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- MLB 2024 | Iglesias came through with a crucial hit; Luis Robert & Vargas hitless on Thursday; Morejón faced difficulties once more; Yordan added two more hits to his tally; Zulueta back in the Majors
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources José Iglesias’ RBI single in the 9th inning seals Mets' 3-2 win against Diamondbacks. In the ninth inning, José Iglesias delivered a base hit that allowed Tyrone Taylor to score, sparking a comeback for the New York Mets who secured a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Jesse Winker started the inning with a one-out double against Justin Martínez (5-5), prompting Taylor to come in as a pinch runner. After advancing to third on a flyball to right by J.D. Martínez, Taylor witnessed Iglesias hit a powerful grounder up the middle, which deflected off the glove of diving shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. Iglesias had just one hit in the game out of four at-bats, but it was a valuable one. His season stats now stand at .318/.370/.451 with 22 RBIs. Luis Robert Jr. and Miguel Vargas both failed to get a hit in Thursday's game. In the White Sox's 2-1 loss to the Rangers, Luis Robert Jr. went 0-for-4 while Miguel Vargas went 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts in three at-bats. This season has been challenging for the South Side Chicago team, especially for Luis Robert, who has seen a significant decline compared to his performance in 2023 due to an injury that sidelined him. On the other hand, Vargas, who was traded from the Dodgers to Chicago, has struggled to make an impact and secure a regular position on the team, primarily because of his weak offense. Since joining the Chicago team in July, Vargas has only managed a .099 batting average with 3 extra-base hits, 3 RBIs, 23 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 71 at-bats. The 24-year-old will have the offseason to contemplate his 2024 season, but his future with the team remains uncertain unless he can improve his performance early in 2025. Adrian Morejón faced difficulties once again. Adrian Morejón encountered struggles in his recent relief appearance on Thursday. He entered the game in the 8th inning of a 4-1 defeat against the Cardinals, giving up one earned run on three hits despite recording two strikeouts. The Cuban southpaw has been struggling in his last 15 outings, allowing 8 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings, resulting in a lofty 5.40 ERA with a SO:BB ratio of 19:5. While Morejón has maintained a season ERA of 2.96, his August performance with a 4.22 ERA is more in line with his career average of 4.30. Two more hits for Yordan Alvarez. Yordan Alvarez added two hits on Thursday in the Astros' 6-3 win over the Royals. Yordan went 2-for-4, extending his streak of reaching base to 22 games, basically the entire month of August. Precisely this month Yordan has put up numbers consistent with his qualification as one of the most feared hitters in the Majors, the Cuban shows a slash line of .390/.490/.732 with 12XBA that includes 8 HR, 15 runs scored, 16 RBI, and a SO:BB of 14:11. His two hits of the night raised his average on the season to .313 (146-for-467) with 28 HR and 71 RBI in 125 games. Yosver Zulueta Returns to Cincinnati with the Reds The Reds have brought back Yosver Zulueta on Thursday. Zulueta has primarily played for Triple-A Louisville this season but is now back with the Reds to add depth to their bullpen. He will be the 27th man for Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers, and there is a possibility that he will be sent back down after the games. In his 11.2 innings in the majors, he has maintained a 3.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with an 11:5 K:BB ratio.
- MLB 2024 | Monster day for Yordan; Arozarena goes deep again; Luis Robert adds a stolen base; Soler homers; Ribalta back in the Majors with the Nats
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Alvarez had a remarkable performance on Wednesday, hitting three home runs and going 4-for-4 to lead the Astros to a 10-0 victory over the Phillies. Yordan Alvarez showcased his immense power on a scorching afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, achieving his third three-homer game, first since September 2022. The 27-year-old standout launched a two-run homer off Phillies starter Taijuan Walker in the fourth inning, then added solo shots off reliever Michael Mercado in the seventh and eighth innings, completing a sensational display of power. This marked only the second occasion that a Cuban player achieved a feat of at least four hits, three home runs, four RBIs, and a walk in a single game. Prior to this, the only other Cuban to accomplish this was José Abreu on August 22, 2020, while playing for the White Sox. By hitting three home runs, Yordan Alvarez became the 42nd player in baseball history to achieve this milestone. He is also the eleventh Latino player to join this exclusive club. Yordan had previously hit three home runs on August 10, 2019, against the Orioles and on September 16, 2022, against the Athletics. With this outstanding performance, he became the first Cuban player to hit three home runs in a game on three separate occasions in MLB history, surpassing Yoenis Céspedes, Kendrys Morales, and José Canseco, whom achieved this feat twice. In August, Yordan has been on fire, posting a .385/.489/.744 slash line with eight home runs, four doubles, 15 runs scored, 16 RBIs in 78 at-bats, and an excellent 14:11 BB:K . He continues to be a consistent force at the plate, hitting .311 (144-for-463) with 75 runs, 28 homers, and 71 RBIs in 124 games this season. Additionally, he has contributed a career-best five stolen bases for good measure. Randy Arozarena hits his 18th home run. In Wednesday afternoon's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena had an impressive performance, contributing three hits and a home run to the team's victory. Arozarena's solo home run in the eighth inning expanded the Mariners' lead to 6-2. The 29-year-old left fielder has maintained his strong form since joining Seattle, currently holding a batting line of .242/.385/.394 with three home runs, 10 RBIs, 20 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 99 at-bats (28 games). Although Arozarena is on a five-game hitting streak, his performance in August has been less consistent, hitting just .225 (18-for-80) with two of his 18 home runs and four of his 20 stolen bases for the season. Luis Robert Jr. hit a single and stole a base on Wednesday in a defeat against the Rangers. Luis Robert Jr. has shown increased aggressiveness on the basepaths recently, accumulating 10 stolen bases in his last 30 games to bring his total for the season to 21 steals. The 27-year-old Cuban has played only 75 games this year due to injury, raising questions about whether his outstanding performance last year with 38 home runs and 20 stolen bases was more of an exception than a likely scenario going forward. Jorge Soler Leads Braves to 5-1 Victory Over Twins. In the Braves' 5-1 win against the Twins, Jorge Soler had a 1-for-3 performance with a home run and an RBI. While his solo homer played a crucial role in the team's success, Soler's season stats present a mixed picture for fans. Despite hitting 17 home runs, his batting average stands at .236 with a wOBA of .335 across 114 games. Notably, his power remains his standout attribute. However, his high strikeout rate of 24.7% poses a potential concern. Soler remains a consistent source of home runs and RBIs, and we will soon see if the Braves' trade was ultimately successful. Orlando Ribalta of the Nationals returns to the major league team. According to Andrew Golden of The Washington Post, the Nationals brought Orlando Ribalta back from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. In a related move, Washington placed Joan Adon on the 15-day injured list. Although the 26-year-old has given up three runs on five hits in two innings for the Nationals this season, he has a more favorable 3.64 ERA and a 37:14 K:BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings at Triple-A.
- MLB 2024 | Yariel hit hard at Fenway Park; Iglesias blew save but took the win; Gurriel Jr. and Yandy both hit home runs; Moncada began his rehabilitation process; Ramos was demoted by the White Sox
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yariel Rodríguez struggled in a loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday, giving up six runs on eight hits over five innings. Yariel Rodríguez (1-6) suffered the loss on Tuesday, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk in a 6-3 defeat to the Red Sox. He recorded three strikeouts with a 17 percent whiff rate and 24 percent CSW. Half of the hits against him were for extra bases, including a leadoff home run by Jarren Durán. While Yariel had only surrendered one home run in his first 30 innings since returning from the IL in late June, he has been prone to the long ball (6) in his last four appearances, resulting in a 7.20 ERA over 20 innings during that span. The 27-year-old may be better suited as a multi-inning reliever, but the Blue Jays are expected to continue giving him opportunities to prove himself as a starter for the rest of the 2024 season. His next chance to bounce back is likely to be on the road this weekend in Minnesota. Raisel Iglesias blew a save on Tuesday but still managed to secure a win. In Tuesday's 8-6 extra-inning victory against the Twins, Raisel Iglesias (4-1) blew the save but ended up with the win. He only allowed one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out two batters. The Atlanta closer came into the game with two outs and the tying run on second base in the eighth inning. However, Trevor Larnach's single to left field resulted in Iglesias's third blown save of the season and his first since May 3. Despite this setback, Iglesias pitched a clean ninth inning and watched his team score four runs in the top of the 10th. Impressively, Iglesias has not given up an earned run since June 16, spanning 26 1/3 innings with a remarkable 0.27 WHIP and a 32:2 K:BB ratio. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hits a home run on Tuesday In Tuesday's game against the Mets, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-4 and hit a solo home run. Gurriel managed to put the Diamondbacks on the scoreboard with his home run to left field in the seventh inning. In his last five starts, he has accumulated seven RBI and has an impressive batting line of .373/.450/.549 since August 8th. Throughout the season, Gurriel has a offensive line of .275/.313/.424 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 64 runs, seven stolen bases, and a 23:95 BB:K ratio in 501 plate appearances. Yandy Díaz had a 2-for-4 performance, including a solo home run, in the game against the Mariners on Tuesday. In Tuesday's victory over the Mariners, Yandy Díaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. He extended the Rays' lead to 3-1 in the eighth inning with his home run, contributing to the final 3-2 scoreline. Although this was only his second home run since Aug. 3, Yandy has maintained a solid hitting performance. From Aug. 17 onwards, Yandy has a batting line of .351/.390/.514, with four extra-base hits, five RBIs, and two runs, while striking out less than 10 percent of the time. While his power numbers have decreased compared to last season, he continues to showcase his consistent contact ability. Overall this season, Yandy holds a .275/.330/.400 slash line with 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, 46 runs, and a 39:81 BB:K ratio in 533 plate appearances. Yoán Moncada initiated his rehab assignment on Tuesday. On Tuesday night, Yoán Moncada, the third baseman for the Chicago White Sox, commenced his minor-league rehab stint at Triple-A Charlotte. He went 1-for-3 with a double, one run scored and one RBI. Moncada resumed his rehab after encountering a setback following five games in early July. The 29-year-old Cuban player's last appearance for the White Sox was in early April, so he will likely require several games in the minor leagues to regain his timing. When he returns in September, Moncada will likely be gradually reintroduced at third base. INF Bryan Ramos has been sent down to Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox. The White Sox's decision to option Ramos to Triple-A indicates that they are opting to go with Jacob Amaya as a backup infielder and occasional third baseman instead of Ramos. Ramos, who is ranked as the team's No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline, had a lackluster performance in his first 15 major league games earlier this season, batting just .196 with two doubles, two RBI, and eight strikeouts in 48 plate appearances. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old's impressive right-handed power could lead to an increase in his chances in the major leagues in 2025, even though many anticipated him to have these chances in the disastrous 2024 season for the team. The White Sox continue to puzzle fans with their roster decisions. Jose Iglesias did not start on Tuesday. The Mets did not include José Iglesias in the starting lineup on Tuesday. Iglesias was on the bench as the series against Arizona began. Despite his limited playing time, the 34-year-old infielder has impressive stats, with a .325/.379/.464 slash line, 3 home runs, 21 RBIs, 23 runs scored, and 3 stolen bases for the Mets this year.
