MLB Player News

Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that this is just the initial diagnosis for Acuña Jr., and that he’ll need to undergo further testing. The results of imaging will determine the severity, but it seems very likely that a trip to the injured list is coming for the 26-year-old. Fantasy managers should be be prepared to get him out of their lineup for the week.

The Braves were planning to option Waldrep back to Triple-A Gwinnett after Sunday’s lackluster outing against the Rays where he allowed six runs on five hits and four walks with only two strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings. However, the 22-year-old top pitching prospect told Atlanta’s training staff that he was experiencing more elbow soreness than usual following the outing, and will instead head to the injured list. There should be some clarity on his status following some additional testing and imaging. Fantasy managers in shallow re-draft leagues can probably move on, but he’s shown some encouraging signs in the majors, despite the subpar surface results so far.

Miranda did his damage off of Dany Jimenez in this one, crushing a first-pitch slider for a 427-foot (105.6 mph EV) solo shot that proved to be the difference in the ballgame. It was his only hit in two at-bats on the night. For the season, the 25-year-old is now hitting .280/.320/.473 with seven long balls and 24 RBI.

The 25-year-old superstar got things started with a bang in this one, demolishing a 427-foot (104.6 mph EV) two-run shot off of Joey Estes in the opening inning. He also homered in the first game of the doubleheader and has now slugged seven long balls in his first 12 games on the season. Lewis finished the night 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored and is now slashing a laughable .390/.447/.951 with seven homers and 11 RBI.

The 29-year-old right-hander got the call after Jhoan Duran closed out the first game of the doubleheader earlier in the afternoon. He did allow a one-out single to JJ Bleday that put the tying run on base, but battled back to get Miguel Andujar on a fly ball to center field and Tyler Soderstrom on strikes to end it. Jax has been a key cog in the Twins’ bullpen this season, posting a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 43/8 K/BB ratio (31 1/3 innings) while recording six saves and three victories.

Paddack also walked a batter in the ballgame and didn’t record a single strikeout. Twice the Twins staked him to early leads in this one, and both times he gave it right back the following inning. The A’s scratched out three runs against him in the second inning, then JJ Bleday and Tyler Soderstrom tagged him for solo homers to chase him from the game in the third. The 28-year-old right-hander got just two swings and misses on 46 pitches in the game, posting a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll try to improve upon his 5.25 ERA and 1.41 WHIP when he squares off against these same Athletics in Oakland on Saturday.

Soderstrom’s 421-foot (105.9 mph EV) solo shot off of Chris Paddack tied the game at 5-5 in the third inning and chased the Twins’ right-hander from the ballgame. The 22-year-old slugger added an RBI single in the seventh inning, finishing the night 3-for-4. He has been a pleasant surprise in the middle of the A’s lineup this season, slashing .250/.357/.464 with five long balls and 13 RBI in his first 98 plate appearances.

It’s really a testament to the A’s offense that Estes wound up with a no-decision here instead of a loss. The 22-year-old hurler punched out two batters on the evening while allowing one base on balls. Most of the damage done against him came via the long ball, as Royce Lewis crushed a two-run homer in the first inning and Trevor Larnach added a three-run shot in the second. Estes got five whiffs on 65 pitches in the ballgame, posting a minuscule CSW of only 18 percent. He’ll try to pick up the pieces as he carries a 5.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 30/9 K/BB ratio (34 2/3 innings) into a rematch against the Twins at home on Friday.