecutive games to open the regular season and holds a blistering .847 OPS with a pair of stolen bases across 13 plate appearances. Jose Abreu doubles, score three runs. Abreu went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored, and a walk in Sunday's 10-1 victory over Detroit. Abreu recorded an RBI groundout in the first inning and then doubled in a run in the third. He later was driven home by Andrew Vaughn in the 7th and 9th innings. The veteran first baseman tallied four hits and and scored six runs in the opening series against the Tigers. Adolis Garcia swipes bag in win Garcia went 0-for-4 but walked once, scored two runs and stole a base in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays. Garcia has just one hit in 11 at-bats so far this season, but that one hit left the yard. He has his first steal now too, and it's nice to see that intent on the basepaths after Garcia swiped 16 bags in his breakout campaign. It's also nice to see he's taking some walks. Garcia has been slotted into the middle of the Texas batting order early on this season. Yuli Gurriel is expected to return Tuesday from paternity leave. Gurriel was placed on the paternity leave list Friday and will wind up only missing a handful of games. His temporary replacement, infielder Joe Perez, has already been shipped back to the minors. Fantasy managers should expect to have the veteran first baseman back in their lineups on Tuesday evening against the Diamondbacks.

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources. Apr 9, 2022 Aroldis Chapman didn't allow a run while picking up a save Saturday against the Red Sox. Chapman didn't allow a hit, but did have to face the tying run twice because of a throwing error by Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. The long-time closer was able to get the final two hitters out without trouble, and has his first save o the 2022 season. Chapman should get plenty of chances to help in that category this year. MLB Jorge Soler didn't record a hit -- going 0-for-2 -- but he managed to draw two walks in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Giants. Soler drew a four-pitch walk at top of the fifth but was left stranded. He then drew another four-pitch walk in the top of the seventh but was once again left stranded. The Marlins signed the 30-year-old slugger to a three-year deal last month and as long as he stays healthy, he'll be a useful source of power for fantasy managers in 2022. Raisel Iglesias shut down the Astros in the ninth inning on Saturday, collecting his first save of the 2022 season in the process. Iglesias made quick work of the heart of the Astros order in this one, getting Alex Bregman to pop weakly back to him, Yordan Alvarez on a ground ball to second base, and Aledmys Diaz on strikes, needing just eight pitches to get the job done. Iglesias remains one of the truly elite closing options in the game and there's no reason to think that his performance is going to fall off in 2022. Vladimir Gutierrez pitched decently in a losing effort against the Braves on Saturday evening, giving up two runs on six hits across 4 1/3 frames. The right-hander struck out four while walking a pair in the ballgame. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning when Marcell Ozuna delivered an RBI double and Ozzie Albies followed with a sacrifice fly. He was able to keep the Braves off the board for the remainder of his night, but the damage had already been done. Gutierrez generated seven whiffs in the contest and posted a CSW of 28 percent. He’ll try again to get in the win column when he does battle against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday. Yasmani Grandal walloped a two-run homer Saturday, leading the White Sox to a 5-2 victory over the Tigers. Despite chilly temperatures in the upper 30s at the first pitch, Grandal managed to drive a Casey Mize offering 408 feet into the right-center field seats for a critical two-run homer in the sixth inning. It was the first round-tripper of the young season for the 33-year-old veteran on-base machine. Apr 8, 2022 Aledmis Díaz smacks solo shot. Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in a 13-6 triumph over the Angels. Impact Diaz tied the game with one of six Houston home runs in the fourth inning and later singled home another run in the seventh. The utility man should see semi-regular at-bats this season in a fill-in roll throughout the infield and has shown the ability to hold down an opportunity if it arises. Astros placed 1B Yuli Gurriel on the paternity leave list. Gurriel is expected to be away from the team for a couple of games. Aledmys Diaz will start in his place at first base and bat fifth against Angels southpaw Reid Detmers on Friday evening. Joe Perez was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Adolis García homered against Blue Jays. Adolis García went 1-for-3 against Toronto in a 10-8 loss to the American League East rival. It was Adolis's first homer of the 2022 season, a fly ball to right-center field that traveled .404 feet and had an exit velocity of 104.8 mph according to StatCast. García crushed an 88.3 mph sinker from right-handed reliever Adam Cimber in 2-1 count. Yordan Álvarez walloped a solo homer Thursday, leading the Astros to a 3-1 season-opening victory over the Angels. Álvarez went back-to-back with Alex Bregman, crushing a titanic 422-foot no-doubter to center field off righty reliever Ryan Tepera in the eighth inning. The 24-year-old slugger is an upper-echelon four-category fantasy contributor and appears poised for another monster season in Houston if he continues to stay healthy. Yadiel Hernandez is in left field and batting sixth for the Nationals on Friday versus the Mets. Hernandez will get the start over Lane Thomas, who went 0-for-3 with a walk-in Thursday's opener. The Nats also have Dee Strange-Gordon in center field over Victor Robles.

