MLB Player News

Balester was 4-5 with a 5.16 ERA, 126 H and 87/53 K/BB in 118 innings for Single-A Potomac. He’s just 20 and he has a pretty good fastball, but he’s going to have to improve his strikeout rate if he’s going to fulfill his potential.

Olds, 27, is in the majors for the first time after six years in the Red Sox system. Possessing a 95-98 mph fastball but subpar control, he had a 5.33 ERA and a 74/28 K/BB in 50 2/3 innings out of the pen for Worcester.

Burgos was asked to throw three innings on back-to-back days in his first stint with the Red Sox earlier this month. Yesterday’s indifference to his health might have been even worse, as he was allowed to continue on the mound after a rain delay in excess of 2 1/2 hours against the Pirates. Maybe the team can have him start both games of a doubleheader next time he’s recalled.

We had a feeling this would happen. Harrison gave up five runs in the second inning after Jihwan Bae missed the catch at second base on what would have been a 5-4 double play and potentially could have been a 5-4-3 triple play. While throwing miscues on double plays don’t result in errors (“the double play can’t be assumed”), missed catches that would have completed double plays can still be errors, and this one seemed to fit the bill. As a result of the change, Harrison’s ERA drops from 3.47 back down to 2.99.

It has nothing to do with Christopher Morel’s addition, since Morel isn’t starting, either. The Mets are just going with the vets today, with Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Luis Robert are starting. Baty had a big grand slam against the Braves a week ago, but he’s still just 4-for-29 this month. He’s at .175/.230/.404 in 61 plate appearances since the break.

Mesa probably wouldn’t have started against the lefty on Sunday if healthy, but he’d be in there tonight against right-hander Brandon Young if not for his hamstring issue. Ryan Vilade is starting in his place.

Turner left Saturday’s game after fouling a pitch off his right knee and didn’t play Sunday. He’s batting second tonight.

He’s back, except he’s not starting tonight against lefty Framber Valdez. Cruz, who missed more than two months with a hand fracture, went 3-for-22 over six games on his rehab assignment. Although he’s clearly not at his best just yet, it’s probably worth getting him back into fantasy lineups anyway and hoping he steals some bases right away. His return figures to push Jake Mangum to a corner and result in some DH time for Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez. Ronny Simon, who had been DHing a lot, was sent down to open up a spot.

This is a little bit of a surprise, if only because Simon had been playing pretty regularly since being called up 12 days ago. He hit .290/.333/.323 in nine games.

Ramirez was away from the team for three days. He’ll return to his middle relief role, which has seen him post a 2.67 ERA in 67 1/3 innings over 49 appearances.

Barco, who was recalled before the game, gave up three runs over three innings in a bulk role Sunday against the Red Sox.