Done Deal: Kelvin Herrera Traded to Nationals for Three Minor League Prospects

Relief Pitcher Kelvin Herrera has been traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Washington Nationals for outfielder Blake Perkins, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez, and right-handed pitcher Yohanse Morel. Herrera is a free agent at the end of this season and most scouts believe the Royals got a good return for a rental player. Herrera […...

Felix Pena Will Start Tuesday Against Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Felix Pena will start Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks according to manager Mike Scioscia. Pena has a 3.51 ERA in 33 2/3 innings in Triple-A this season along with a 10.13 ERA in just 2 2/3 innings in the majors. For his short career, Pena has a 5.28 ERA and […...

Jeff Samardzija to Make Triple-A Rehab Start Thursday

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (strained right pectoral) will make a rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Sacramento. Assuming all goes well Samardzija should return after the outing. "Shark" has a 6.56 ERA in 35.2 innings this season with a 1.68 WHIP and just 26 strikeouts. His peripheral numbers do not indicate too much […...

Report: Kelvin Herrera Close to Being Traded to Nationals

Former Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera has reportedly been traded to the Washington Nationals. Herrera is being sent to Washington for what is described as three good minor league prospects that are not Victor Robles. Herrera had been the Royals' closer since the departure of Greg Holland and Wade Davis, but was excellent […...

Rafael Devers Changes Batting Stance; Hitting .313 Over Past 12 Games

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is slashing .313/.327/.521 over his past 12 games. Devers also has two home runs, four doubles, and seven RBI in 49 plate appearances across those games. It was reported that J.D. Martinez was working with Devers on his swing and there has been a noticeable difference. Devers has […...

Angels' Medical Staff is 'Very Optimistic' on Shohei Ohtani's Prognosis

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has gotten "very optimistic" reports from the medical staff regarding his prognosis. Ohtani received a PRP injection that will need two-to-three weeks to see if it holds; Ohtani will be re-evaluated at that time. As of right now, Ohtani is taking one-arm swings and Mike Scioscia said, […...

Walker Buehler is Scheduled To Throw Bullpen Session Saturday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (ribs) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday at Citi Field. It is the first bullpen Buehler will throw since suffering a microfracture in his rib and hitting the disabled list. If the session goes well, Buehler could be cleared for a rehab start or simulated game. The […...

Chase Utley Expected to be Activated in the Next Couple of Days

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley is expected to be activated from the disabled list in the next couple of days according to manager Dave Roberts. Utley has been out since the end of May with a thumb sprain but was not impressing anyone up until that point. Utley is slashing just .216/.302/.324 in […...

Chris Sale Shuts Down Orioles

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale went six-plus innings Wednesday against the Orioles and allowed just one earned run. Sale came out for the seventh inning and walked the first two batters before being pulled. On his way out, Sale had some words for the home plate umpire and got ejected despite being taken […...

Mookie Betts Hits First Home Run Since May 25

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts with 1-for-4 with a walk, home run, and two runs scored in a 5-1 win against the Orioles. Betts spent two weeks on the disabled list and had not homered since May 25, but it appears he is fully healthy. Betts has always mashed at Camden Yards and owns […...

J.D. Martinez Smacks Home Run No. 22

Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Martinez homered and walked in the team's 5-1 victory over the Orioles. Martinez walked and came around to score in the fifth, then hit an opposite-field solo shot in the seventh. He has been everything the Red Sox could have hoped for this season. He is second in home runs […...

Yohander Mendez to Start Friday, Matt Moore Moved to Bullpen

Texas Rangers starting pitcher prospect Yohander Mendez will start against the Rockies on Friday as Matt Moore is moved to the bullpen. Mendez owns a 5.26 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 51 innings in Triple-A this season. Mendez was once a highly-rated prospect in the Rangers organization but has flamed out since and is not […...

Carson Smith Undergoes Surgery on Right Shoulder, Out for 2018

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Carson Smith (shoulder) underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder and is officially out for the 2018 season. Smith injured his throwing shoulder by throwing his glove at the bench in anger. After receiving three opinions on his shoulder, it was deemed surgery was necessary. Smith has thrown just 23 2/3 […...

Alex Bregman Absent From Lineup Wednesday

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is not in the lineup for Wednesday night's game. Marwin Gonzalez is playing third base and hitting seventh in his place. Bregman has enjoyed a raise in average and OPS in every month this season and sits at a .266/.375/.448 slash line for the season. Bregman has totals of […...

