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Stats

Samy Natera Jr. (back) throws bullpen session

Samy Natera Jr.

LAA Relief Pitcher

Player Stats

Samy Natera Jr. (back) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday.

Flame-thrower Ben Joyce has taken over as the Angels’ primary ninth-inning option since Natera hit the injured list with back spasms last week. The 26-year-old figures to make it back to Los Angeles’ high-leverage mix in a couple weeks.

- George Bissell

Injury

Source: Rhett Bollinger

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Samy Natera Jr.

LAA Relief Pitcher

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Angels placed LHP Samy Natera Jr. on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 17, with low back muscle spasms.

It’s unclear how long the Angels expect the 26-year-old southpaw to be sidelined for, but he’ll miss a couple of weeks at a minimum. Sammy Peralta was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding move on Thursday to take Natera’s place in the Halos’ bullpen.
Samy Natera Jr.

LAA Relief Pitcher

Samy Natera Jr. tossed a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to convert a save against the Rangers on Tuesday.

Natera got the call in the ninth inning to close out the game against the Rangers with a one-run lead. He tossed a perfect frame, striking out two batters to convert the save. The 26-year-old right-hander is gaining momentum in the Angels’ bullpen, converting his third save with a 2.00 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a 42/10 K/BB ratio across 27 innings.
Samy Natera Jr.

LAA Relief Pitcher

Samy Natera Jr. closed out the Orioles for his second save of the season on Thursday.

The left-hander has been lights out this year, with 38 strikeouts and an 0.88 WHIP in 25 innings pitched over 21 appearances. Ben Joyce pitched yesterday and the Angels would probably rather have Natera available for heavy left-handed parts of the order, but Natera is pitching so well that he might be the man to roster if Joyce can’t establish himself as the closer after a long layoff. Even right-handers are hitting just .152/.220/.304 against Natera.
Samy Natera Jr.

LAA Relief Pitcher

Left-hander Samy Natera Jr. got the final four outs against the A’s for his first career save in a 4-1 game Sunday.

Natera came in with two on and Nick Kurtz pinch-hitting in the eighth and got a mile-high, 109.9 mph fly to end the Athletics’ threat. He then stayed in with more lefties up in the ninth and retired three in a row after Lawrence Butler’s single to start the inning. The 26-year-old Natera has opened his big-league career by allowing one run in 9 1/3 innings. He probably won’t become the Angels’ closer, but he could continue to be mixed in when lefties are due up in the ninth.
Samy Natera Jr.

LAA Relief Pitcher

Angels selected the contract of LHP Samy Natera Jr. from Triple-A Salt Lake.

It’s the first trip to the big leagues for the 26-year-old southpaw. Natera registered a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 44/18 K/BB ratio over 30 innings in 20 appearances at Triple-A Salt Lake. He’ll serve in a middle relief role for the Angels.

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Kyle Tucker

LAD Right Fielder #23
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Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy are not in Los Angeles’ starting lineup on Thursday against the Braves.

They’ll take a seat against LHP Chris Sale. Alex Call will draw the start and bat seventh for Tucker; this appears to just be a routine day off. Enrique Hernández is playing third for Muncy and Muncy appears to be in some danger of losing at-bats against lefties now that Hernández is back.
- Rivers McCown
Alex Call

Max Muncy

Enrique Hernández
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Eugenio Suárez

CIN Designated Hitter #28
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The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer reports Eugenio Suárez and TJ Friedl cleared waivers and will remain with the Reds.

Suárez being claimed by the Diamondbacks or Mariners would have made for a fun story, but instead he’ll finish out the regular season with the Reds. Neither club was willing to pick up approximately $3 million in salary for the 35-year-old slugger.
- Rivers McCown

Source: Gordon Wittenmyer
TJ Friedl
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Gordon Graceffo

STL Relief Pitcher #44
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Gordon Graceffo will open for the Cardinals on Thursday.

It’ll be a bullpen game. Newly-called up Cade Winquest may have the best chance for a bulk role, but that’s not exactly an endorsement of chasing a win with him.
- Rivers McCown

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JJ Wetherholt

STL Shortstop #26
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JJ Wetherholt is not in St. Louis’ starting lineup against the Orioles on Thursday.

He’ll get a rest day, with José Fermín shifting to shortstop and recently-activated Ramón Urías at second base against LHP Trevor Rogers.
- Rivers McCown

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Abimelec Ortiz

WSH 1st Baseman #81
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Abimelec Ortiz is not in Washington’s starting lineup for Thursday’s game against the Rockies.

Terribly unfortunate to miss a start against RHP Gabriel Hughes, who is 0-5 with a 6.54 ERA. Andrés Chaparro will draw the assignment instead. It’s the first day off for Ortiz in the last six.
- Rivers McCown

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Hunter Goodman

COL Catcher #15
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Hunter Goodman and Mickey Moniak aren’t in Colorado’s starting lineup against the Nationals on Thursday.

Both will miss a chance to face RHP Jake Irvin. Zac Veen and Brett Sullivan will get the call. This is likely just a normal rest day for Goodman as a catcher in a day-game-after-a-night-game situation.
- Rivers McCown
Mickey Moniak
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Tyler Davis

CWS Relief Pitcher
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White Sox recalled RHP Tyler Davis from Triple-A Charlotte.

He’ll be tasked with throwing three innings in some game in the next week, then likely optioned down again.
- Rivers McCown

Transaction

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Jonathan Cannon

CWS Starting Pitcher #48
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White Sox optioned RHP Jonathan Cannon to Triple-A Charlotte.

That’s what you get for throwing a 66-pitch, three-inning save yesterday. Cannon will be back when his arm is fresher.
- Rivers McCown

Transaction

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Rikuu Nishida

CWS 2nd Baseman
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White Sox optioned RF Rikuu Nishida to Triple-A Charlotte.

He lasted two days on the roster this time and didn’t appear in a game. The 25-year-old is hitting .293/.423/.333 for the Knights in the International League with 22 stolen bases.
- Rivers McCown

Transaction

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James Wood

WSH Right Fielder #29
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James Wood (oblique) was doing baserunning work on the field on Thursday.

Wood landed on the injured list on August 4th with what the team had called a mild oblique strain. However, his recovery progress has been slow, and it’s unclear if he has even begun swinging a bat. Seeing him run on the field is certainly nice, but until we see him hitting and beginning to hit high velocity, we shouldn’t expect an imminent return.
- Eric Samulski

Injury

Source: Spencer Nusbaum

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