- MLB 2024 | Arozarena hits a three-run homer; Cortés shows off a sharp performance; Yordan returns to the Astros lineup; Ramos has been recalled by the White Sox; Morejón struggled again
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources On Monday, Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer to help the Mariners beat the Rays. Against the Rays on Monday, Arozarena went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run. The biggest hit of the game came from Arozarena, who hit a three-run homer to break a 1-1 tie in the third inning. The big hit ended a 22-game homeless streak during which the outfielder batted just .182 with five RBI. This is the 29-year-old's second homer with the Mariners, his first in his home park, and against his former team. Perhaps this will get Arozarena back on track after a very up and down season. Through 26 games since joining Seattle in a deadline deal, Arozarena has hit .220 with two homers, nine RBI, 18 runs and four stolen bases. As a whole, he is hitting .213/.331/.385 with 17 homers, 46 RBI, and 63 runs scored along with 20 stolen bases in 28 attempts. On Monday, Néstor Cortés pitched six and a third innings and struck out seven. In a 5-2 victory over the Nationals, Néstor Cortés (8-10) gave up four hits over 6.2 innings. Juan Yepez broke up a potential shutout by hitting a solo home run off Cortés in the seventh inning. With five strikeouts and only two walks, he needed only 91 pitches (57 strikes) to work into the late innings. Since August 13, the 29-year-old lefty has worked into the seventh inning in three consecutive starts, allowing just one run with an 18/2 K/BB ratio. He'll look to keep the momentum going when he pitches against the Cardinals on Sunday. Yordan Alvarez made a return to the Astros' lineup on Monday. Sidelined for the previous three games due to neck issues, his deployment in the outfield, as opposed to designated hitter, suggests the team's reassurance in his health prospects. In a narrow 3-2 defeat to the Phillies in extra innings, he recorded a 1-for-4 performance, including a walk and a strikeout. Over an active 19-game on-base streak, Alvarez has posted a .363/.474/.651 slash line, with five home runs, 13 walks, and 11 strikeouts. Bryan Ramos has been recalled from Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox. In light of Ramos' recall, Lenyn Sosa might have to compete with Brooks Baldwin for playing time at second now. The White Sox optioned Ramos to Charlotte on May 30 after he struggled in 48 plate appearances with a .196/.208/.239 batting line with a 2.1% walk rate and a 16.7% strikeout rate. For Charlotte this month, he hit .291/.398/.557, which was better than his Triple-A performance in June and July. The six home runs he has this month are two more than he had in 78 games between the majors and minors over the first four months of the season. Despite the fact that he is probably still not ready to be a quality regular in the majors, the White Sox don't have anything to lose by trying him out. Dairon Blanco with his fourth double of the season. In Monday's double-header against Cleveland, Dairon Blanco played right field and batted eighth in the starting lineup. He started the second game, which Kansas won 9-4. His fourth double of the year, as well as his 24th stolen base, helped Blanco finish 1-for-4. Aside from that, he scored one run and walked one time. Throughout the year, Blanco has hit .267/.312/.405 with 4 home runs, 13 RBIs, 32 runs, and 24 stolen bases in 30 attempts in 127 plate appearances. Adrián Morejón had another unstable performance on Monday. On Monday, Adrián Morejón pitched one inning against the Cardinals, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out one batter. It is worth mentioning that Morejón had been effective in August, tossing six scoreless outings in ten games, but has allowed 11 hits during that stretch. That includes 9 2/3 innings of work. The pitcher entered Monday with a 2.73 ERA in August, but that figure spiked to 2.85 after the Cleveland game. In his last nine appearances, he hasn't collected a hold, including a blown save and a saved effort. Yandy Díaz was not in the lineup on Monday. Yandy Díaz was absent from Monday's lineup in Seattle, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported. Since July 26, Yandy has started every game. This was a routine day off for him. Due to a back injury, Edgar Quero's status as a potential September callup for the White Sox is uncertain. Edgar Quero has been on the 7-day injured list since Aug. 17 due to a back injury, according to James Fegan of SoxMachine.com. It was expected his return this week, but according to Fegan, Paul Janish, Director of Player Development, said Monday that Quero is unlikely to return anytime soon. Before the injury, Quero was considered for a September promotion, and his current placement on the IL may prevent him from making his big-league debut.
- MLB 2024 | Grandal hits walk-off home run Sunday; Ibáñez hits key home run off bench; Chapman earns win; Alvarez was sitting again; Quero may make his MLB debut this season
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources In Sunday's 4-3 win over the Reds, Yasmani Grandal went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. During the ninth inning, Grandal launched a 393-foot big fly off Alexis Diaz to carry the Pirates to victory. Grandal has three long balls in his last five games, where he's 6-for-19 with three runs and four RBIs. With seven home runs and 23 RBI on the season, the veteran is slashing .208/.253/.371. A possible injury to Joey Bart left him out of this game early, which could open up more playing time for Grandal. Off the bench, Andy Ibáñez hits a key home run. Sunday's 9-4 win over the White Sox saw Andy Ibáñez go 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and three RBIs. After pinch hitting in the fifth inning, Ibáñez hit his fifth home run of the season in the seventh inning. Despite Ibáñez's .261 average and .708 OPS, he may lose playing time in Detroit's infield in the coming weeks as youngster Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith and Jace Jung push for regular playing time. Chapman earns win. In Sunday's 4-3 win over the Reds, Aroldis Chapman saw action. In the ninth inning, Chapman pitched a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Despite reaching on a leadoff single, Elly De La Cruz was picked off by Chapman before Tyler Stephenson and TJ Friedl were struck out. Chapman earned his fifth win of the season when the Pirates scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to Grandal's walk-off homer. Interestingly, Chapman has a 0.60 ERA, just six hits allowed, and a SO:BB ratio of 25:3 over his last 15 games. Jorge Soler was hitless on Sunday. In Sunday's game against the division-rival Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler played right field and batted second. Soler returned to the starting lineup on Friday after missing more than a week with a hamstring injury. In Sunday's game, he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Despite a down year, the right-handed slugger went 12-for-46 (.261) with four home runs and 11 RBI in his first 15 games back with Atlanta after being acquired from the San Francisco Giants. On the other hand, since his return on Friday, he has gone 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. The Astros did not start Yordan Alvarez against the Orioles on Sunday night. The Houston Astros kept outfielder Yordan Alvarez out of the lineup for the second straight day due to neck discomfort. From the beginning of the month, Alvarez had a tremendous .364/.475/.652 line with five long balls, 12 RBI, and a BB:K ratio of 12:10. In Sunday's game against the Tigers, Luis Robert Jr. was not in the lineup. For Sunday's game against the Tigers, Luis Robert Jr. was out of the lineup. After starting 10 games in a row and posting a .943 OPS, Robert was given the day off on Sunday. In Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not start. On Sunday afternoon, the Arizona Diamondbacks looked to complete a three-game sweep against the Boston Red Sox without outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. In the game, he entered as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. In his last eleven games, Gurriel had a solid .360/.441/.499 line, but was benched this week for the second time in a row. Tuesday evening, the D-backs will host the New York Mets, with Gurriel expected to return to the starting lineup. Yoán Moncada will begin his assignment this week. General manager Chris Getz announced that third baseman Yoán Moncada will begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week with Triple-A Charlotte. This will be Moncada's second rehab assignment after being pulled out of one earlier this year due to renewed soreness. With a little over a month left in the season, the 29-year-old has been on the injured list since early April with a groin strain. Before getting hurt, Moncada had been hitting .282 (11-for-39), but hadn't hit a home run or driven in a run in 11 games. An MLB debut is being considered for Edgar Quero. After dealing with back tightness, Chicago White Sox catching prospect Edgar Quero was activated from the minor-league injured list at Triple-A Charlotte. According to general manager Chris Getz, Quero is "under consideration" for a major-league promotion, but the team isn't rushing him. As far as the White Sox are concerned, all they have left to play for is pride and to get some eyes on some of their top prospect prospects. A 21-year-old Quero, who MLB Pipeline ranks as Chicago's No. 4 prospect, started the season at Double-A Birmingham before being promoted to Charlotte. For the Knights in 23 games, the Cuban switch-hitter has hit .313/.408/.506 with a .914 OPS, four homers, and 17 RBI. Quero, who stands 5-11 and weighs 210 pounds, boasts 20-homer power and may join the big-league team early when rosters expand in September, but if not, he will have the chance early in 2025.
