Didi does double duty

Didi Gregorius was the 11th shortstop off the board in the average Yahoo draft this spring despite batting .287 with 25 home runs and 87 RBI in 136 games last season at age 27. It’s a deep position -- probably deeper than it has ever been -- but thousands of fantasy owners are experiencing buyer’s remorse about passing on Didi after what he did on Tuesday in the Bronx.

With fog and cold mist blanketing Yankee Stadium all afternoon -- not the most ideal conditions for offense, especially power -- Gregorius went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, eight RBI, and three runs scored in the Yankees’ 11-4 home-opener rout of the visiting Rays.

His eight RBI are the most by a Yankees shortstop in the 116-year history of the franchise, and also the most by any Yankees hitter since Alex Rodriguez drove in 10 runs on three homers and a single back on April 26, 2005 against the Angels. It’s not easy to set records in pinstripes.

Gregorius also drew a walk in Tuesday’s game -- his third walk of the season -- and he’s now sporting a .444 batting average, .524 on-base percentage, and 1.111 slugging percentage through 21 plate appearances this season. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton don’t have that kind of stat line, though of course it is extremely early. Stanton actually went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in Tuesday’s game, what was his Yankee Stadium debut.

Gregorius can be a 30-homer guy this year, and batting near the heart of the Yankees’ explosive lineup should give him a decent shot at 100 RBI. Gleyber Torres -- the team’s big shortstop prospect, ranked No. 3 on Chris Crawford’s latest Top 10 -- figures to break in at second base.

Lamb Diagnosed With Shoulder Sprain

Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb fell hard on his left shoulder twice in Monday night’s marathon game against the Dodgers, first on a great diving catch in foul territory in the top of the ninth inning and then again while sliding into home plate in the bottom of the 15th. He looked to be in pain as he came off the field after that second incident and sure enough the Diamondbacks placed Lamb on the disabled list Tuesday with an AC sprain in his left shoulder.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that he’s hopeful Lamb can be back in 10 days, but it’s probably going to be more like three weeks -- or maybe even five or six.

Lamb broke out in 2016 with an .840 OPS, 29 home runs, and 91 RBI in 151 games and then rattled off an .844 OPS with 30 home runs and 105 RBI over 149 games in 2017. Even with new humidor at Chase Field this season, he came in as a highly valuable option at the hot corner.

Deven Marrero started at third base for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night against the Dodgers, but Lovullo said he plans to mix and match in Lamb’s absence. Daniel Descalso could see some action there and so could Ketel Marte, with the hot-hitting Chris Owings getting more time at second base.

Marrero is a former top prospect -- the Red Sox selected him 24th overall in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University -- but the 27-year-old infielder entered play Tuesday with a weak .209/.260/.310 career batting line in parts of four major league seasons.

Shoemaker’s Forearm Issues Resurface

Angels starter Matt Shoemaker was sidelined for the entire second half of the 2017 season due to a forearm strain that eventually required surgery, and now he’s back on the disabled list with an injury that sounds very similar. More tests are coming, but it figures to be another lengthy absence for the 31-year-old right-hander, who also missed the end of the 2016 season with a skull fracture sustained when he took a come backer off his head in early September.

Shoemaker earned a win in his 2018 regular-season debut Friday in Oakland, though he did surrender three earned runs on four walks and four hits over just five innings in the outing.

Taking his place in the Angels’ rotation will be 26-year-old right-hander Parker Bridwell, scheduled to slot in this Friday at home against the Athletics. Bridwell posted an impressive 3.64 ERA and 1.198 WHIP over 121 innings (20 starts, one relief appearance), but he struck out just 73 batters for a K/9 of 5.4. The lack of swing-and-miss stuff will probably keep him irrelevant in most standard mixed fantasy formats, though AL-only leaguers may want to take a look.

National League Quick Hits: J.T. Realmuto (back) is aiming to join the Marlins around April 19-20 … Christian Villanueva slugged three home runs Tuesday in the Padres' defeat of the Rockies … Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Brewers rallied to beat the Cardinals on Tuesday … Bryce Harper belted his fourth home run in three games Tuesday night in Atlanta … Wil Myers (back, triceps) was absent from the Padres' starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Rockies … Matt Harvey pitched five innings of one-hit ball as the Mets shut out the Phillies … Ryan Braun hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Brewers earned a comeback victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday … Jeff Samardzija (pectoral) threw 30 pitches off the mound on Tuesday … Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs Tuesday as the Braves walloped the Nationals … Jack Flaherty was dominant in his season debut Tuesday against the Brewers, racking up nine strikeouts over five innings of one-run ball … Cardinals placed infielder Jedd Gyorko on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain … Zack Godley worked seven innings of one-run ball Tuesday in a win over the Dodgers … Scott Schebler was absent from the Reds’ lineup Tuesday due to a sore elbow … Austin Hedges (back) was scratched from the Padres’ lineup Tuesday for the second straight day … Johan Camargo (oblique) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Florida … Kurt Suzuki (hand) said he should be available for Wednesday's series finale against the Nationals … Jason Vargas (hand) is scheduled to throw a 90-pitch simulated game on Saturday in Port St. Lucie … Anibal Sanchez could start for the Braves on Saturday in Colorado … Mets setup man Anthony Swarzak (oblique) is expected to miss at least a couple weeks … Pat Neshek was scheduled to undergo an MRI on his right shoulder Tuesday … Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) is hoping to join the Marlins' rotation around April 27-30 … Michael Lorenzen (shoulder) has yet to begin a throwing program … Giants left-hander Will Smith (elbow) threw a 20-pitch simulated inning on Sunday … Giants signed outfielder-turned-reliever Jordan Schafer to a minor league contract.

American League Quick Hits: Shohei Ohtani slugged a three-run homer in his first plate appearance at Angel Stadium and finished 3-for-4 in Tuesday’s win over the Indians … Mariners placed designated hitter Nelson Cruz on the 10-day disabled list with a right ankle sprain … Josh Reddick hit a two-run homer and a grand slam Tuesday in the Astros’ defeat of the Orioles … Hanley Ramirez delivered a two-run double in the top of the 13th inning to propel the Red Sox past the Marlins on Tuesday … Mike Zunino (oblique) has resumed swinging a bat … Josh Donaldson (shoulder) returned to third base Tuesday and homered for the second time in as many games … Carlos Correa (toe) had a huge day at the plate in Tuesday's victory over the Orioles, going 2-for-2 with a homer, three runs scored and three RBI … Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Jacoby Ellsbury, who is on the disabled list with an oblique strain, will be shut down for a couple of days due to a new hip issue … Jake Junis was fantastic in his season debut Tuesday, allowing just three hits over seven-plus scoreless innings as the Royals shut out the Tigers … Blue Jays shortstop Aledmys Diaz left Monday night’s game against the White Sox due to back spasms, after going 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, three RBI, and two runs scored … Lucas Duda was held out of the Royals’ lineup Tuesday against the Tigers due to right hamstring tightness and is not expected back until the weekend … Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Clint Frazier (concussion) has been running the bases and tracking pitches … Athletics starter Paul Blackburn is still feeling tightness in his right forearm … Yankees claimed outfielder Trayce Thompson off waivers from the Dodgers … Rangers signed catcher Cameron Rupp to a minor league contract … Angels acquired right-hander Akeel Morris from the Braves for a player to be named or cash considerations.