MLB Player News

It’s not injury-related at this point, but rather just a way to keep the 32-year-old slugger from picking up an unnecessary injury in a meaningless game that has already been delayed due to rainy conditions. He ends the year with 58 homers, 144 RBI and a 1.159 OPS. Pretty good. Trent Grisham takes his place in the lineup.

Yelich sat out each of the team’s last two games due to renewed swelling in his right wrist after he was hit by a pitch during the team’s last road trip. He’s feeling much improved after a couple of nights off though and is back in there as the club’s designated hitter against Cardinals’ right-hander Sonny Gray. On the season, the dynamic 33-year-old outfielder is hitting .233/.320/.417 with 13 homers, 41 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

The 28-year-old infielder had been designated for assignment earlier in the week, but he passed through waivers unclaimed and has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A. Rivera slashed a meager .232/.303/.275 with zero homers, three RBI and a 12/6 K/BB ratio in his 76 plate appearances with the O’s.

He’ll take the place of the recently demoted Brent Headrick in the Yankees’ bullpen. Effross, 31, has made nine appearances in the minor leagues this season, posting an uninspiring 9.00 ERA, 2.20 WHIP and a 14/3 K/BB ratio in 10 innings of work. Expect him to be utilized in a middle relief role.

The 27-year-old southpaw did a decent job in 11 appearances with the big league club, registering a 4.73 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 16/3 K/BB ratio across 13 1/3 innings of work. He should get another opportunity with the Yankees before the summer is through. Scott Effross was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move on Thursday.

It’s the first night off on the season for the 33-year-old superstar and it’s certainly well deserved. Judge has slashed an outrageous .394/.490/.779 with 25 homers, 59 RBI and six stolen bases through his first 298 plate appearances. While he’s not in the starting lineup, expect to see him off the bench when the right situation arises late in the ballgame.

Cardinals’ manager Oli Marmol told reporters that Donovan will play catch and move around a bit on Thursday to see how his toe responds. He’ll then attempt to take batting practice on Friday, after which the team will make a decision on whether or not he will require a trip to the injured list. It sounds like fantasy managers should have reason for optimism here.

The 32-year-old southpaw has an agreement in place to sign with the CTBC Brothers of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League, so the Yankees let him out of his minor league deal. Leibrandt had posted a 2.85 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 37/14 K/BB ratio over 41 innings in his 10 appearances (nine starts).

The 35-year-old right-hander exercised the opt-out clause in his minor league pact with the Yankees and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that DeSclafani has already reached an agreement to join the Diamondbacks. It’s not yet clear whether or not it will be on a major league or a minor league contract. DeSclafani has made five starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on the season, compiling a 4.50 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and a 20/9 K/BB ratio over 20 innings of work. He’ll help to add rotation depth for the D’Backs in the wake of losing Corbin Burnes for the season.

The 26-year-old hurler was cut loose by the Brewers last week after posting a 5.45 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 27/17 K/BB ratio over 33 innings in 10 appearances (six starts) at Triple-A Nashville. He’ll add rotation depth in the upper minor leagues for the Reds.

The 27-year-old southpaw was only with the Reds for a couple of days to provide their bullpen with a fresh arm. He has made two appearances with the big league club this season, registering a 18.00 ERA, 3.50 WHIP and a 0/2 K/BB ratio in two innings of work. He’ll continue to refine his craft at the Triple-A level.