- MLB 2024 | Iglesias secures his 28th save; Ibáñez goes hitless; Grandal homers; Soler is anticipated to make a return today
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Raisel Iglesias secured the save against the Phillies on Thursday by pitching a flawless ninth inning. During the game, Iglesias faced the Phillies in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and efficiently struck out three batters in a row, completing the save with just 12 pitches. This marked his 28th save of the season. Notably, Iglesias has been in impeccable form lately, not allowing any hits or walks in his last 10 outings, during which he has recorded 13 strikeouts. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Iglesias has become only the third pitcher in modern history to achieve at least 10 consecutive perfect appearances. Additionally, Thursday's game was the first time this season that he managed to strike out the side in a flawless ninth inning. The 34-year-old has been almost untouchable this year, going 27-for-29 in save opportunities while pitching to a microscopic 1.45 ERA and 0.62 WHIP. Iglesias hasn't allowed a run since June 16, a span of 23 IP. The veteran righty is one of the best closers in the game. Andy Ibáñez went hitless on Thursday. Andy Ibáñez was in the lineup as the left fielder and the second batter in Thursday's game against the Cubs. He faced the left-handed pitcher Justin Steele and had a tough time, going 0-for-3 with one strikeout against him. In total, Ibáñez had a 0-for-4 performance with two strikeouts. Despite this, the 31-year-old utility player is expected to continue playing against left-handed pitchers for the remainder of the season, given his excellent .929 OPS in such matchups in 2024. Yasmani Grandal Smacks a Home Run to Help Pirates Secure a 7-0 Victory. In the Pirates' 7-0 win over the Reds, Yasmani Grandal went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. His contribution to Pittsburgh's strong offense was evident, yet his overall season performance reveals a .207 batting average and six home runs in 57 games. While Grandal's power hitting stands out as a bright spot in a tough season characterized by low averages and modest on-base percentages, it might not signal a significant turnaround. Jorge Soler is expected to return soon. According to David O'Brien of The Athletic, Jorge Soler increased his running on Thursday and is expected to be back in Atlanta's lineup on Friday against the Nationals. Soler has been sidelined since last Wednesday when he injured his left hamstring, but he did manage to draw a walk in a pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday before being replaced by a pinch runner. The 32-year-old has hit four home runs in the 15 games he has played for Atlanta so far. Soler has hit .261 (12-for-46) with four home runs and 11 RBI in 15 games since being acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants at the deadline. Royals' Dairon Blanco Records Stolen Base in Victory on Wednesday. In Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Angels, Blanco contributed a stolen base as a pinch runner. His recent performance during a series in Cincinnati last weekend was noteworthy, as he went 5-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBIs in three games. Despite his impressive display, Blanco is currently in a platoon role, primarily sharing left field duties with MJ Meléndez. With 23 stolen bases out of 28 attempts this season, Blanco has also hit four home runs, driven in 13 runs, scored 31 times, and maintains a .257/.293/.394 slash line in 117 plate appearances. Although he possesses great speed, Blanco's limited opportunities against right-handed pitchers continue to impact his season.
- MLB 2024 | Yariel disastrous again; Gurriel Jr. plates four RBI; Cortés blanks Guardians; Yandy continues to pile hits; Luis Robert continues hot and Arozarena finally gets a hit
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yariel Rodríguez was removed from the game after 4 1/3 innings, having given up five runs and striking out six against the Reds on Wednesday. In Wednesday's 11-7 loss to the Reds, Yariel Rodríguez ended up with a no-decision, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He recorded six strikeouts. Yariel continues to struggle with efficiency. Although he showed promise early in the game, he faced difficulties the second time through the Reds' lineup. Spencer Steer hit a two-run homer off a hanging slider, putting the Reds on the scoreboard. Yariel then gave up three singles to the first four batters in the fifth inning before being pulled from the game. All the runners he left on base ended up scoring, resulting in a disappointing performance. Adding to the frustration, he began that inning with a four-run lead, even holding a 6-0 advantage after three innings. He was taken out after throwing 87 pitches (51 strikes), and he has failed to complete five innings in three of his last five outings, leading to a 5.75 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and a 21:10 K:BB ratio over his last 20.1 innings. Toronto had anticipated monitoring Yariel's workload this season due to his lack of pitching in 2023 and his relief role in Japan over the previous three years. Despite being limited to 80 innings so far in 2024 between Triple-A Buffalo and the majors, injuries may be affecting his performance. To pitch deeper into games, he will need to develop a reliable third pitch to complement his slider and fastball. Both his splitter and curveball are potential options for this role, so watch out for them in his upcoming start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a stellar performance on Wednesday night, going 2-for-2 with two doubles and four RBI to help the Diamondbacks secure a victory over the Marlins. In Wednesday's 10-8 win against the Marlins, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-2 with a double, four RBI, and a stolen base. Despite not being in the starting lineup for the Diamondbacks, the 30-year-old outfielder came in as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and had a significant impact on the game. His three-run double in the seventh inning gave the D’Backs a lead they maintained, and he later added an RBI single in the ninth inning along with a stolen base. Recently, Gurriel Jr. has been on a hot streak, recording hits in six of his last seven games, including four multi-hit performances, and batting .400 (10-for-25) with four RBI during that span. For the season, he now holds a slash line of .274/.312/.418 with 15 home runs, 65 RBI, and seven stolen bases. Yandy Díaz continues to collect hits. On Wednesday, Yandy recorded a 1-for-4 performance with a double and an RBI against the Athletics. Despite an injury scare on Sunday when he was hit by a pitch on the arm, Yandy did not miss any playing time and managed to go 4-for-11 with two doubles in the Rays' three-game series against Oakland. Throughout August, Yandy has been performing well, holding a .297 batting average with six RBIs and eight runs scored in 18 games. Néstor Cortés delivered a stellar performance on Wednesday, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out four batters in a victory against the Guardians. Improving his