Rich Hill to Make Rehab Start Thursday, Could Return Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (blister) will be making a rehab start Thursday for Rancho Cucamonga. The plan is for Hill to throw four or five innings and then pitch for the Dodgers in his next outing. Assuming all goes well, Hill would be slated to start in Chicago next week. In six starts […...

Willson Contreras Sitting Wednesday

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is sitting Wednesday. Chris Gimenez will be behind the dish and is hitting eighth versus right-hander Jhoulys Chacin. Contreras has had a bit of a disappointing power season, and while his May was very productive, he has just a .355 slugging percentage in June. With a day off Thursday as […...

Addison Russell Out of Cubs Lineup Wednesday

Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell is out of the lineup Wednesday. Javier Baez is at shortstop and will hit out of the seventh spot while Ben Zobrist moves to second base and will be the leadoff hitter. The Cubs are playing a getaway-day lineup with Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras also sitting, so there is […...

Kris Bryant Sitting on Wednesday

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is sitting Wednesday. The Cubs are off on Thursday and are just getting Bryant a little extra rest. He is slashing just .262/.340/.286 in June and has not homered since May 14. Tommy La Stella is filling in for Bryant, playing third and hitting third. La Stella should be […...

Robbie Ray On Track to Begin Rehab Assignment Thursday

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (oblique) is on track to pitch in High-A Visalia on Thursday after throwing a bullpen session Monday. Ray has been out since April 29 with an oblique strain and will need multiple rehab assignments before he makes his return. It is possible for Ray to return in June if his […...

Shohei Ohtani has Possibility to Return as a Hitter

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) may return at some point to hit even if he is not ready to pitch, according to manager Mike Scioscia. Ohtani has begun therapy and while there have been many different reports, the Angels are holding out hope that Tommy John surgery is not needed. Don't drop […...

Robinson Cano May Not be Everyday Second Baseman Upon Return

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano may not be used every day when he returns from his suspension in August. Cano can return from his suspension on Aug. 14 but will not be eligible to play in the postseason. General manager Jerry Dipoto said Monday, "If we want to be in the postseason - which […...

Andrelton Simmons Has Resumed Light Baseball Activities

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons (ankle) has resumed light baseball activities. Simmons has not started to run yet but he has started throwing and swinging. Simmons said he expects to be activated from the disabled list the first day he is eligible, which is Saturday, and this is a good first step towards that. Assuming […...

Carl Edwards Jr. to Play Catch Tuesday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. (shoulder) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday. This will be the first time Edwards will be throwing since going to the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. Like teammate Yu Darvish, Edwards does not have a timetable for his return yet and it will likely hinge on how his arm feels […...

Anthony Rizzo Drives in Lone Cubs Run Tuesday

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Rizzo got off to a terrible start this season that included a disabled list stint for a back injury. His season slash line is up to .250/.353/.420 to go along with eight home runs and 39 RBI. In the last 30 […...

Kyle Hendricks Roughed Up By Phillies Tuesday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks gave up five earned runs in five innings Tuesday against the Phillies and took the loss. Hendricks has now only gone five innings in two straight starts but was unusually inefficient in this one. He needed 87 pitches - only 54 of which were strikes - to get through […...

Matt McLain Selected 25th Overall by Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Matt McLain with the 25th pick in the MLB amateur draft. McLain is a right-handed hitting shortstop that may also play second base and is coming from high school. McLain is described as a pure baseball player inside and out. He is a smooth defender with quick hands and feet to […...

Cubs Select Nico Hoerner 24th Overall

The Chicago Cubs selected shortstop Nico Hoerner 24th overall in the MLB Amateur draft out of Stanford University. Hoerner is a right-handed hitting shortstop that is considered at reach at 24, but the Cubs care not for your mock drafts. Kyle Schwarber was projected as a potential third-round pick before being selected fourth overall. Hoerner does […...

Rockies Select Ryan Rolison 22nd Overall

The Colorado Rockies have selected left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison 22nd overall out of Ole Miss. Rolison is a draft-eligible sophomore and despite being younger, projects to move through the minor leagues quickly. Rolison sits in the 91-94 mph range with his fastball and would have been a higher selection in this draft if he did […...

Brice Turang Selected 21st Overall by Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers selected shortstop Brice Turang with the 21st pick in the MLB amateur draft. Turang is a left-handed hitting shortstop out of high school and needs to grow into his body more, as he stands 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. Turang was thought of to be a potential first overall pick and slid to 21 […...

Nolan Gorman Selected 19th Overall By Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have selected third baseman Nolan Gorman 19th overall in the MLB amateur draft. Gorman is a left-handed hitting third baseman coming right out of high school and is said to have some of the best raw power in the draft. He won the high school home run derby at the Under […...