MLB | Cabrera (oblique) hoping to take BP Friday

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Cabrera (oblique) hoping to take BP Friday

Miguel Cabrera (oblique) is hoping to take batting practice Friday.

If he's able to and he feels alright, Cabrera thinks he might be ready to return to the Tigers' lineup as soon as Saturday. The Tigers' slugger hasn't played since Tuesday because of a Grade 1 oblique strain.

Source: Jason Beck on Twitter

Fri, May 19, 2017 04:24:00 PM

White Sox activate OF Avisail Garcia off DL

White Sox activated OF Avisail Garcia from the 10-day disabled list.

Garcia will return to the White Sox active roster for Friday's doubleheader against the A's after missing nearly two months with a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring. The 27-year-old outfielder was batting just .233/.250/.315 in 76 plate appearances before the injury, but he's capable of much better results moving forward. Garcia went 9-for-25 (.360) with three home runs, three doubles, and nine RBI on his seven-game minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.

Jun 22 - 11:33 AM

Wacha MRI reveals 'moderate' oblique strain

An MRI taken Thursday on Michael Wacha's left oblique showed a "moderate" strain.

That's relatively good news, but Wacha could still miss over a month of action. The 26-year-old right-hander suffered the injury in the fourth inning of his start Wednesday against the Phillies and was placed on the disabled list Thursday. He was sporting a strong 8-2 record, 3.20 ERA, and 71 strikeouts through 64 1/3 innings (15 starts) this season with the Cardinals, who will either turn to John Gant, Daniel Poncedeleon, or Dakota Hudson to fill the vacant rotation spot.

Source: Joe Trezza on Twitter

Jun 22 - 9:16 AM

Skaggs (hamstring) to start Monday or Tues.

Tyler Skaggs (hamstring) is aiming to start Monday against the Royals or Tuesday against the Red Sox.

That makeup-game matchup in Kansas City would obviously be more favorable for fantasy purposes. Skaggs was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday night against the Blue Jays after experiencing some tightness in his right hamstring, but it looks like he will avoid the disabled list. The 26-year-old left-hander holds an impressive 2.81 ERA and 86/24 K/BB ratio in 80 innings (14 starts) this season with the Angels.

Source: Jeff Fletcher on Twitter

Jun 22 - 8:08 AM

Luis Valbuena launches pair of homers in win

Luis Valbuena went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three total RBI in Thursday's 8-5 win over the Blue Jays.

Valbuena connected for his first home run of the game (a two-run shot) off of John Axford with two outs in the fifth inning. He would follow that up with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. This was the veteran infielder's second two-homer game of the year and his first contest with a long ball since May 29. He's up to eight dingers on the season. While Valbuena does have a decent little bit of pop -- he's cracked double-digit home runs in each of the past five seasons -- there's just not enough to cling to for consistent fantasy work. He is slashing .222/.271/.369 in 65 games this year.

Jun 22 - 1:47 AM

Thames, Brewers hang 11 runs on Cardinals

Eric Thames went 2-for-5 with a three-run triple and two runs scored as the Brewers pounded the Cardinals 11-3 on Thursday.

Thames' big blow, which came well after the bell would have sounded to stop the fight, was indicative of the night as a whole -- a Brewers batter hit the ball, and a Cardinals fielder wasn't able to make the play. This one came in the seventh inning as Thames drove a John Gant pitch to deep center that Tommy Pham was only able to knock down to keep it from being a grand slam, instead providing Thames his first triple of the year. After a long layoff due to a UCL tear in his left thumb, Thames is back and is hitting .233/.330/.589 with nine homers, 20 RBI and 16 runs scored in 30 games played this year.

Jun 22 - 1:18 AM

Bumgarner brilliant over eight shutout frames

Madison Bumgarner fired off a gem in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Padres, striking out eight across eight scoreless innings while scattering three hits.

Just a dominant performance by the veteran ace, who finished off his eight innings having thrown a slickly economic 100 pitches (69 strikes). He walked two in the outing. At the dish, he also came up with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. That would be the only run to score in the game before the home team tacked on two late insurance runs. This was by far MadBum's best outing in four tries since he was activated from the disabled list earlier this month. He missed the first two months of the season rehabbing a fractured left pinkie sustained in spring training. Thursday's start was a tantalizing reminder of what Bumgarner's capable of on a baseball mound. He'll try to build on this strong outing in a home showdown with the Rockies next time out.

Jun 22 - 12:45 AM

Marte homers, scores three runs against Bucs

Ketel Marte went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and three runs scored as the Diamondbacks romped over the Pirates 9-3 on Thursday.

Marte socked a two-run shot in the first inning and scored runs in the third and ninth innings for good measure. The season threatened to get away from Marte after he was hitting .216/.273/.309 through May, but the 24-year-old has turned it around with a stellar June in which he's hitting .339 with five homers, 17 RBI and 18 runs scored. The good stretch has his overall line up to .246/.302/.418.

Jun 22 - 12:27 AM

Winker's grand slam propels Reds past Cubs

Jesse Winker hit a grand slam in a six-run sixth inning to help the Reds beat the Cubs 6-2 on Thursday.

The Reds rallied with two outs, pushing across a run with a bases loaded walk, but the Cubs still held a 2-1 lead when Winker stepped in against southpaw Randy Rosario. That changed with one swing, as Winker yanked an inside pitch over the right field wall for a grand slam that ended up being the difference in the game. The homer was the fourth of the year for Winker, who has 23 RBI and 24 runs scored. The 24-year-old is hitting .256/.367/.365 on the year.

Jun 21 - 11:58 PM

Soto delivers go-ahead double in win over O's

Juan Soto hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth inning to lead the Nationals to a 4-2 win over the Orioles on Thursday.

Mychal Givens, in his second inning of work, allowed a Bryce Harper double and a Trea Turner single before Soto stepped to the dish with one out. The 19-year-old then slapped an opposite-field double into the gap to plate both. Soto continues to impress and hold his own through 28 games in the bigs, batting .326/.426/.598 with six homers, 16 RBI and 18 runs scored. He's not going anywhere any time soon.

Jun 21 - 11:12 PM

Lorenzo Cain departed with hamstring cramp

Updating an earlier report, Lorenzo Cain left Thursday's game against the Cardinals with a right hamstring cramp.

According to the Brewers, his removal was "precautionary." Cain was seen watching the game from the dugout after his departure, which would also suggest the injury isn't serious. He should be back in there on Friday.

Source: Todd Rosiak on Twitter

Jun 21 - 9:48 PM

Jaime Garcia could be demoted to bullpen duty

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons acknowledged that Jaime Garcia could be moved to the bullpen.

The left-hander has been dreadful this year (6.16 ERA in 13 starts) and could lose his spot in the starting rotation with Marcus Stroman (shoulder) slated to return this weekend. Sam Gaviglio would likely be called on Sunday against the Angels if Garcia is indeed demoted to a long relief role.

Source: Shi Davidi on Twitter

Jun 21 - 8:21 PM