record to 7-10, Cortés secured the win by limiting Cleveland to three hits over seven innings without conceding a run in the 8-1 triumph. He showcased his skill by striking out four batters and not issuing any walks. The southpaw's dominance was evident as he threw 68 of his 104 pitches for strikes, retiring the side in order in six out of the seven innings he pitched. Cleveland only managed to threaten in the fifth inning, with a runner reaching scoring position. Cortés achieved his 11th quality start of the season, marking his second consecutive one. His impressive 14-inning scoreless streak has reduced his season ERA to 4.00. Looking ahead, he aims to continue his strong form in his upcoming road game against the Nationals early next week. Luis Robert Jr. had a standout performance on Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases to help the White Sox secure a 6-2 victory over the Giants. In the 6-2 win against the Giants on Wednesday, Robert had a productive game, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs, and two stolen bases. Despite a slow start after the All-Star break, Robert has recently been excelling at the plate, with 11 hits, including two home runs and three stolen bases, in his last seven games. This game marked his fourth multi-steal performance of the season, bringing his total to 14 home runs and 20 stolen bases in just 71 games this year. Randy Arozarena with two runs and a stolen base in a defeat. In the loss against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Arozarena managed to get a hit at last, going 1-for-2 with a stolen base and crossing the plate twice. He also received a walk and was hit by a pitch. Arozarena stole his 18th base of the season and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Dominic Canzone after being hit by a pitch to start the second inning. The outfielder, recently acquired, reached base two more times in the game, contributing to his fifth time scoring two runs since joining the Mariners. Before this performance, Arozarena had gone six games without a hit and currently holds a batting average of just .193 (11-for-57) in August, with three home runs, 13 RBIs, 11 runs, and two stolen bases. Encouragingly, he has now drawn a walk in three consecutive games. Adolis García contributes to victory. In Wednesday's 1-0 win against Pittsburgh, Adolis García went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. He delivered the second of the Rangers' three hits in the bottom of the ninth inning, securing the walk-off victory. Additionally, he notched his 11th stolen base of the season during the final inning. Despite a challenging season marked by a .693 OPS, Adolis' lowest since becoming a full-time player in 2021, he has only accumulated 62 RBI over 122 games. To achieve a third consecutive 100-RBI season, he will need to finish the season strongly. Jorge Soler is expected to make a comeback this weekend. According to Atlanta manager Brian Snitker, Soler, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, has been actively training and is set to rejoin the team for the upcoming series against Washington this weekend, as reported by David O'Brien of The Athletic. Despite missing his sixth consecutive game on Wednesday against the Phillies due to the hamstring strain, Atlanta is optimistic that Soler will not need to be placed on the injured list. Described as day-to-day, Soler's participation as a pinch hitter in Tuesday's 3-1 victory suggests that he will return to the starting lineup soon. In his only plate appearance on Tuesday, Soler drew a walk in the eighth inning before being substituted for a pinch runner. For the second time in four games, Miguel Vargas was not in the White Sox lineup on Wednesday. Miguel Vargas started in the first two games of the series but was on the bench for Wednesday's matinee. With the White Sox having a day off tomorrow, Vargas will have played in three out of six days. The 24-year-old's start with the White Sox has been challenging, as he has only managed 5 hits in 54 at-bats for a .093 average, including four consecutive hitless games.
- MLB 2024 | Iglesias secures his 27th save of the season; Gurriel Jr. homers; Soler made an appearance as a pinch hitter; Ribalta was demoted to the Minor Leagues.
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Raisel Iglesias secured his 27th save of the season by pitching a flawless ninth inning against the Phillies. While Iglesias was credited with the save, the Braves' bullpen as a whole delivered an outstanding performance to secure the victory in this game. Following Reynaldo López's departure after five innings, Grant Holmes, Joe Jiménez, and Iglesias worked together to retire all 12 batters they faced and collectively struck out three batters over four innings. Iglesias has successfully converted his last 18 save opportunities, maintaining an impressive streak of 19 appearances (22 innings) without conceding an earned run, allowing only four hits and two walks during that period. At 34 years old, Iglesias has capitalized on 27 out of 29 save chances this season, while also reducing his ERA to an exceptional 1.48, accompanied by a 0.64 WHIP and an impressive 46:8 K:BB ratio across 48.2 innings. In Tuesday's victory against the Marlins, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run. After Miami narrowed the lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning, Gurriel responded in the following half inning with a solo homer to extend the lead to two runs. This marked his 15th home run of the season, breaking a 17-game streak without a long ball. Gurriel, who sat out one game due to a hamstring injury last week, has gone 8-for-27 (.296) with three RBIs and five runs scored in the seven games since then. Jorge Soler was out of the Braves starting lineup for a fifth straight game Tuesday because of his left hamstring strain. Nevertheless, Jorge Soler entered the game as a pinch hitter and managed to draw a walk. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Soler expressed on Tuesday that he believes he will be prepared to play by Friday. Despite being out of action since August 14 because of a strained left hamstring, Atlanta decided against placing him on the injured list, anticipating a quick comeback. A definitive timeline for his full recovery has now been set, and Soler is looking forward to participating in Friday's series opener against Washington. Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano teamed up to pitch two scoreless innings. In Tuesday's game against the Mets, Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano combined for two scoreless innings in a 9-5 victory. Both pitchers had flawless performances, with Cionel striking out two batters and Cano striking out one, and earning his 29th hold of the season. Cionel has a 4.02 ERA in 46 games this year, recording 36 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings, along with two saves and 17 holds. Meanwhile, Cano boasts a 2.86 ERA in 58 games, with 49 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings, a 4-2 record, as well as 5 saves and 29 holds. The Nationals have sent RHP Orlando Ribalta down to Triple-A Rochester. Orlando Ribalta gave up three runs in his two outings for the Nationals.
