First-rounder Jackson Flora gets $8 million bonus

It’s a brutal development for the Red Sox as Mead is out indefinitely and will fly back to Boston to visit a hand specialist to determine whether he’ll require season-ending surgery. The 25-year-old infielder, who was acquired from the Nationals for talented young lefty Connelly Early over the weekend, underwent an MRI that revealed the fracture after initial X-rays came back negative. It’s possible there was too much swelling for the fracture to show up on initial imaging at the ballpark after he was hit by a pitch during Monday’s series opener in West Sacramento. He suffered the injury during his second at-bat during his Red Sox debut. Fantasy managers should anticipate a lengthy absence and there’s a possibility his season is over.

Pasquantino was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning after going 0-for-3 at the dish. There’s some real cause for concern here since the 28-year-old first baseman missed nearly one month with a right hamate fracture back in mid-June. He’ll head for further evaluation to determine the severity of the issue. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for the moment.

Oh, so that’s why Detroit DFA’d Jake Rogers. The Tigers started both of their catchers tonight, with Dillon Dingler serving as a DH, and Valencia, who was recalled Monday, hit his third and fourth homers in just seven games (four starts) as a major leaguer. True, the second one tonight was hit off Chadwick Tromp, but this still an awfully impressive start. He’s the first player to have four hits and two homers in one of his first seven career games since Jose Siri in 2021 and second since Danny Espinosa in 2010.

Melton’s 23.1 percent strikeout rate isn’t overwhelming, but he’s been about as effective as any pitcher in the majors since joining the Detroit rotation two months ago, going 6-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 67 innings over 11 starts. Regression will surely come at some point; he could well remain an above average starter, but the stuff seems shy of ace quality. He’s a really good bet again next week, though, as he’s due to face the Mariners in Seattle.

Kremer gave up a pair of homers, bringing his total surrendered to 12 in 36 innings this season. He’s allowed 21 runs in 25 innings in his five starts since coming off the injured list, and he’s 1-4 with a 6.50 ERA in seven starts overall. If the Orioles can bring in a starter before the deadline, it’s very obvious that it’s Kremer who is going to be bumped from the rotation.