MLB Player News

Lacy was selected fourth overall in June’s 2020 MLB Draft after posting a 2.07 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 224/68 K/BB ratio over 152 innings during his three-year college career at Texas A&M. Kansas City has been very aggressive with promoting young pitchers in this condensed campaign, but it would be a real shock to see the 21-year-old left-hander get into a major league game at any point this summer. He’ll work out at the Royals’ alternate training site in Piper, Kansas. Hernandez, 23, might eventually be tried as a long relief option.

Stuart Fairchild replaced him to begin the fifth. Martínez struck out in both of his at-bats against Sonny Gray before departing. He’s probably day-to-day, but if this turns into an IL situation, then CJ Kayfus or George Valera could be recalled.

Severino left his start Friday after allowing four unearned runs in an inning against the Yankees. Reliever Michael Kelly is replacing him on the roster for now, but the A’s could turn to Mason Barnett in his rotation spot next week. Jack Perkins might also be an option after being extended to 63 pitches in his last relief appearance.

Kelly was supposed to be a key part of the A’s pen, but he was sent down on Apr. 9 after giving up three runs in 4 1/3 innings. He had since posted a 4.91 ERA and a 17/7 K/BB in 14 2/3 innings for Las Vegas.

Lowe was mad about being denied a challenge (which would have been successful) and was tossed by the first base ump after flying out to conclude his at-bat. Tyler Callahan replaced him against the Twins.

Lefties are hitting .336/.416/.555 against Kyle Leahy, but the Cubs still couldn’t find any room for the switch-hitting Ramírez today. Michael Conforto is on the bench, too, as the Cubs are starting Moisés Ballesteros at DH rather than give up some defense by having him catch. Ramirez has started two of the Cubs’ nine games since being recalled last week, but that’s still better than Kevin Alcántara; he’s yet to get a start in eight games with the team.

Lazar suffered an oblique strain pitching for Team Israel in the WBC and had been on the IL since the start of the season, though he’s been well enough to post a 2.70 ERA in 11 relief appearances. With his rehab assignment ending, he’s now back on the 40-man, but he’ll continue pitching for Lehigh Valley until needed.

Pop went on the injured list with a calf strain since Apr. 15, but he’d been pitching in Triple-A on a rehab assignment for three weeks now, giving up eight earned runs in eight innings. It was time for the Phillies to decide whether to bring him back or not, and they decided to against it. The 29-year-old had a 3.68 ERA in 7 1/3 innings before getting hurt. He could stick around and stay with Lehigh Valley if he clears waivers.

TJ Friedl is starting in his place against lefty Martín Pérez, with Blake Dunn moving from ninth to leadoff.

How many grand slams does a guy have to hit in order to start regularly? Alas, Bader is batting just .170/.198/.358 overall. Now that Jung Hoo Lee is back, Bader could lose significant time against righties to Drew Gilbert. Of course, Gilbert is only hitting .194/.254/.274 this month, but he does have the platoon advantage (and the his-college-manager-loves-him advantage). Bader has a .482 OPS against righties and an .837 OPS versus lefties.

It’s believed to be a hamstring injury for Nimmala, though the Jays haven’t commented. The 20-year-old was hitting .308/.375/.369 in 18 games since being moved up to Double-A at the beginning of May.