- MLB 2024 | Yordan is on a hot streak with a multi-hit performance; Arozarena remains without a hit; Yuli's promotion to the Majors could be imminent; Pagés and León have been sent down to the Minors
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Alvarez recorded yet another game with multiple hits. Against the Red Sox on Monday, Yordan Alvarez achieved a 3-for-4 performance including a double. This double marked his 29th of the season. Yordan failed to score following the double, as he was tagged out at home in a play that was reviewed on video. In eight of his last 14 games, Yordan has managed to secure at least two hits. During this period, Yordan has amassed 21 hits in 50 at-bats, with four doubles, five home runs, and 11 RBI, boasting a .420 batting average. His season stats include a .310 batting average, a .955 OPS, and 66 RBI. Randy Arozarena, despite returning to the lineup and stealing a base, remains hitless in a defeat. In Monday's 3-0 loss to the Dodgers, Randy Arozarena went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Arozarena's hitless streak now stands at 0-for-18 over his last five games, during which he has only managed three walks and struck out 11 times. Although struggling at the plate, the outfielder did manage to make an impact by stealing a base on Monday, his first since July 24 when he was still with the Rays. This season, he has recorded a .214/.329/.386 slash line with 16 home runs, 17 stolen bases, 42 RBIs, and 59 runs scored in 120 games. According to Joel Sherman of MLB Network, Atlanta plans to try out Yuli Gurriel at third base in Triple-A Gwinnett. This development is directly linked to the injury of Austin Riley, who will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, creating a gap at third base for Atlanta. While Gurriel has experience playing 92 major league games at third base, he has not started in that position since 2019. Nonetheless, he has been performing well for Gwinnett. Despite Atlanta's anticipated signing of Gio Urshela, Gurriel could offer more offensive potential with his bat, even at the age of 40. Gurriel was signed to a minor-league contract in April and has a batting line of .300/.380/.498 with 12 home runs in 72 games for Gwinnett. Andy Pagés has been sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers. To accommodate the return of Max Muncy and Tommy Edman from the 60-day injured list, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to option rookie outfielder Andy Pagés to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday. Pagés, who has shown promise during his time with the Dodgers this season, is expected to be called back up in two weeks when rosters expand for the final month of the regular season. Despite his solid performance, Pagés may serve mainly as a bench player for the Dodgers if their outfield remains healthy for the remainder of the season. Since the All-Star break, Pagés has struggled, hitting just .200 with one home run, seven doubles, 10 RBIs, and 22 strikeouts in 21 games. Yandy Díaz made his comeback to the Rays' lineup on Monday following his early exit from Sunday’s game due to a bruised forearm. First baseman Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays returned to action on Monday against the Oakland Athletics and pitcher Joe Boyle at Oakland Coliseum. He took on the role of designated hitter and resumed his usual leadoff spot. Despite being hit by a pitch on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, X-rays showed no significant damage to Yandy's left forearm, enabling his return for the series opener in Oakland. During the game, Yandy went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. While his performance hasn't matched his standout 2023 season, where he claimed the American League batting title with a .330 average, 22 home runs, and 78 RBI, Yandy has maintained a respectable .273/.331/.395 slash line in 2024, with 10 homers and 54 RBI. The Astros have sent OF Pedro León down to Triple-A Sugar Land. Pedro León joins the group of young players who performed well in Triple-A but struggled to replicate that success in the major leagues. Despite his impressive numbers of a .297 batting average, 19 home runs, and 23 stolen bases in 93 games for Triple-A Sugar Land this season, the 26-year-old Cuban outfielder struggled with the Astros, going just 2-for-20 in seven games. He struck out 10 times and only walked once. While he still has potential for a future in MLB, it seems likely that his opportunity will have to wait until 2025. Aroldis Chapman receives his 2023 World Series ring. On Monday night, the Rangers honored relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman by presenting him with his 2023 world championship ring, despite now playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are currently in Arlington for a three-game series against the Rangers. Although the Rangers have previously awarded World Series rings to players who were part of the team in 2023 but not in 2024, Chapman didn't join the Pirates until August. The Rangers traded for Chapman in June 2023, acquiring him from the Royals in exchange for lefty Cole Ragans. While the trade hasn't been overly beneficial for the Rangers, Chapman made a significant impact during his time with Texas, serving as a reliable left-handed relief pitcher throughout the regular season and the postseason. Chapman showcased his powerful fastball, recording a 3.72 ERA and four saves in 30 regular-season games with the Rangers in 2023. In the playoffs, he performed even better, pitching 8 innings with a 2.25 ERA. After the 2023 season, Chapman entered free agency and signed with the Pirates, where he has appeared in 51 games this season, boasting a 3.35 ERA and an impressive 14.4 K/9 rate. Luis Robert Jr. records three hits and a stolen base despite team's loss. In Monday's 5-3 defeat against the Giants, Luis Robert Jr. went 3-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. Over his last six games, Robert has a .385 batting average, going 10-for-26. Although he successfully stole a base on Monday, it was his first attempt out of three tries in that period. In the 2024 season, the outfielder has struggled to find consistency, with a slash line of .216/.273/.418, along with 14 home runs, 18 steals, 32 RBIs, and 31 runs scored in 69 games. Despite this, he remains one of the White Sox's key hitters and continues to be a regular in center field. Lázaro Montes is on fire this August. The Seattle Mariners outfield prospect, Lázaro Montes, is performing exceptionally well in August for High-A Everett. He was recently honored as the Northwest League Hitter of the Week after achieving a batting average of .526 and an OPS of 1.562 last week, along with seven RBI. Throughout 15 games this month, Montes has maintained a batting line of .400/.493/.618, hitting three home runs and garnering 11 RBI. As a 19-year-old adjusting to High-A, the Mariners' No. 3 prospect is stepping up his performance significantly. Montes appears to have a promising future ahead in his professional career. While it may take some time, he has the potential to become a key player in the Mariners' outfield in the coming years. Jorge Soler might be absent on Tuesday. It is possible that Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler will sit out of the lineup on Tuesday night for the fifth consecutive game. Soler was found to have a minor hamstring strain on Thursday but is still considered day-to-day. The power hitter has once again had a successful season, hitting 16 home runs so far with a .244/.339/.438 batting line. He rejoined Atlanta at the trade deadline, where he was named World Series MVP in 2021. Upon his return to the lineup, he is expected to share leadoff responsibilities with Michael Harris II.