The Cuban National Series All-Star Game (ASG) returned on Sunday afternoon after skipping the 2021 pandemic year, and the West picked up the win at Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas. The West won 12-11 in extra innings (10), their 16th victory in the Cuban classic against the East, dating back to 1963 when the rivalry started. It was the 35th edition of the All-Star Game, and now the East and West are tied with 16 wins, while two games were celebrated under different teams' names, and the 2015 ASG was started but cancelled after 4 1/2 innings due to rain. On Sunday, Carlos de la Tejeda picked up the first ASG walk-off hit of his career, a tenth-inning single to leftfield off reliever Carlos J. Viera, to give the West the win. For the West, reliever Kendry Hernández pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings with one strikeout to pick up his first ASG win. BOX SCORE Here are some other memorable moments of the 2022 Cuban National Series All-Star Game: Dayán García's (West-Artemisa) hit a Grand Slam in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was only the second time in ASG history that a Grand Slam is recorded. Previous one? Lisbán Correa (West-Industriales) during the 2020 ASG RHP Carlos J. Viera (East-Las Tunas) tied retired RHP Carlos Yánes (West-Isla de la Juventud) all-time record of 3 ASG decisions Eliseo Rojas (West-Isla de la Juventud) scored three times in the game tying an all-time record Pedro P. Revilla (East-Guantánamo) set a new record with four strikeouts in the game (Golden sombrero), he had an horrible afternoon going 0-for-5 Frederich Cepeda (East-Sancti Spíritus) tied retired catcher Eriel Sánchez (East-Sancti Spíritus) for the most All-Star appearances with 11. Cepeda went 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs and an intentional walk in the game Dayán García's (West-Artemisa) Grand Slam was the 45th homer in All-Star Games history The East had five extra-bases in the game to tie an all-time record It was the 4th game that went to extra-innings after the 1967, 2003, and 2011 editions (all of them decided in 10th innings) It was the second ASG with the most runs scored in history (23) after the 2011 ASG when a total of 28 runs were scored (East 15, West 13) Michael González (West-Mayabeque) became the 5th manager in history to win a ASG in both roles, as a player and manager. Lázaro Pérez (East-Azucareros), Pedro Jova (East-Villa Clara), Roger Machado (East-Ciego de Ávila), and Víctor Mesa (East-Villa Clara) did it before 2022 Home Run Derby Before the All-Star Game, the 2022 Home Run Derby was held, and Las Tunas' catcher, Rafael Viñales, won the competition with 11 home runs. It was Viñales' second Home Run Derby crown. He also won the 2016 Home Run Derby, coincidentally, in the same Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas. The 2022 Home Run Derby was held between four players, who qualified from Saturday's Home Run Derby qualifying rounds. 2022 Home Run Derby, Sunday's results: Rafael Viñales (East-Las Tunas) - 11 HRs Pedro P. Revilla (East-Guantánamo) - 10 Yasser Julio González (West-Pinar del Río) - 8 (2020 champion) Alfredo Fadraga (East- Ciego de Ávila) - 7 2022 All-Star Game Images

The rosters of the Western and Eastern teams for the 2022 Cuban National Series All-Star Game (ASG) have been named, as announced today by the Cuban Baseball Federation. The rosters were unveiled earlier this afternoon on Jit, Cuba's main sports newspaper. A total of 26 players were selected per team, that will have Mayabeque's manager Michael González leading the Western Team, while Sancti Spíritus' manager Eriel Sánchez will be in charge of the Eastern All-Star Team. One change in the selection process for both teams is that now players selected from the Sancti Spíritus team will be part of the Eastern All-Star roster, while players from the Villa Clara team, included in the ASG, will be playing for the Western All-Star roster. The geographical position of both territories - Sancti Spíritus province is closest to the East part of Cuba while Villa Clara province is closest to the West side of the island - was the key factor in this important change for this year and future games. The 2022 All-Star Weekend will include on Saturday, March 18 at 2:00 pm (ET), the Home Run Derby, the traditional players "skills test", followed by a Little League exhibition game featuring teams from Bayamo (Granma) and Matanzas. On Sunday, March 19 at 2:00 pm (ET), the 2022 All-Star Game will be played at Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas. 2022 ASG - Western Roster: Pitchers (10): Yulián Quintana (May), Yosvani Torres (Pri), Naykel Cruz (Mtz), Erlis Casanova (Pri), Yoenni Yera (Mtz), Marlon Vega (May), Hermes González (Cfg), Kendry Hernández (Ijv), Yamichel Pérez (Mtz), and Luis A. Padrino (Ijv). Catchers (2): Richel López (Cfg), and Oscar Valdés (Ind). Infielders (8): Yasiel Santoya (Ind), Reidel Pedraza (Vcl), Osbel Pacheco (Art), Juan M. Martínez (May), Andrés Hernández (Ind), Dayán García (Art), Juan C. Arencibia (Pri), and Sandy Menocal (Ind). Outfielders (5): Juan C. López (Vcl), Yasniel González (May), Carlos de la Tejera (Art), Eliseo Rojas (Ijv), and Yusniel Ibáñez (Cfg). DH (1): William Saavedra (Pri). Manager: Michael González (May). 2022 ASG - Eastern Roster: Pitchers (10): Ariel E. Zequeira (Ssp), Danny Betancourt (Scu), Joen Socarrás (Ssp), Yoandri Montero (Scu), Juan S. Contreras (Cmg), César García (Grm), Alexander Valiente (Gtm), Carlos Juan Viera (Ltu), Alejandro Meneses (Ltu), and Kelbis Rodríguez (Grm). Catchers (2): Rafael Viñales (Ltu), and Alfredo Fadraga (Cav). Infielders (8): Yordanis Samón (Cmg), Pedro P. Revilla (Gtm), Raúl González (Cav), Dasiel Sevila (Scu), Adriel Labrada (Scu), Yordanis Alarcón (Ltu), Alexander Ayala (Cmg), and Moisés Esquerrés (Ssp). Outfielders (5): Yoelkis Guibert (Scu), Over L. Cremé (Gtm), Alexquemer Sánchez (Grm), Carlos Gómez (Ssp), and Leonel Moas (Cmg). DH (1): Frederich Cepeda (Ssp). Manager: Eriel Sánchez (Ssp).