MLB Player News

Even though the Red Sox are facing a right-handed pitcher, Rob Refsnyder will start in left field with Jarren Duran shifting over to center. Rafaela is a Gold Glove caliber centerfielder, and he has cut his strikeout rate under 19 percent so far this season, which are obvious reasons for the Red Sox to keep him in the lineup. However, he still swings and misses too much, and he has Roman Anthony, the top prospect in baseball, breathing down his neck, so Rafaela will need to start producing soon before he becomes a super utility player.

The Dodgers claimed Buddy Kennedy off of waivers from the Blue Jays on Friday and had to clear a spot on their 40-man roster in order to do so. Fernández, 29, made just one appearance at the big league level this season, giving up two runs in his two innings of work. He could pique another team’s interest on waivers.

The 30-year-old hurler refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the week but ultimately after exploring the market he decided a return to the Angels made the most sense. He’ll continue to function as extra bullpen depth at the Triple-A level.

The 27-year-old infielder has struggled in his limited big league action, but was slashing a solid .282/.369/.500 with 12 homers, 39 RBI, seven swipes and a 38/28 K/BB ratio over 252 plate appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas. Gio Urshela was designated for assignment in a corresponding move on Friday.

The 27-year-old southpaw registered an 8.04 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and a 12/5 K/BB ratio over 15 2/3 innings out of the White Sox’ bullpen, but the A’s saw something that they liked and they pounced on him on waivers. He’ll head to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin his tenure with the team, but don’t be surprised when he earns a quick promotion.

The A’s needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster after claiming Jared Shuster off of waivers from the White Sox and Urshela was the unfortunate casualty this time around. The 33-year-old infielder was hitting an underwhelming .238/.287/.326 with zero homers and 20 RBI in 197 plate appearances with the A’s. He’ll probably go unclaimed on waivers and then elect free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old outfielder tagged Cubs’ closer Daniel Palencia for his 376-foot (102.0 mph EV) solo shot that gave the Bucs a 3-2 lead and proved to be the difference in the ballgame. Suwinski finished the day 1-for-3 and is slashing a cringe-inducing .125/.282/.240 with three homers and six RBI with the Pirates this season. For at least one day though, he got to be the hero on Friday afternoon.

Triolo led off the third inning with a single but was ultimately stranded at second base. He then singled with one out in the seventh inning, deftly swiped second base and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Even with his two-hit attack, the 27-year-old infielder is slashing a putrid .186/.275/.279 with three homers, 13 RBI and six stolen bases in 209 plate appearances on the year.

Santana came on in the eighth inning of a tied game and Ian Happ was caught stealing to end the inning. He returned for the ninth after the Pirates took the lead and immediately made things interesting by allowing a leadoff single to Pete Crow-Armstrong. Fortunately for him and the Pirates though, Crow-Armstrong was then cut down attempting to steal second base as he over-slid the base when he had it easily pilfered. Santana then retired Nico Hoerner on a fly ball to left and Dansby Swanson on a ground ball to shortstop to end the game. Santana has notched four wins and seven saves on the season and is the unquestioned favorite for saves in the Pirates’ bullpen at the moment.

Ashcraft struck out four batters on the day and did not allow a base on balls. The damage done against him came in the form of a game-tying RBI single by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the fourth inning. Aside from that though, he was brilliant. The 25-year-old hurler got nine swings and misses on 61 pitches on the afternoon, registering a CSW of 30 percent. He’ll carry a 3.02 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 37/13 K/BB ratio (41 2/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Blue Jays.

The 23-year-old budding superstar got the Cubs on the board and evened the score at a run apiece with an RBI single off of Braxton Ashcraft in the fourth inning. He was then hit by a pitch in the seventh inning and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Matt Shaw. Crow-Armstrong also led off the ninth inning with a single, but he over-slid second base on a stolen base attempt. On the season, he’s now slashing .259/.297/.523 with 27 homers, 79 RBI and 30 stolen bases.