- MLB 2024 | Adolis smacks a homer to tie the game; Blanco's impressive weekend streak continues; Iglesias secures his 26th save; Mederos gets the call-up to join the Angels
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources In Sunday's game, Adolis García contributed significantly to the Rangers' 6-5 victory over the Twins by hitting a two-run homer, doubling, and scoring the winning run in the 10th inning. Adolis García had a productive performance, going 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double, and an extra run scored in the extra-inning win against the Twins. His homer in the seventh inning equalized the score at 4-4. He was the designated runner in the 10th inning, yet he should be acknowledged for successfully advancing from second base to home plate following a poor throw and a forceful tag that caused the ball to elude Carlos Santana at first base. Adolis has been on fire lately with three games where he had multiple hits, two home runs, and five RBI in his last five matches. In August, he is hitting an impressive .345 (20-for-58). His 21st homer of the season came during a five-run seventh inning that provided all the runs the Rangers needed in regulation. With this performance, his OPS has climbed back to .700, marking the first time since July 5. Overall, the outfielder has accumulated a .227/.290/.410 slash line, along with 21 home runs, 62 RBI, 61 runs, 19 doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 119 games this year. Raisel Iglesias secures his 26th save. On Sunday, Raisel Iglesias closed out the game for the Angels, pitching a flawless ninth inning and striking out one batter. Tasked with preserving a two-run lead, Iglesias executed his job smoothly. He started the inning by striking out Kevin Pillar and then retired the next two batters with routine groundouts. Iglesias has successfully converted 18 consecutive save opportunities since his last blown save on May 3. Moreover, he has not allowed an earned run since June 16. The 34-year-old currently boasts a 1.51 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, and a 46:8 K:BB ratio in 47.2 innings. He is also tied for sixth place in MLB with 26 saves. Dairon Blanco had a stellar performance on Sunday against the Reds, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a solo home run. Continuing his impressive streak, Blanco excelled in Sunday's game with a solo home run, a stolen base, and an additional run scored. Following his outstanding performance on Saturday, Blanco delivered yet another remarkable performance the next day. He kickstarted the game by successfully bunting his way on base in the third inning, then stealing second base and scoring the first run of the game on a Vinnie Pasquantino single. Blanco then hit a home run in his next at-bat, marking his third homer in just two games. Overall, Blanco went 5-for-8 with three home runs, eight RBIs, four runs, and a stolen base over the two games. In his previous 228 career at-bats spread across three seasons, Blanco had accumulated four home runs, 24 RBIs, 47 runs, and 46 stolen bases. Yandy Díaz had to exit Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks due to a hit by a pitch on his arm. Following the impact, Yandy Díaz experienced considerable discomfort and, despite initially staying in the game, he was unable to continue. Fortunately, X-rays revealed no fractures in the injured forearm of the infielder. Yandy has been diagnosed with a bruised forearm and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis until further notice. Yandy continues to have a successful season, boasting a solid .273/.329/.396 batting line with 10 home runs. He maintains a strong 15.7% strikeout rate and an impressive 49.7% hard-hit rate. Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano were in action on Sunday. The duo of Orioles' relievers appeared in the 4-2 victory against the Red Sox. Cionel Pérez took over from starter Albert Suárez and gave up Boston's first run in the eighth inning. Despite allowing a single in the seventh, he returned in the eighth but failed to record any outs, walking Triston Casas and then conceding a double to Rafael Devers. He was charged with a run, causing his ERA to rise to 4.12 for the season. Yennier Cano took over and was able to secure two outs, although he did give up a single to Ceddanne Rafaela, resulting in a 4-1 score. Cano recorded two strikeouts before being replaced by Seranthony Domínguez following Rafaela's hit. Cano earned his 28th hold in his 57th appearance of the year, maintaining a 2.92 ERA in 49 1/3 innings with a 48:20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Angels have brought back RHP Víctor Mederos from High-A Tri City. Although Víctor Mederos primarily pitched for Double-A Rocket City this season, he made a recent appearance at Tri City. Struggling at both levels, the right-hander gave up six runs in High-A and holds a 6.60 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, and a 69:48 K:BB ratio over 88.2 innings in Double-A. Promotions from High-A are rare, but Mederos, who has already had a stint in the majors this season, is an exception. The 23-year-old will contribute innings out of the bullpen during his time with the Angels. Yordan Alvarez did not play in Sunday's game against the White Sox. Manager Joe Espada stated that Yordan Alvarez was given a day off, with Pedro León taking his place in the outfield. Yordan received a much-needed break after appearing in each of the team's previous 29 games, where he recorded a 1.026 OPS with six home runs and an 18:17 BB:K ratio. The 27-year-old has been selected for the All-Star team in the past three years and is currently enjoying another outstanding season in 2024, batting .306/.395/.552 with a .947 OPS, 25 home runs, 66 RBI, a career-best five stolen bases, and 70 runs scored in 117 games. His performance in August has been even more impressive, hitting 19-for-50 (.380) with five home runs, three doubles, and 11 RBI in 14 games. Yordan is undeniably a top-tier hitter. Pedro León is still struggling to produce. Despite a 2-0 win against the White Sox, Pedro León extended his streak of not getting hits, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout and his first stolen base in MLB. In his last three games, León has gone 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. Since his call-up to the Majors on July 30, he is 2-for-20 with no home runs or RBIs and has struck out 10 times. Once again, Jorge Soler was absent from the lineup on Sunday. For the fourth consecutive game, the Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler was not included in the lineup on Sunday afternoon. Despite being diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain on Thursday, Soler's status remains day-to-day. The powerful hitter has had a successful season, hitting 16 home runs with a .244/.339/.438 batting line. After returning to Atlanta at the trade deadline, where he was the World Series MVP in 2021, Soler is expected to share leadoff duties with Michael Harris II upon his return. Randy Arozarena was given a break. Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena sat out during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park to avoid a potential three-game sweep. Arozarena had started to improve his offensive performance early in the second half of the season after being traded to the Mariners in late July, but the 29-year-old player has encountered difficulties once again. Following his five strikeouts in Saturday's defeat, he needed the rest. Since joining Seattle on July 27, Arozarena has a batting average of .239 (16-for-67) with one home run, five doubles, five RBIs, and 25 strikeouts in 83 plate appearances across 19 games. Moreover, he has been hitless in his last four games, going 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts. It has been a challenging year for Arozarena.
- MLB 2024 | Blanco homers twice, tallies seven RBI; Yandy three-hit performance; Ibáñez with two RBI vs the the Yankees
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Dairon Blanco displays impressive power in Saturday's game. In Saturday's 13-1 victory over the Reds, Dairon Blanco had a standout performance, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs. It was unexpected for Blanco, who had only hit one home run in 105 plate appearances prior to this game, to achieve a multi-homer game. The 31-year-old surprised everyone by hitting a two-run homer in the second inning and a grand slam in the third. Additionally, Blanco contributed with an RBI single in the fourth inning, bringing his total RBIs for the game to seven, surpassing his previous total of five in 105 plate appearances. Despite being primarily used as a pinch-runner, Blanco has showcased his speed with 21 stolen bases this season in just 111 plate appearances, although he did not steal any bases in Saturday's game. Yandy Díaz had a successful game against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Yandy Díaz went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored on Saturday against Arizona. Yandy contributed a two-RBI single in the second inning, which was the highlight of his performance. This marked his third multi-hit game out of 14 in August, bringing his monthly stats to a .283 batting average, five RBI, and eight runs scored. While he may not match his breakout 2023 season, Yandy has managed to raise his average to .273 after a slow start to the current campaign. The 33-year-old first baseman holds a slash line of .273/.328/.396 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 497 plate appearances. Andy Ibáñez had a 1-for-4 performance, including a double and two RBI, in the game against the Yankees on Saturday. Getting the start at second base against left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón, Andy Ibáñez made a significant contribution to the team by driving in two runs in the second inning with a double off Rodón. The 31-year-old infielder currently holds a .265/.307/.398 batting line with four home runs and 26 RBI in 179 plate appearances. Randy Arozarena will not play on Sunday. Randy Arozarena was not included in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates. After striking out in all five at-bats during Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Pirates, Arozarena has a 55.6 percent strikeout rate in his last four games. Jorge Soler was not in the lineup on Saturday due to a hamstring injury. Despite Jorge Soler's absence from Saturday's game against the Angels due to a hamstring injury, the Atlanta team is optimistic that the 32-year-old player will return to the field soon. Soler had already mentioned on Friday that he was unlikely to participate in the weekend series against the Angels, so his absence from the starting lineup on Saturday was expected. Miguel Vargas was absent from the White Sox lineup for Saturday's game against Hunter Brown and the Astros. It appears to have been a regular night off for Vargas, who has established himself as the team's primary third baseman.
- MLB 2024 | Luis Robert homers twice; Soler remains sidelined; Yariel allowed three homers; Aledmys is released by the Astros
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Luis Robert Jr. had an outstanding performance, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the White Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Astros on Friday. In the win against Houston on Friday, Robert went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. This impressive display of skill may indicate the end of his recent struggles. Prior to this game, Robert had been batting .135/.163/.214 with one home run, four RBI, and 43 strikeouts in 22 games since the All-Star break. Robert hit a two-run homer in the third inning... ...followed by a solo shot in the fifth, and capped off his performance with an RBI single in the eighth. This game marked the end of a 16-game homerless streak for Robert, during which he only managed 8 hits in 65 at-bats (.123) with two extra-base hits. It was his first multi-homer game since March 30, bringing his total home runs to 14 in 66 games. Despite his recent struggles, Robert has recorded hits in three consecutive games and historically performs well in August, although September tends to be his weakest month. His current season stats include a .212 batting average, .272 on-base percentage, .424 slugging percentage, 26 extra-base hits, and 17 stolen bases. Yariel Rodríguez gave up three home runs and four runs in five innings against the Cubs on Friday. Yariel Rodríguez yielded four runs on four hits and two walks in a no-decision against the Cubs on Friday, pitching five innings. He recorded five strikeouts. All four runs scored against Yariel were a result of home runs. He allowed a two-run homer to Cody Bellinger in the first inning... ...followed by two more solo home runs in the fifth. Despite the Blue Jays tying the game in the ninth, Yariel avoided a loss, extending his winless streak since July 6. Nonetheless, he had been in good form before Friday's game, conceding only one run in his previous two starts (totaling 10.1 innings). Yariel holds a 1-5 record for the season with a 3.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 57:27 K:BB ratio across 55 innings. His next scheduled start is at home against the Reds. Jorge Soler was absent from the Braves' lineup for Friday evening's matchup with the Angels. Having sustained a minor left hamstring strain in Wednesday's game versus the Giants, Soler also missed Thursday's game. The Braves are optimistic that he won't need to be placed on the injured list, opting instead to monitor his condition day by day. Despite this, as per David O'Brien of The Athletic, he is unlikely to participate in the upcoming weekend series. Yasmani Grandal hits his fifth home run. In Friday's 5-3 victory over the Mariners, Yasmani Grandal batted 2-for-4 and hit a solo homer. His solo blast in the fifth inning leveled the game at 2-2. With 20 RBIs, 14 runs scored, and one stolen base across 176 plate appearances, the seasoned catcher holds a lackluster .202/.247/.344 slash line. Unless there is a significant improvement, Grandal is expected to continue serving as the backup catcher to Joey Bart. Aledmys Díaz has been released by the Astros. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros let go of Aledmys Díaz on Friday. After joining Houston on a minor-league contract in July, Aledmys is now being released to create space for Shay Whitcomb, who has been called up from Triple-A. Despite playing in just two games for the Astros and going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, the 34-year-old will likely seek another minor-league deal with a different team.