Sam Dyson was placed on the disabled list because of a bruise and Keone Kela was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. Kela was demoted to Triple-A right before the season after an undisclosed incident during one of the Rangers’ “B” spring training games. The team listed the reason for the demotion as “club culture” but they were not willing to trade him as several teams made inquiries.
Kela came into a non save situation last night and threw his 97 mph fastball for a scoreless ninth inning. GM Jon Daniels says Matt Bush is first in line for saves but the Rangers depend on Bush’s ability to pitch more than an inning if necessary so don’t be quick to assume he will take over as closer long term. The Rangers also have Jeremy Jeffress to close out games.
A.J. Griffin allowed only one hit and walked one while striking out eight over six scoreless innings, and retired 14 in a row.
Josh Harrison was hit by a pitch in four straight at bats, and has now been hit six times on the season, which is one more than he got hit all of last season. It’s the most HBP by a Pirate in April since 1998, when Jason Kendall was hit seven times and in all of MLB, only two players in the past 80 years have been hit twice in two consecutive games
Seung Hwan Oh got the Cardinals first save last night. The last time it took St. Louis 13 games into a season to get a save was 1980. The Cardinals’ .212 batting average is still the worst in MLB.
Atlanta just swept a team four games for the first time since 2014
The Cubs have lost four in a row for the first time since last July. They haven’t lost four in a row at home since 2014
Jason Kipnis could make his season debut on Friday
The Astros have combined to score 34 runs over the past four games
Chris Devenski is the first relief pitcher in Astros history to start the season by striking out three or more in each of his first four appearances. Devenski has 21 strikeouts in 11 innings after he struck out the side in the sixth and has seven of the last nine batters he faced. Astros relievers now have a 1.33 ERA their last 20 1/3 innings.
Taijuan Walker left Sunday’s game after the fifth inning with minor back stiffness but he is expected him to make his next start.
Jake Lamb hit the first home run allowed by the Dodgers bullpen this season, now all bullpens in baseball have given up at least one homer.
Mookie Betts hasn’t struck out in 123 consecutive plate appearances, the longest streak by a Red Sox player since Denny Doyle‘s 159 in 1975.
Brian Johnson was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Eduardo Rodriguez‘s turn in Toronto. Rodriguez is out with his wife who just had a baby.
Greg Bird was left on the bench in favor of Chris Carter last night, even after getting a hit on Sunday.
Ryan Braun becomes a 10-5 player May 24..Trade possibility here
Jean Segura is on track to be activated from the 10-day disabled list on Friday, April 21
The Braves’ starting rotation has the second-best ERA in the National League. They have a quality start in each of the three games started at their new stadium, SunTrust Park
The Rockies bullpen ranks third in the National League with an ERA at 2.68. Their starting pitchers rank last in the National League and 26th overall with an ERA at 4.68
Francisco Rodriguez has started throwing his curveball more often as his fastball velocity has dropped to 88 m.p.h.
The Angels haven’t scored a run since last week, with only seven singles in the last 20 innings and only two extra base hit in their last 46 innings. They have lost their last six.
Matt Holliday hit the second-longest homer in baseball so far this year, and the longest homer hit by a Yankee not named Alex Rodriguez since 2015. It went 459 feet at 113.9 mph. Carlos Gomez hit one 461 ft.
Dexter Fowler is hitting .132/.207/.151 through 53 at-bats. Fowler has nine more strikeouts than hits, one extra base hit, and one stolen base. He has gone 35 at-bats without a walk. Leadoff hitters are struggling all over the National League, averaging .237/.293/.384.
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