MLB Player News

Downs, 25, actually had a shot at earning a reserve role on the team’s Opening Day roster with a strong showing in Grapefruit League action. He was off to a slow start though, hitting just .231 (3-for-13) with a pair of doubles and three RBI. He’ll continue to function as extra depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to open the season.

The 30-year-old southpaw walked three and struck out three on the afternoon. The lone blemish on his day came as Keibert Ruiz scampered home on a ground out in the fifth inning. Peterson got six whiffs on 82 pitches on the afternoon, posting an underwhelming CSW of just 24 percent. Now 3-4 on the season, he’ll tote a 5.03 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 49/20 K/BB ratio (48 1/3 innings) into Tuesday’s battle against the Reds.

Ruiz singled off of David Peterson in the second inning, but he was cut down attempting to steal second base. He then led off the fifth inning with a single and ultimately scored his club’s first run on a ground out off the bat of Andres Chapparo. That would be their only tally in the ballgame. For the season, the 27-year-old backstop is slashing a solid .260/.277/.500 with four homers, 22 RBI and one stolen base in 100 plate appearances.

Cavalli scattered just four hits and one walk on the day. All of the damage done against him came on a two-run single off the bat of Bo Bichette in the third inning. Unfortunately, that was enough to do him in in this one. The 27-year-old righty generated nine swings and misses on 84 pitches on the day, posting a CSW of 33 percent. He’ll try to get back in the win column as he carries a 3.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 61/19 K/BB ratio (53 2/3 innings) into Tuesday’s showdown against the Guardians in Cleveland.

The versatile 29-year-old landed on the injured list last week with a fractured finger and expressed confidence at that time that he would be ready to return when first eligible. That appears to be the case, though the Yankees may have to make a tough decision on the roster move to create a spot for him on the active roster.

It’s a tough break for the 26-year-old defensive wizard who was nearing a return from a bone bruise that had him shelved since April 22. He won’t be re-evaluated until after the All-Star break which means he’s going to be out for a while. If there were any concerns about the playing time for Henry Bolte once Clark returned, the runway has now been cleared.

It looks to be just a routine day off for the 34-year-old slugger. Mike Trout will function as the team’s designated hitter while Jose Siri will start in center field and will bat seventh for the Halos against Athletics’ right-hander Luis Severino.

The Red Sox plan to promote Tayron Guerrero prior to Friday’s game and needed to clear a spot on their active roster and it looks like Kelly drew the short straw this time around. The 31-year-old hurler has actually done a nice job for the Red Sox this season, registering a 3.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 14/7 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings in his 17 appearances.

The Pirates needed to make a move to clear a spot on their active roster for the promotion of Esmerlyn Valdez on Friday and Cook wound up being the odd man out this time around. He’ll return to an everyday role there until his services are needed by the Pirates once again.

The 22-year-old slugger has hit .253/.381/.506 with 10 homers and 29 RBI in 194 plate appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis this season. It’s extremely unlikely that the Pirates would be promoting him to function in a part-time role, so expect him to see everyday at-bats from the jump. He has intriguing power potential, but no speed to speak of, so his fantasy value will ultimately depend on where he settles in the Pirates’ lineup.

No word yet on the corresponding move(s) that the Red Sox will make to the roster. Guerrero, 35, holds a scintillating 0.92 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 22/6 K/BB ratio across 19 2/3 innings in 15 appearances at Triple-A Worcester this season. He’ll bolster the club’s middle relief corps.