Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
Big-time performances, big-time finishes and big-time injuries. Just another day in MLB. There was plenty of action all around, so let’s get to it.
Today’s Headlines
Mets’ Lindor Haunts Guardians With Walk-Off
It only seemed fitting that in a wild and crazy game between the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians that Francisco Lindor was at the plate with the game on the line. After all, it was Cleveland that traded Lindor to the Mets in 2021. Lindor hit a single past second baseman Andrés Giménez off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase to drive in Francisco Álvarez and cap a three-run 10th inning for a 10-9 victory. Giménez was part of the return the Guardians got for Lindor in the six-player trade.
The 10th-inning dramatics, which saw the Guardians take a 9-7 lead on Gabriel Arias‘ two-run homer, wouldn’t have been possible without a grand slam from Mets slugger Pete Alonso that tied the game 7-7 in the seventh inning. Alonso has homered in four straight games, tying his career-best streak.
BALLGAME WON!!! pic.twitter.com/fI3mSAsbFa
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 20, 2023
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. pic.twitter.com/517eystfng
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 20, 2023
Padres Send Machado To IL
To say things haven’t gone as scripted for the San Diego Padres is an understatement. The latest speed bump is All-Star third baseman Manny Machado being placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured metacarpal in his left hand. Infielder-outfielder Brandon Dixon was promoted from Triple-A. Machado was hit by a pitch Monday and the club took a few days to make the IL move. He is slashing .231/.282/.372 with five homers and 19 RBI.
Almost Perfect
It was 27 up, but not 27 down. Michael Kopech retired the first 16 batters and allowed just one hit while facing the minimum 24 over eight innings as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0. Kopech, who struck out 10 and walked none, allowed a one-out, broken-bat single in the sixth inning to Michael Massey. The next batter, Jackie Bradley Jr., hit into an inning-ending double play. “He’s got a great fastball and when he’s commanding it like the way he was tonight, he’s unstoppable,” White Sox catcher Seby Zavala said.
Michael Kopech was feeling it tonight! pic.twitter.com/5xiPwN18Bs
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 20, 2023
Judge On Fire
Aaron Judge is on his first extended hot streak of the 2023 season.
The New York Yankees outfielder, who set the American League single-season record of 62 homers in 2022, homered for the seventh time in as many games when he cranked out a solo shot in the top of the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Judge has hit homers in five of those seven games, with a pair of two-homer games making up the difference. It was his 13th homer of the season and extended his hitting streak to seven games. The Yankees won 6-2.
SEVEN HOMERS in SEVEN DAYS for @TheJudge44. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5kk5bTsxcV
— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2023
Bauer Sent To Minors In Japan
Thing aren’t going very well for Trevor Bauer in Japan. The former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander has struggled in his three starts with the Yokohama DeNA Baystars, posting an 8.40 ERA. He is being sent to a minor-league affiliate for an “adjustment start” Sunday before rejoining the Baystars.
Bauer is in Japan due to his suspension following a domestic violence incident. He was originally suspended 324 games (two full seasons) a little more than a year ago, but that penalty was reduced to 194 games, which includes the first 50 of this season. The Dodgers released Bauer after his suspension was reduced. He is owed about $25 million by the Dodgers for the rest of this season.
A Red Sox-Yankees Trade?
It isn’t very often you see the two American League East rivals get together on a trade, but the Yankees and Boston Red Sox did so for just the seventh time in the Divisional Era (since 1969).
The Yankees acquired outfielder Greg Allen from the Red Sox in exchange for minor-league right-hander Diego Hernandez and cash considerations. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reported that Allen had an upward mobility clause in his contract that allowed for a trade if the Red Sox did not promote him by a certain date and another team had a 26-man roster spot for him.
Cubs DFA Hosmer
Eric Hosmer is the odd man out once again. The first baseman, who won a World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs, who made a flurry of moves. Hosmer was squeezed off the San Diego Padres‘ roster a year ago due to the Juan Soto trade in which Josh Bell was also dealt by the Washington Nationals.
Hosmer couldn’t last half a season with the rebuilding Cubs. In 94 at-bats this season, Hosmer has a .234/.280/.330 for a 67 OPS+ and -0.4 bWAR. Could this be it for the 33-year-old Hosmer? Hosmer signed an eight-year, $144 million contract in 2018, most of which is being paid by the Padres as part of his trade to the Boston Red Sox last year.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Altuve Returns
In his first game since breaking his right thumb when he was hit by a pitch during the World Baseball Classic, Jose Altuve went 0-for-4 in the Houston Astros‘ 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s. The second baseman did walk once from his customary leadoff position.
Back where he belongs. pic.twitter.com/HaVyHW4QcM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 20, 2023
Defense In Debut
Patrick Bailey was called up by the San Francisco Giants to make his MLB debut. He did just that Friday, but it was only three innings of defense in the Giants’ 4-3 victory over the Miami Marlins. With wife Leigha and infant daughter Briella watching, Bailey helped steal a strike that sent his loved ones into celebration.
.@SFGiants catcher Patrick Bailey got to make his MLB debut in front of his wife and daughter. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bhKmAa7Zyb
— MLB (@MLB) May 20, 2023
Injuries and Other Moves
Texas Rangers ace right-hander Jacob deGrom (right elbow inflammation) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session and said he felt good about the outing.
New York Mets left-hander José Quintana (rib surgery) will begin mound work Saturday. He is slated for a July return.
Catcher Gary Sánchez was called up from Triple-A by the New York Mets. Outfielder Tim Locastro was placed on the 60-day IL with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb.
Catcher Patrick Bailey, the 13th pick of the 2020 draft, was called up from Triple-A by the San Francisco Giants for his MLB debut. Catcher Joey Bart (groin strain) and right-hander Ross Stripling (back strain) were placed on the 10-day and 15-day IL, respectively. Outfielder Ryan Walker was also called up from Triple-A. Outfielder Cal Stevenson was DFA’d.
San Diego Padres right-hander Seth Lugo was put on the 15-day IL due to a strained right calf.
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Wade Miley will miss six to eight weeks after being diagnosed with a posterior serratus strain. He was placed on the IL Wednesday.
Rookie right-hander Peyton Battenfield (right shoulder inflammation) was put on the 15-day IL.
Right-hander Lucas Erceg, just acquired via trade from the Brewers, was called up for his MLB debut by the Oakland A’s. Right-hander Zach Neal was DFA’d and righty Zach Jackson (flexor tendon strain) was placed on the 15-day IL.
Outfielder-third baseman Miguel Andujar was DFA’d by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Atlanta called up veteran infielder Charlie Culberson from Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
Four transformations that made the Rays the best team in baseball — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
Revisiting the Mets-Guardians trade that sent Lindor to the Big Apple — Anthony DiComo, MLB.com
Why is Betts playing shortstop for the Dodgers? Because he can — Scott Miller, New York Times
Why is Harold Ramirez’s hair blue? He does it for his autistic son — Bryan Horowitz, MLB.com
Fantasy Baseball Coverage