What is the story about?
Good
morning.
- Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, currently on the injured list, has been seen on social media promoting cockfighting in Puerto Rico, along with Jose and Irad Ortiz Jr., the two brother jockeys who finished 1-2 in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Josh Peter reports.
- Peter follows up by reporting that animal rights groups have been calling for the athletes to face consequences if they are proven to be involved with cockfighting in Puerto Rico. Cockfighting is illegal everywhere in the US, including Puerto Rico, under federal law.
- Jayson Stark writes about what we’ve learned so far at the quarter-mark of the season. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- We’re going to the butcher’s bill early today because it’s long and I don’t have any more animal cruelty stories (thank goodness). Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The Dodgers are hopeful the former two-time Cy Young Award winner will return before the end of the season.
- Blue Jays right-hander José Berrios will also have surgery to remove “loose bodies” from the elbow, but doctors may have to repair ligament damage in Berrios’ elbow as well. That would likely knock him out for the season.
- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went to the IL with an oblique strain.
- Red Sox infielder Trevor Story went to the injured list with a sports hernia. He’s expected to miss several weeks. Although a “sports hernia” is less embarrassing to Story than an accounting hernia would have been.
- Mets starter Clay Holmes is out with a broken fibula after getting hit with a 111 mile per hour comebacker line drive. I know that I had considered Holmes as a top trade target for the Cubs this summer.
- The Yankees put lefty Max Fried on the IL with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow.
- The Yankees got some good injury news as former Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole is throwing 99.6 mph in a rehab start and is expected to return to the team after one more rehab start.
- The Dodgers acquired lefty Eric Lauer in a trade with the Blue Jays. Toronto gets cash. Lauer takes the place of lefty Jack Dreyer, who goes on the IL with left shoulder discomfort.
- Travis Sawchik looks at the surprising reason that velocity in MLB keeps increasing, which is that the slower pitches are disappearing. This is likely a big reason for the increase in pitching injuries.
- Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg, who hasn’t played yet this year, is now out for the season with ulnar collateral ligament surgery. Dayn Perry writes that the pressure is now on the rest of the Orioles to step up.
- The Mariners/ Brendan Donovan went on the IL with muscle inflammation in his left groin, so top Mariners prospect Colt Emerson was promoted to make his major league debut. Daniel Kramer with more on Emerson’s debut.
- The Athletics acquired infielder Alika Williams from the Pirates for a minor-league pitcher.
- The Orioles signed outfielder Tommy Pham to a minor league deal.
- Ben Clemens examines the slumping Dodgers lineup, except for Max Muncy, who has been exceptional.
- Thomas Harrington has nine players who are surprisingly leading their teams in hitting. Muncy is one of them.
- Dayn Perry looks what an Astros teardown might look like.
- The Phillies have rebounded under interim manager Don Mattingly and are now over .500. Matt Snyder look at what’s changed.
- One reason is DH Kyle Schwarber’s history home run pace. Scooby Axson shows how Schwarber is challenging the record books.
- Julian McWilliams writes that in addition to being a great slugger, Kyle Schwarber is one of the most beloved players in baseball by fans and players throughout the league. I don’t think he has to convince any of you of that.
- Bob Nightengale profiles Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, whom he says is already one of the best players in baseball.
- Justin Turner is not ready to hang up the spikes, despite no team offering him a deal this winter. So Turner is now playing for Tijuana in the Mexican League, (The Athletic sub. req.) where he’s become a star and a fan favorite.
- Just under a year ago, Wilber Flores hit three home runs in one game for the Giants. Now a free agent, Flores can’t find a team that wants him. (The Athletic sub. req.) So he’s also playing for Tijuana. Sam Blum and Dennis Lim with both Tijuana stories. (If you want a blast from the past, Flores and Turner are teammates on the Toros with Junior Lake.)
- Jay Jaffe looks at the breakout season of A’s catcher Shea Langeliers.
- Can these ten players having rebound seasons keep up the good work?
- Kiri Oler looks at the many factors playing into the Royals offensive surge this year. It also cost Hawaiian Bros Island Grill a lot of money.
- Tim Britton makes up an all-time Subway Series All-Star team. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- MLB beat writer Christina DeNicola writes about her whiffing on the catch of a foul ball back to the press box.
- Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez caught a home run ball in the bullpen with a traffic cone.
- Tom Hanks met Mr. Met at Citi Field and Mr. Met was decked out like “Wilson” from Cast Away. Theo DeRosa has the details.
- And finally:
