Nats fall flat

The Cubs have had a rough year. The Nationals have had a rough month (especially their bullpen). Misery loves company, right?

I just wished they had kept my fantasy team out of it.

If you want a shoulder to cry on, I’m here for you, fellow Trea Turner owners. We’re in this together now. Washington’s stud shortstop was having a pretty typical game Thursday against the Cubs. He singled, made a handful of smooth plays at shortstop and was wreaking his usual havoc on the base paths with two steals. But things got dicey in the seventh inning when Turner took a pitch off his right wrist. Trooper that he is, Turner shook it off and took his base. Turner lasted another inning before being replaced by Stephen Drew to begin the ninth. Last year’s runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting headed for X-rays and was soon given the worst news possible: he was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his right wrist.

The masochistic path traveled by fantasy baseball owners each year has always been death by a thousand cuts. But even for owners who are well-versed in the art of disappointment, the loss of Turner stings more than most. While Turner’s batting average has dropped off considerably since last year (not that anyone expected him to hit .342 again), the 23-year-old has still been plenty valuable, especially in the steals department. Turner’s 35 thefts lead the majors. He’s been particularly aggressive as of late, nabbing a whopping seven steals over his last three contests including four in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over the Cubs.

Billy Hamilton

If Billy Hamilton had power and could hit, he’d be Trea Turner. Turner has also been a nice cheat code for fantasy owners due to his versatility. Though Turner has been limited to playing shortstop this year, his time spent at second base and center field a year ago has given him eligibility at three different fantasy positions.

So how long will tortured Turner owners be without their star pupil, the base-stealing chameleon who died for all of our fantasy sins? While the Nats have been reluctant to give a firm timetable, mostly because they don’t know yet, it’s worth noting that Braves star Freddie Freeman suffered a similar injury earlier this year. Freeman is tentatively expected to return next Wednesday following a three-game rehab stint with Triple-A Gwinnett. If he returns on that date, Freeman will have missed 49 days, or exactly seven weeks. 49 days from yesterday would be August 17.

Turner should be back for the stretch run, but that’s not going to be of much solace to fantasy owners who need him right now. It doesn’t help the Nats much either. Washington still boasts plenty of offensive weaponry with perennial MVP candidate Bryce Harper as well as likely All-Stars Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon. But leadoff hitters, especially ones who run like gazelles, don’t grow on trees. Neither do shortstops. The Nats will likely turn to some combination of Stephen Drew and Wilmer Difo at shortstop with Turner out of commission. Those two have combined for an underwhelming .245 average with two homers and 20 RBI this year. Adrian Sanchez, a .257 hitter in the minors this season, will also be sprinkled in. He was pulled from Thursday night’s game at Triple-A Syracuse, a sure sign that he’s headed to the big leagues to replace Turner.


The Nationals are a unique team in that they’re a near-juggernaut, but the whole league knows their self-destruct code. It’s truly bizarre for a team as talented as the Nats to have such a glaring weakness, but Washington’s bullpen has been an eyesore all season. It took weeks for the Nats to settle on Koda Glover as their closer but that lasted only until he hurt his back in the shower, resuming Washington’s vicious cycle of ninth-inning misery.

Koda Glover

Matt Albers and Enny Romero have been operating as co-closers since Glover’s injury but neither was available Thursday after pitching in three straight games. Staked to a two-run lead in the ninth inning, the Nats called on Blake Treinen to record the final three outs. Washington has cycled through countless arms since then, but if you recall, Treinen actually served as the Nationals’ Opening Day closer. After watching him pitch Thursday, you can see why Treinen lasted such a short time in that role.

Treinen’s outing started harmlessly enough with Addison Russell striking out to begin the frame. Jeimer Candelario followed with a hit-by-pitch while Victor Caratini grounded into a fielder’s choice. Washington had a chance for a game-ending double play but Daniel Murphy botched the transfer and had to settle for the force out at second base. Treinen never recovered from the missed double play and eventually allowed three straight hits including a go-ahead two-run double by Jon Jay. The hard-throwing right-hander watched his ERA skyrocket from 5.50 to 6.11 while taking his second blown save.

Chicago’s own bullpen was far from perfect. The usually reliable Carl Edwards Jr. served up a two-run blast to Anthony Rendon in the seventh as Washington took back the lead. But ultimately the Cubs escaped with a 5-4 victory, ending the series in a 2-2 draw.

With Glover no closer to returning and Shawn Kelley hurt as well, the Nationals have been scouring the market for available relievers. So far they’ve landed on Kevin Jepsen, a 32-year-old fringe major leaguer who failed to make the Diamondbacks’ roster out of spring training, and Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod has a wealth of closing experience—he’s fourth on the all-time saves list—but has averaged under 89 mph on his fastball this season, lessening the impact of his signature change-up. Earlier this year in Detroit, Rodriguez lost his closer’s job to Tyler Wilson and was eventually cut after struggling to a 7.82 ERA in 28 outings. With 16 years and 976 innings of big league mileage on his right arm and a fastball that is no longer fast, the rapidly declining K-Rod is unlikely to become Washington’s ninth-inning savior.

K-Rod

The Nationals will have options should they choose to pursue a trade. Brad Hand, Kelvin Herrera, Mike Minor, Pat Neshek and David Robertson have all have been discussed as trade candidates at one time or another and their markets should heat up as the July 31 deadline draws closer. But the Nationals have no time to wait and little leverage as prospects guru Christopher Crawford noted yesterday.

Washington’s bullpen deficiency is so grave that teams can ask for the kitchen sink and probably get it. That’s how desperate the Nats are to find a competent gatekeeper to man the ninth inning. Last year’s closer Mark Melancon has already landed on the DL twice this season while racking up a mediocre 4.35 ERA for San Francisco, so perhaps the Nats were wise not to get into a bidding war for him this offseason.

As the astute Dan Steinberg pointed out on Twitter, days that end in 29 have not been kind to the Nationals. News of Adam Eaton’s season-ending knee injury broke on April 29 while May 29 was the date of Bryce Harper’s infamous brawl with Hunter Strickland. Looking ahead, the Nationals have a home game lined up against the Rockies on July 29. They should probably just forfeit that game, or at the very least wrap Harper in a very thick layer of bubble wrap so nothing happens to him.

 

Dustin Fowler

AL Quick Hits: Thursday should have been the greatest day of Dustin Fowler’s life making his major league debut for arguably the most iconic franchise in pro sports. But instead the Yankees outfielder was carted off in the first inning after vying for a foul ball in right field against the White Sox. He was taken to a Chicago hospital for surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. The 22-year-old didn’t even get a chance to bat … In other Yankees news, the Bronx Bombers brought back Chris Carter less than a week after designating him for assignment. The first baseman was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, though he never actually reported to them … Josh Donaldson has been to three All-Star Games in his career. He doesn’t think he deserves to make a fourth this year. “I’m not an All-Star,” said Donaldson. “Look at my numbers.” Donaldson is probably right—he’s hit just .257 with eight homers and 20 RBI in 37 games this year … Bud Norris (knee) hurled a scoreless inning Thursday in a rehab outing for High-A Inland Empire. The Angels are expected to activate him Saturday against the Mariners … Avisail Garcia’s MRI showed minor inflammation in his left knee. Garcia said he’ll be out a “couple” days … Welington Castillo was a late scratch Thursday against the Blue Jays. He sprained his knee after slipping on the dugout steps on his way to warm up with Ubaldo Jimenez. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is “cautiously optimistic” he’ll suit up Friday against the Rays … Mike Trout hit in the cage on Thursday and will take on-field BP on Friday. He’s been out a month while recovering from thumb surgery … Dustin Pedroia sat out Thursday’s game due to a left knee injury. Red Sox manager John Farrell suspects that nagging injuries are to blame for Pedroia’s relative lack of power this year (he’s only homered twice in 234 at-bats).

NL Quick Hits: The Braves finally pulled the plug on Bartolo Colon, designating the ancient right-hander for assignment on Thursday. There’s already been talk of Colon reuniting with the Mets, who are currently without Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey and Robert Gsellman among others … A.J. Pollock won’t be activated from the disabled list this weekend. He recently resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno after a brief setback. A strained groin has sidelined Pollock since mid-May … Chase Anderson was placed on the disabled list Thursday after suffering a strained oblique Wednesday versus Cincinnati. The Brewers right-hander holds the NL’s sixth-lowest ERA at 2.89 … Matt Adams exited Thursday’s game in the second inning after fouling a ball off his left foot. His X-rays came back negative and the Braves are calling his injury a bruised foot … According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have not ruled out placing Kris Bryant on the disabled list. Bryant suffered a mild ankle sprain on Wednesday and is expected to be out at least through the weekend. With Bryant’s replacement Jeimer Candelario (bruised knee) also banged up, the Cubs will likely turn to Tommy La Stella at third base … Corey Seager (hamstring) returned to the Dodgers’ lineup Thursday following a five-game absence. He went hitless in a win over the Angels.

Tribe time

Tribe Time

The Cleveland Indians started the season on a sluggish note, and injuries to their pitching staff interrupted the flow of things. However, as the team gets healthier, they're starting to look more and more like the defending American League champions.

Carlos Carrasco took advantage of a toothless Orioles lineup on Wednesday, scattering seven hits over six scoreless innings while striking out 10 batters and walking none to run his record to 8-3 while lowering his ERA to 2.99. The Venezuelan right-hander has recorded quality starts in five of his past seven road outings, and he has won three straight starts for the first time since a similar hot streak at this time last season, June 25-July 5. His double-digit strikeout total was the first of the season, as he is rounding into form heading into the summer.

Corey Kluber hasn't lost since returning from the 10-day disabled list, recording four consecutive quality starts while posting a 3-0 record with a 1.61 ERA and 39 strikeouts across 28 innings. The last time the Klubot served up a homer was May 2 in Detroit, and he is 4-0 with a 3.90 ERA in five starts at home this season.

Pitching is great, but the team is also getting career contributions from some unlikely sources. Jose Ramirez looked like he might simply be a role player a few years back, but he is emerging as a star in Cleveland. He leads the team with a .322 average while rolling up 23 doubles, three triples, 11 homers and 34 RBI with a .322/.376/.557 slash line and healthy .933 OPS. In Wednesday's game at Baltimore he posted his ninth consecutive multi-hit game, and he has 10 doubles and three homers during the amazing tear.

Pow Peralta

David Peralta of the Diamondbacks is enjoying quite the hot streak lately, and it continued Wednesday in Colorado. The right fielder collected four singles with a walk, RBI and four runs scored, including two singles in a 10-run fourth inning. His is now slashing a robust .332/.380/.498, raising his average 22 points in the month of June. He has been a huge part of the surprising turnaround in Arizona this season, as the Snakes have been at or near the top of the National League West Division for most of the season.

Peralta has five games with three or more hits over his past 10 outings, raising his average from .303 to .332 just since June 8. While fantasy owners might complain that he doesn't rack up many extra-base hits, he has been a friend to rotisserie owners with his outstanding average, 19 runs scored over the past 16 outings as well as occasional thefts and a low strikeout rate. He checks in with a solid 1.058 OPS, so he isn't totally devoid of power. Peralta continues to sail along for manager Torey Lovullo in the desert, and it will be interesting to see how the outfield picture shakes down once A.J. Pollock (groin, quadriceps) is healthy enough to return. However, Gregor Blanco figures to be the biggest loser once the team is 100 percent healthy.

National League Quick Hits: Ryan Raburn posted his second consecutive multi-hit effort in Miami while launching his first homer of the season. … Max Scherzer carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in Miami, but it was ruined by an infield bleeder by A.J. Ellis. It got worse. He ended up allowing two unearned runs with one walk and two hits to end up with a complete-game loss. … Jose Pirela lifted his average to .351 with two more hits and an RBI in matinee action in Chicago. … Jedd Gyorko finished 3-for-4 with a two-run home run off of Nick Pivetta in a stunning comeback in Philly. The big right-hander from West Virginia belted 30 homers in his first season in the Lou last year, and he might be having an even better season in 2017. He has 11 doubles, 11 homers, 31 RBI and a .297 average. The latter might be most surprising considering he is a career .245 hitter. … Tommy Pham is making the most of his shot at regular playing time, belting four homers with six RBI over the past five games, including two solo bombs in Philly on Wednesday. He has six multi-hit games over his past 14 outings. … Matt Adams is on a tear in Hotlanta, as he belted his third homer with eight RBI over the past five outings. He has nine homers with 23 RBI and a ridiculous 1.104 OPS in the month of June. … When Domingo Santana came up, he made headlines for his amazing arm. Lately, it's his hitting that is turning heads. He whacked his 12th homer while amassing three RBI to propel the Brew Crew past the Bucs. His 12 homers are already a career best, besting his 11 from 2016. … Brandon Drury posted a double, three singles and a career-high six RBI in Coors Field.

American League Quick Hits: After four scoreless innings, Francisco Lindor got the ball rolling for the Indians offense in the fifth. He smacked his 14th homer while finishing with three RBI in the win. … Trey Mancini posted three more hits in the loss, giving him six multi-hit performances over the past 10 outings to raise his average 30 points from .284 back on June 11. … Kevin Gausman, once considered ace material, can't get out of his own way this season. The opposition is hitting a gaudy .332 against him over 80 2/3 innings while he slipped to 3-7 with a 6.47 ERA in Wednesday's loss to the Indians. … Trevor Plouffe belted his homer in a Tampa Bay uniform, and he has hit safely in each of his three games since coming over from Oakland. … Salvador Perez had a perfect night at the dish, going 3-for-3 with grand slam and a walk against the Red Sox. He has raised his average from .254 to .292 just since June 5, a span of 12 games. … Martin Maldonado racked up three extra-base hits in a loss at Yankee Stadium. He posted a double, two homers and four RBI, giving him four multi-hit games over his past 10 starts. … Steve Pearce finished 3-for-3 with a double, run scored and RBI in Texas, hitting safely in eight straight contests. However, he suffered a knee contusion in the victory and is a question mark for Thursday's game. … Jose Berrios ran his record to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.67, allowing just two runs, four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over eight innings. He is a perfect 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts in the month of June. … Carlos Correa connected for his 14th homer in a solo smash off of Oakland reliever Josh Smith. He is slowly starting to heat up again after a rough patch in the middle of the month.

Scooter goes wild

Scooter Gennett isn’t the type of player we’d usually feature in a Daily Dose here at Rotoworld, but the 27-year-old utilityman made history on Tuesday night with a rare and highly unexpected four-homer performance against the visiting Cardinals -- just the 17th four-homer game since Major League Baseball’s conception.

There's even an argument to be made that Gennett had the most productive game in the history of the sport.

He hit an RBI single in the first inning, a grand slam in the third inning, a two-run home run in the fourth inning, a solo shot in the sixth inning, and another two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth. Gennett finished the 13-1 victory 5-for-5 with 10 RBI, four runs scored, and a whopping 17 total bases.

Only five times in history has a player tallied 17 or more total bases in a major league game. Shawn Green did it in 2002 during his own four-homer game, but he finished that night with seven RBI. Josh Hamilton socked four homers in a Rangers uniform in 2012 -- the last four-homer game prior to Gennett’s -- but he finished that one with eight RBI. Mark Whiten racked up four homers and 12 RBI in a game for the Cardinals in 1993, but he went 4-for-5.

Gennett, a late-March waiver claim by Reds general manager Dick Williams, now boasts a .302/.336/.578 batting line with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 47 games this season. But to put things in perspective, he entered the evening batting .270/.308/.450 with just three home runs in 46 games and a career OPS+ of 99. Gennett seems doubtful to provide consistent fantasy value moving forward even if this historic night buys him a little more regular playing time.

Jose Peraza is locked in for the Reds at second base, the position Gennett typically played during his four years with the Brewers, and right fielder Scott Schebler is due back from a shoulder injury before the end of the week. Maybe a spot opens up when shortstop Zack Cozart is traded, but by then Gennett’s big night will probably be nothing more than a fun footnote -- at least in the world of fantasy baseball where extended stretches of production are what matter most.

Toronto Loses Hot-Hitting 2B Travis

Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis was a hot topic on our latest episode of the Rotoworld Baseball Podcast. He ended the month of April with a dreadful .130 batting average and .388 OPS, but the dynamic 26-year-old was slashing .352/.363/.611 with four home runs, 20 RBI, two stolen bases, and 17 runs scored in 29 games since the beginning of May.

Unfortunately for all parties involved, that hot streak is going to have to be put on hold.

Travis was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a bone bruise and cartilage damage in his right knee and it sounds like his absence will probably extend through the end of June -- possibly much longer.

“It doesn’t seem real,” Travis told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca on Tuesday evening. “I don’t really get it but I know there’s no time to feel sorry for myself. I have to do all I can to get back on the field.”

Davidi says Travis repeatedly wiped away tears from his eyes during his chat with the media Tuesday. He suffered a similar knee injury in Game 1 of the 2016 ALCS and didn’t see another at-bat in that series. His subsequent offseason rehab extended into the early part of spring training.

Travis also missed a huge chunk of time as a rookie in 2015 because of a serious left shoulder injury.

Ryan Goins, a .219/.284/.352 career hitter, started at second base for Toronto on Tuesday.

Seattle About To Lock Up Segura

As first reported by Dominican journalist Hector Gomez and confirmed by FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi, the Mariners are working toward finalizing a contract extension with shortstop Jean Segura.

Gomez says it will be for five years and carry a guaranteed value of $70 million with a $17 million option for 2023. Look for an official announcement from the Mariners’ front office by the end of this week.

Segura is currently on the disabled list with a high right ankle sprain and probably won’t be ready to return until late June or early July, but the 27-year-old was batting .341/.391/.462 with four home runs, 20 RBI, seven stolen bases, and 29 runs scored through his first 43 games this season for Seattle. And he batted .319/.368/.499 with 20 home runs, 64 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 102 runs scored in 153 games last season for the Diamondbacks.

Segura had been scheduled to become a free agent after the 2018 campaign. It’s probably going to look like a great deal for the Mariners if his progression as a player continues on its current path.

National League Quick Hits: Nationals ace Max Scherzer racked up 14 strikeouts and allowed just one (unearned) run over seven innings Tuesday in a win over the Dodgers … Marlins placed first baseman Justin Bour on the 10-day disabled list with a left ankle contusion … Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson shut out the Giants for 7 2/3 innings Tuesday to improve to 5-1 this season … Aaron Nola was brilliant over eight innings of one-run ball in Atlanta on Tuesday … Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring, quad) ran full speed indoors on Tuesday … Madison Bumgarner (shoulder) is on track to resume throwing off a mound in a week … Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and four RBI as the Cubs smoked the Marlins on Tuesday … Ivan Nova was removed from his start Tuesday night against the Orioles with left knee inflammation … Robbie Ray struck out 11 batters over 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball for his fourth straight win on Tuesday against the Padres … Scott Schebler (shoulder) remained out of the Reds’ starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Cardinals … Rockies starter Jon Gray (foot) threw around 36 pitches in a two-inning simulated game on Tuesday … Ryan Braun (calf) took live batting practice on Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park … Diamondbacks placed outfielder Yasmany Tomas on the 10-day disabled list with right groin tendinitis … Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds finished Tuesday's game against the Indians with a pair of home runs and five RBI … Gerardo Parra left Tuesday’s game against the Indians after suffering a right quad strain and will be placed on the disabled list … Pirates manager Clint Hurdle confirmed late Tuesday that there have been internal discussions about making Felipe Rivero the team's closer … Zack Godley will return to the Diamondbacks’ rotation Saturday against the Brewers … Matt Garza (chest) cut short his bullpen session on Tuesday and will not make his scheduled start Thursday … Braves placed veteran starter Bartolo Colon on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain … Adam Ottavino (shoulder) is expected to return to the Rockies' bullpen later this week … Padres placed starter Jarred Cosart on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow strain … Diamondbacks catcher Chris Herrmann left Tuesday’s game against the Padres with a sore right hand … Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis (cancer) said he expects to return to a major league mound by mid-July … Giants acquired reliever Sam Dyson from the Rangers for a player to be named later or cash considerations … Jake Peavy (family) told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that he plans to return to Major League Baseball eventually.

American League Quick Hits: Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (shoulder) expects to be activated from the disabled list around June 16-June 18 … Mike Moustakas capped off the Royals' comeback win over the Astros on Tuesday with a walkoff, two-run blast against closer Ken Giles … Marwin Gonzalez remains day-to-day with a left hand contusion … Felix Hernandez (shoulder) allowed five runs on four hits and two walks over two innings in his rehab debut Tuesday with Triple-A Tacoma … Jonathan Schoop homered in the seventh and ninth Tuesday to help the Orioles edge the Pirates … Adrian Beltre was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Mets with a jammed left ankle and was spotted in a walking boot afterward … Mitch Haniger (oblique) went 1-for-4 with a single in his rehab debut Tuesday with Triple-A Tacoma … Rangers placed first baseman Mike Napoli on the 10-day disabled list with a lower back injury … Rays pitching prospect Jacob Faria is scheduled to make his MLB debut in a start Wednesday against the White Sox … Matt Andriese (groin) is hoping to rejoin the Rays' rotation on Sunday against the Athletics … Carlos Gomez (hamstring) could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend … Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that Jacoby Ellsbury is still experiencing concussion symptoms … White Sox closer David Robertson worked a scoreless inning for his ninth save Tuesday against the Rays … Cam Bedrosian (groin) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Thursday … Orioles catcher Welington Castillo (groin) could be activated from the disabled list Saturday … Nomar Mazara went 4-for-5 with a homer as the Rangers held off the Mets on Tuesday … Athletics outfielder Matt Joyce is day-to-day with a minor left quad strain … Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) will resume throwing on flat ground within the next few days … Indians placed right-hander Danny Salazar on the 10-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder … Tyson Ross (shoulder) will make another rehab start Friday with Triple-A Round Rock … Royals starter Nate Karns (elbow) has begun throwing long toss … Zach Britton (forearm, elbow) threw off a flat mound on Tuesday … Carlos Rodon (biceps) allowed five earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in his rehab debut Tuesday with High-A Winston-Salem … Yankees first baseman Greg Bird (ankle) will advance his minor league rehab assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday … Buck Farmer will be called up to start for the Tigers on Wednesday against the Angels … Rangers signed reliever Ernesto Frieri to a minor league contract; assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock.

Astros in outta space !

  Astro-nomical Wins

The red-hot Houston Astros used four homers to power their way to a 7-2 victory and a series sweep over the Rangers on Sunday.

That sweep comes on the heels of sweeping the Orioles and Twins prior and gave the Astros their 10th consecutive victory overall, which matches the longest streak of any team in baseball this season.

The Astros reside atop the American League West and own the best record in all of baseball at 41-16. That record is the best mark through 57 games since the juggernaut known as the 2001 Mariners posted a 45-12 mark en-route to their historic 116-win season.

George Springer has been on a tear at the plate and led the way again on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs. Springer has now launched seven home runs in his last eight games and a total of 16 on the season. He has hit safely in each of his last nine games and has collected multiple hits in each of his last six.

He led off the game with a solo shot off of Martin Perez, which was his sixth leadoff home run of the year. That ties Corey Dickerson for the major league lead this year.

Carlos Correa and Yulieski Gurriel also went deep for the Astros in the ballgame. The Astros as a team have clubbed 90 home runs this season, the top mark in the major leagues.

Aside from how impressive the offense has been, the Astros are getting by with a patchwork starting rotation. Aside from Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers, none of the other five starters were locks to be in the starting rotation to begin the season. Mike Fiers has struggled for the most part, while Brad Peacock and David Paulino have excelled since joining the rotation.

It was Peacock who shut down the Rangers on Sunday, allowing just two runs on four hits over six strong innings while racking up nine strikeouts. The 29-year-old right-hander now sits at 3-0 on the season with an impressive 2.30 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 47/14 K/BB ratio across 31 1/3 innings.

The Astros will look to keep things rolling and extend their winning streak to 11 games when they open up a four-game set against the Royals in Kansas City on Monday. Mike Fiers will toe the slab for the Astros in that one against Ian Kennedy.

Hoffman-ia

These aren't your father's Rockies who do nothing but smash the baseball and can't retire opposing hitters to save their lives.

As a team, the Rockies own the sixth best ERA in the National League at 4.17. They're doing it with a combination of improved starting pitching and a lock-down corps at the back end of the bullpen that includes outstanding free agent addition Greg Holland.

It was 24-year-old rookie Jeff Hoffman who stole the show on Sunday though. Called upon to make his third start of the season in place of the injured Tyler Anderson, Hoffman shone bright against the Padres.

Hoffman was a first round selection of the Blue Jays (8th overall) in the 2014 draft. He came over to Colorado as part of the deadline deal in 2015 that sent Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays. If he continues to pitch like this, the Rockies will look like they made out like bandits in that deal.

Hoffman racked up a career-best nine strikeouts while allowing just one run on three hits over seven dazzling innings. The only blemish on his afternoon was a solo homer surrendered to Hunter Renfroe.

He now owns a scintillating 2.61 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 26/2 K/BB ratio through 20 2/3 innings on the season. While it wasn't the Rockies' intention to keep him in the rotation, he could be forcing their hand with each impressive outing. He's certainly worth the gamble in deeper mixed leagues at this point despite the fact that his innings will surely be limited in some fashion this season.

Closing out Hoffman's victory on Sunday was ninth-inning specialist Greg Holland. The 31-year-old has been perhaps that top free agent addition in the league this season, converting each of his first 21 save chances while registering a 1.25 ERA and 30/7 K/BB ratio in 21 2/3 innings. He has combined with Jake McGee, Mike Dunn and Adam Ottavino to form a very formidable bullpen when protecting leads in the late innings, taking significant pressure off the Rockies' starting pitchers.

With Sunday's win, the Rockies now sit alone atop the National League West with a 36-23 record.

Prodigious Power

Since returning from the disabled list on May 12, J.D. Martinez has been an absolute monster. He was up to his sweet-swinging ways again on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a homer and a double in a victory over the White Sox.

Martinez now has 10 home runs in his first 72 at-bats of the season. His towering blast on Sunday set a new franchise record for most home runs by a Tiger in their first 22 games of a season.

The 29-year-old is hitting .292/.409/.792 with his 10 long balls and 22 RBI in 22 ballgames. He's set to hit free agency following the completion of the 2017 season and could make or an interesting trade candidate if the Tigers fall out of the playoff race before the trade deadline.

Otherwise, the Tigers would be wise to lock him up to what will be a very lucrative multi-year contract extension as soon as possible.

Ariel Miranda

American League Quick Hits: Nelson Cruz blasted his 14th home run in a victory over the Rays... Ariel Miranda pitched his first career complete game, allowing just one run on four hits in a win over the Rays...  Khris Davis clubbed his 17th homer in a losing effort against the Nationals... Whit Merrifield went 3-for-4 in a loss to the Indians, extending his hitting streak to an MLB-best 19 games... Miguel Sano clobbered his 14th long ball to beat the Angels... Andrelton Simmons and Eduardo Escobar bashed knees during a collision at second base, though both remained in the game and are expected to be fine going forward... Jose Berrios improved to 4-1 with six innings of two-run ball against the Twins... Justin Upton launched a walk-off three-run homer to beat the White Sox on Sunday, completing the weekend sweep... Andrew Benintendi crushed a pair of home runs, providing all of the support Chris Sale would need in a victory over the Orioles... Josh Donaldson bashed his sixth home run in a win over the Yankees and has now slugged four homers in his last five games... Justin Verlander left Sunday's start in the third inning due to minor tightness in his right groin. He's expected to be fine for his next start... Mitch Haniger (oblique) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. He has been sidelined since April 26... The Orioles acquired veteran infielder Ruben Tejada from the Yankees for cash considerations... Devon Travis left Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist, but X-rays came back negative and he's considered day-to-day... Jesse Hahn (triceps) has been cleared to start on Tuesday against the Blue Jays... Carlos Rodon will begin a minor league rehab assignment with High-A Winston-Salem on Tuesday...

Ian Happ

National League Quick Hits:  Ian Happ clubbed a pair of home runs as the Cubs topped the Cardinals on Sunday Night Baseball... Freddy Galvis homered from each side of the plate as the Phillies came from behind to beat the Giants... Odubel Herrera homered and doubled twice, plating three in that victory... Brandon Crawford homered and drove in four runs in a losing effort against the Phillies... Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a go-ahead three-run homer in a wild victory over the Athletics... Eric Thames launched his 15th home run as the Brewers shut out the Dodgers... Zach Davies fired six shutout innings to lead the way in that one... Ender Inciarte went 5-for-5 with a homer and five RBI as the Braves topped the Reds in a slugfest... Zack Cozart hit a pair of homers and tripled in a losing effort for the Reds... Andrew McCutchen had three hits, including a homer, as the Pirates routed the Mets...Trevor Williams fired seven innings of one-run ball in that victory...  Nationals' manager Dusty Baker admitted after Sunday's game that Jayson Werth's injured foot wasn't doing well and that the veteran outfielder is still using crutches to get around. A trip to the disabled list could be on the horizon... Josh Harrison was forced to leave Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch on his right calf... Brandon McCarthy (blister) is expected to make his next start on Tuesday... Scott Schebler (shoulder) is not expected to require a trip to the disabled list... Justin Turner (hamstring) is expected to begin his minor league rehab assignment later this week... Hunter Pence (hamstring) was activated from the DL on Sunday... Steven Matz (elbow) and Seth Lugo (elbow) will rejoin the Mets' rotation next weekend in Atlanta...

Elephants on Acid - the rookies

There are 7 rookies presently on the team, but Brad Zimmer continues to cut his teeth at the major league level despite Tyler Naquin playing at Triple AAA.

He has hit 3 home runs, and has stolen 3 bases while playing spot duty for the Indians.

Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run homer in the Indians' loss to the Royals on Saturday.

Zimmer went deep off Royals starter Jason Hammel in the top of the second inning. The talented young outfielder is batting .295/.367/.591 with three home runs, 11 RBI, three stolen bases, and six runs scored over his first 16 major league games.

Vlad Guerrero JR continues to bash the ball in Double AA ball.

Blue Jays prospect Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. picked up his fourth homer of the season on Wednesday for Low-A Lansing.

He also singled. Guerrero continues to punish the baseball in the Midwest League, and most impressively, he's walking more than he's striking out. This is the best prospect in the system by a long shot, and Guerrero has the offensive potential to be one of the best hitters in baseball, no matter what position he's playing. 

Blue Jays prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 2-for-4 on Wednesday for Low-A Lansing.

One of those hits was a double, and Guerrero Jr. also scored a run while picking up an RBI. Scouts continue to rave about what they've seen from the 18-year-old this year, with the one concern being where he's going to play. When you can hit like this, you find somewhere. Guerrero is one of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball.

Nick Gordon progresses at Double AA,

Twins prospect Gordon went 2-for-4 on Sunday for Double-A Chattanooga.

Both of Gordon's hits were doubles, and he scored two runs for good measure. He had been in a mini-slump coming into the game, but the overall numbers (.859 OPS) tell the story of how good the former first-round pick has been. You probably won't see him in 2017, but it's not longer a foregone conclusion that he won't get big-league time this year. 

Dillon Tate struggles continue .

 His control has wavered a lot, and his inability to throw strikes consistently continue to plague Dillon.

Frankie Mejia sparkles on defense and on offense, and it won't be too long before the call comes from the Indians to the big club.

His defense has exceeded scouts expectations.

Indians prospect Francisco Mejia reached base five times on Wednesday for Double-A Akron.

Not only did Mejia go 4-for-5, he also homered twice, drove in six runs and drew a walk to fill out the stat sheet. He now has his average at .344, and the .550 slugging percentage tells you that he's definitely hitting the ball with authority. Cleveland usually likes players to complete a year at a level, but at this point, Mejia should get a chance to hit Triple-A pitching. He's very good.

Andrew Benintendi has already come into his own playing left field for the Boston Red Sox,

On the street with Huston

Huston Street

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim cannot seem to catch a break. First, they lost All-Star outfielder Mike Trout (hand) to a lengthy injury, and now their veteran closer Huston Street (lat, shoulder, triceps) appears to be further away from a return than previously expected.

Street was already on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained right latissimus muscle, and during his rehab he incurred a minor shoulder impingement to hamper his progress. Now, you can add right triceps tightness to his bevy of injuries, as the oft-injured closer has more injuries than pitches thrown in the majors this season. As such, Bud Norris will continue to hold down the fort in the ninth inning until either Street can shake off his numerous injuries or Cam Bedrosian (groin) can make it back from his ailment.

Bedrosian, like Street, is on the 10-day DL with a strained right groin. He has been facing live hitting and continues to make progress from his injury. The son of former MLBer Steve 'Bedrock' Bedrosian is nearing a minor-league rehab stint and could be back to the big-league club before the middle of the month if all goes well. However, he might find himself out of a job, even if Street isn't ready.

That's because veteran Bud Norris, converted from a starter to closer out of necessity, has been pitching fairly well in his new role. Norris has converted 10 of his past 11 save chances while yielding just one earned run over his past seven innings while posting a 2.77 ERA and 1.08 WHIP overall on the season. Norris has served up just two home runs with 12 walks and 34 strikeouts across 26 innings this season while yielding just 16 hits during the impressive span. He has always had good stuff, but has been rather hittable as a starter. He has posted a 0.6 WAR, which is his best mark since the 2014 season when he made 28 starts for the Baltimore Orioles.

At 32 years old, Norris isn't exactly a spring chicken, but remember the name John Smoltz. Sure, Smoltz was way more decorated as a starter from 1988-99 before injuries forced the Atlanta Braves organization to consider him in a relief role. But he made the switch at 34 years of age and racked up and impressive 154 saves. So perhaps Norris, after managing 62 victories across 1121 2/3 innings mostly as a starter over 231 previous appearances prior to this season, could be ready to re-invent himself in Anaheim and push Bedrosian and Street into a permanent setup role.

Bedrosian actually has a lot more fantasy upside and appeal than Street at this point, as the former University of Texas standout has a propensity for injury that makes him awfully unappealing from a fantasy perspective. He was limited to 26 appearances last season and blew three of his 12 save chances with a dismal 6.45 ERA and 1.93 WHIP across 22 1/3 innings. So it isn't exactly like waiting for Mariano Rivera or Dennis Eckersley to make a return. Street is damaged goods and it would be wise for fantasy owners to let him be someone else's problem at this juncture.

Sam-sonite

The Texas Rangers are expected to designated Sam Dyson for assignment, so it appears he has pitched his last ball - literally - for the club. Dyson burst onto the scene last season with 38 saves while going 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 70 1/3 innings across 73 appearances for the Rangers. However, he quickly went to the pishadoo to start the season, blowing save after save in April to draw the ire of his manager, fans and, most importantly, of course, his fantasy owners.

The Rangers reportedly have suitors for Dyson and are trying to trade him rather than just cut him outright for no return. He is likely to fetch a mid-level minor leaguer in return after his quick demise earlier in the season. However, perhaps a change of scenery will do him some good, especially if he is shipped out of the American League West and maybe into the National League. He isn't nearly as bad as his 10.80 ERA and 2.58 WHIP indicates, as his career numbers suggest he is much better. Dyson just lost confidence in his ability to throw strikes early on and things snowballed. He still has a future as a bona fide fantasy producer, perhaps even as a closer again with another organization, but his psyche will need some serious mending first.

In the meantime, Matt Bush is finally realizing his potential and he is flourishing in the closer's role for manager Jeff Banister. Bush has issued just five walks with 21 strikeouts across 19 2/3 innings, posting six saves with a 1.37 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. He hadn't allowed a run over 16 consecutive appearances dating back to April 9 before Tampa Bay's Kevin Kiermaier touched him for a solo home run in a 4-3 game on Wednesday to force extra innings and hang him with a blown save. The ice is mighty thick for Bush, however, and he is likely to finish out as the closer barring any type of an injury. He has been All-Star caliber.

Don't Bett On It

Boston's Dustin Pedroia (wrist) is on the DL due to a wrist ailment, and he is not expected to be sidelined long. The team plans on using former Colorado Rockies infielder Josh Rutledge as the primary fill-in until Petey is available. In addition, manager John Farrell struck down the potential notion that Mookie Betts could be slotted at second base until Pedroia is ready. Betts will continue in his role as a full-time outfielder and the skipper will not risk mixing things up for a short-term gain.

Rutledge has hit safely in four of his past five games while driving in four runs over his past 28 at-bats. It isn't huge production by any means, but he could help fantasy owners keep their heads above water in deeper AL-only seasonal formats until Pedroia is ready, if you're desperate for middle infielder assistance. In addition, he is a player who is likely to have rather limited exposure in DFS, but he will come with a light price tag allowing you to stock up at other positions. Rutledge hit .284 in 39 games with the Red Sox in 2015, and he will also deliver an occasional extra-base hit with a steal or two. Don't look for much more than that, although it won't take much for him to exceed DFS salary expectations, either.

National League Quick Hits:  Eric Sogard continues to make the most of his chance with the Brewers. He collected two more hits on Thursday to run his average to .410 across 39 at-bats while enjoying a gaudy 1.233 OPS. He is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Cream City. … Chase Anderson worked around just three singles and a walk across seven scoreless frames while punching out seven batters in his 104-pitch quality start and win at N.Y. Mets. He has won back-to-back starts while striking out 18 batters over 14 scoreless innings. … Orlando Arcia came on as a defensive replacement for Sogard and officially went 0-for-1 to finish the game, snapping the longest active batting streak in the National League at 11 games. … Jose Reyes continues to limp along. He took the collar Thursday, dropping his average to a measly .193. He is hitless over his past 13 at-bats. … If you had any doubt previously, make no mistake that Adam Wainwright is not just back, but he is in top form. He allowed just four hits with two walks and six strikeouts over six scoreless frames, throwing 64 of his 101 pitches for strikes against the Dodgers. Waino extended his scoreless streak to 16 1/3 innings, and he helped himself with a two-run home run to account for all of the offense. In fact, he was the first pitcher in franchise history to account for all of his team's offense with a home run while also not allowing any runs in his start. … Gerardo Parra continued his offensive tear with four more hits in four at-bats Thursday, including a double, a run scored and RBI. The Venezuelan has three or more hits in three of his past four outings, raising his average from .264 to .312 just since May 27.

American League Quick Hits: Corey Kluber (back) did not exhibit any signs of rust in his return from the DL on Thursday. He pounded the strike zone 51 times out of 77 pitches while limited the A's to two hits and one walk across six scoreless innings while racking up 10 strikeouts. … On the other side, Jharel Cotton deserved a much better fate. He allowed five runs, but just one earned, while yielding only four hits in 5 2/3 innings for the loss. The defense did him no favors with three miscues in the field, including two by Ryon Healy. … Nelson Cruz was forced out of Thursday's game due to a left hand injury, courtesy of a Kyle Freeland cutter. Cruz joined Jean Segura (ankle) on the trainer's table after the game. It's uncertain if either Cruz or Segura will miss time, but if they do it likely means more playing time for Jarrod Dyson, Taylor Motter and perhaps more playing time for Boog Powell. … Christian Vazquez continues to rake for the BoSox, as the receiver finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and pair of RBI. He is slashing .348/.378/.467. … Rookie Andrew Benintendi was benched on Thursday, as he received a mental day off to try and snap him out of his 0-for-12 slide. He did make an appearance as a pinch hitter and flied out. … Aaron Hicks had a monster day at the dish, doubling three times with a single, two runs scored and a career-high six RBI to push his average to .317. … Gary Sanchez would not be overshadowed by Hicks, as he belted a pair of homers to finish with three RBI in the 12-2 win in Toronto. … Marco Estrada of the Jays was touched up for seven runs, nine hits and two walks in just 3 2/3 innings against the Bronx Bombers. … The red-hot Whit Merrifield of the Royals and his team had a scheduled off day, but he'll be back in action looking to extend the longest active hitting streak in the majors. He has hit .400 with three homers, six RBI and nine runs scored during his 16-game hitting streak.

Albert joins the club

The lore of some no-hitters is more fun than the accomplishments themselves.

Dock Ellis claimed to have pitched a no-hitter on LSD. David Wells said he threw his perfect game on a day he was hung over from the night before.

For Edinson Volquez, it was the no-hitter that almost wasn't.

Covering first on the first play of the game, Volquez collided with Diamondbacks center fielder Rey Fuentes Saturday afternoon, tweaking his ankle in the process and nearly requiring that he be lifted before his day had even begun.

“I can’t pitch anymore,” he told Marlins trainers and officials, saying that he had twisted his ankle. “It hurts.”

He was able to stay in the game, to the chagrin of the D'backs. Twenty-six more outs and zero hits later, he'd made history.

Volquez struck out 10, including all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, in a 3-0, no-hit shutout of the Arizona club on Saturday. It was the sixth no-hitter in Marlins history and the first since Henderson Alvarez in 2013. The no-no was also the first of 2017.

Even more impressive than the feat was the fact that Volquez went a full nine innings while using fewer than 100 pitches. Before Saturday, he had yet to record an out in the seventh inning in any start this season.

It hadn't been one to remember for the 33-year-old, who owns a 3.79 ERA and 1.38 WHIP even after Saturday's brilliance. Now, it'll be one he'll remember forever.

“That’s just one of those days,” Marlins teammate Justin Bour said, “that you’re not gonna ever forget.”

Pujols Joins 600-Homer Club

For all the things he's lost, Albert Pujols can still hit bombs.

That home run ability has been on display in recent years, even as his ability to hit for average and on-base skills have eroded, and on Saturday Pujols became the ninth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 600 home runs for his career. Pujols accomplished the feat faster than only three other major leaguers in history.

And he did it in dramatic fashion, skying an Ervin Santana offering into the left field seats for a grand slam in an Angels win. It was Pujols' only hit in four at-bats.

And while the 600 plateau is a milestone, it likely won't be the last major accomplishment for the 37-year-old yet this year. Sammy Sosa's mark is now nine homers away, and Jim Thome's is 12. Pujols won't get to Ken Griffey Jr.'s 630 this year, but that may be in store for next season.

Declining skills aside, Pujols is a generational talent who should be and likely will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Congratulations on the accomplishment, Albert.

Segura Out Indefinitely With Sprained Ankle

 

Jean Segura's timetable may not be universally agreed upon, but everyone is certain of one thing: however much time he misses, it'll be more than the Mariners can afford.

Reports came out Saturday suggesting Segura could miss up to two months due to a sprained right ankle suffered Thursday, and while the 27-year-old said later Saturday that he thinks it could actually be less than a month before his return, the consensus is that he'll miss weeks, not days, due to the injury.

"I don’t think this is going to take a month," Segura said prior to Saturday’s game. "Maybe a couple of weeks. We’ll see how it feels the next couple of days.

"If it feels good over the next couple of days, maybe I’ll do some activities. Right now, I’m just getting treatment to get the swelling down. It’s still bothering me a little bit, but it could have been worse. Thank God, it’s just a sprain."

The M's will replace Segura, in the way that a warm body will play shortstop every day in Segura's absence, but he won't truly be replaced, given the start he's gotten off to offensively. Segura is batting an American League second-best .341 mark with an .852 OPS in 43 games.

Taylor Motter is the logical option to fill in for Segura, but fantasy owners would do well to make a wish that it's sooner than later for the shortstop.

National League Quick Hits: Scott Schebler has been diagnosed with a left shoulder strain. Schebler suffered the injury Saturday while making a diving catch on a Nick Markakis line drive. The severity of the strain is unknown at this time, though he immediately motioned for a trainer after snaring the ball and looked to be in a good amount of pain. Schebler is currently tied for the National League lead in homers with 16 ... Jeff Hoffman will be called up to start against the Padres on Sunday. He'll be filling in for Tyler Anderson, who landed on the 10-day disabled list Saturday with left knee inflammation. Hoffman was terrific in a spot start against the Phillies in late May, allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out seven batters and issuing zero walks. He's an appealing fantasy streaming option versus a light-hitting San Diego squad ... Billy Hamilton left Saturday's game against the Braves with a left shoulder strain. Hamilton was 1-for-3 before getting replaced in center field by Arismendy Alcantara. He'll be re-evaluated by the Reds' medical staff Sunday morning ... David Dahl's rehabilitation from a stress reaction in his rib has "completely stalled," per beat writer Nick Groke of the Denver Post. Groke notes that Dahl is now "long from returning" to the Rockies' active roster. The young outfielder has been sidelined since the second week of spring training and he remains out indefinitely ... Hunter Pence (hamstring) will either be activated from the disabled list Sunday or Monday. Pence was due to arrive Saturday night in Philadelphia, where the Giants are playing a three-game weekend series. They'll begin a four-game series at Miller Park on Monday night. Sunday's finale at Citizens Bank Park is a 12:35 p.m. ET start, so that might be asking a bit much of the 34-year-old outfielder, who's been sidelined since May 13 with a left hamstring strain ... Jayson Werth was pulled from Saturday's game against the A's after fouling a ball off his left foot. Werth finished out the at-bat and singled to right field, but he struggled to make it down the first-base line and Wilmer Difo entered as a pinch-runner. Werth will probably sit out Sunday's series finale in Oakland Saturday was grand to a quartet of National League hitters, as Travis Shaw, Chris Taylor, Matt Adams and Ian Desmond each hit a grand slam ... Ben Lively allowed one run in seven innings to earn a 5-3 win over the Giants while making his major league debut on Saturday. He gave up just four hits and the only run he allowed came home on a sacrifice fly. He walked three batters and was not able to register a strikeout in the ballgame. He did manage to smack his first major league base hit though. The 25-year-old rookie had a 6-1 record and 2.40 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A before getting the call to the majors Jameson Taillon (cancer) will make another rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Indianapolis. Taillon allowed just one unearned run over five innings Friday with Indy, after working three scoreless innings in his rehab debut last Sunday at Double-A Altoona. The 25-year-old right-hander will likely return to the Pirates' starting rotation after Wednesday's outing, assuming it goes smoothly ... Matt Garza has been diagnosed with a chest contusion. Garza suffered the injury in the fourth inning of his start Saturday against the Dodgers when he collided with teammate Jesus Aguilar at first base. The right-hander allowed two runs, one earned, before getting lifted. He will be reevaluated by the Brewers' medical staff on Sunday morning.

American League Quick Hits: Cole Hamels (oblique) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session Sunday. He'll throw two or three more of those before advancing to simulated action and then eventually a minor league rehab assignment. Hamels is on track to return to the Rangers' starting rotation sometime in early July, though there are many hurdles to clear ... Jacoby Ellsbury (concussion) has been shut down again due to a recurrence of his headaches. Ellsbury had hoped to be activated from the disabled list this weekend, instead he'll see a neurologist when the club returns to New York. As of now, there's no estimate on when he'll rejoin the Yankees ... Royals optioned OF Jorge Soler to Triple-A Omaha. The 25-year-old outfielder, and prize of the Wade Davis trade over the winter, was hitting just .164/.292/.273 with one homer, three RBI and a 19/10 K/BB ratio in 65 plate appearances with the Royals. He'll work through his issues in the minors before returning later in the season ... Dustin Pedroia (wrist) said he expects to be activated from the disabled list on Friday. That's the first day he's eligible. Pedroia took grounders and did some dry swings on Saturday at Camden Yards and reported feeling great after the workout ... Mike Napoli was forced to leave Saturday's game against the Astros early due to back spasms. With Napoli out, Joey Gallo moved from left field to first base while Ryan Rua entered the game and took over in the outfield. It's uncertain how long Napoli will be sidelined, if at all. Rua might see added playing time with Gallo manning first base if Napoli needs to miss time ... Mitch Haniger (oblique) reported feeling good Saturday after taking a full round of batting practice on Friday. If he continues to make progress through the weekend, Haniger should be cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Monday ... Ryon Healy went 4-for-4 and blasted a pair of home runs in a 10-4 thrashing of the Nationals on Saturday. He hit the second of his club's two-run homers in the first inning, then swatted a solo shot in the seventh. Healy hasn't hit nearly as well as he did in his breakout rookie season a year ago, although he has still been quite productive Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 18 games Saturday versus the Indians. Merrifield contributed a two-run double to the Royals' six-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning, finishing 1-for-4 with two RBI. The second baseman is now batting .293/.349/.489 with six home runs, 15 RBI, six stolen bases, and 18 runs scored in 38 games this season for Kansas City ... David Price pitched seven innings of one-run ball, and the Red Sox bested the Orioles 5-2 on Saturday. Price surrendered just three hits, including a solo homer to Manny Machado in the seventh inning, and he walked one while striking out seven. Through two starts, the southpaw has allowed five hits and walked three, good for a 0.67 WHIP. It's still early, but Price appears to be up to his pre-injury form.