Cano suspened 80 games

Say it ain't so, Cano.

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday afternoon that superstar second baseman Robinson Cano has been suspended 80 games without pay for a violation of MLB's drug prevention and treatment program. He didn’t test positive for a recreational or performance-enhancing drug, but he did test positive for the diuretic furosemide, which is typically used to mask PED use.

Cano said in a written statement that he was prescribed furosemide by a licensed doctor in his native Dominican Republic to treat high blood pressure and that he “would never do anything to cheat the rules of the game that I love,” but MLB investigators didn’t buy his innocence during the appeal process, which actually began before the start of the 2018 regular season. The positive test may have come sometime in February or March, while the Mariners were at spring training in Arizona.

Cano suffered a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand Sunday when he was hit by a pitch and he was placed on the disabled list Monday, about 24 hours before MLB announced the 80-game suspension.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said Tuesday evening that Dee Gordon will begin taking grounders at second base in anticipation of a possible move back to the position. Gordon shifted to center field when Seattle acquired him from the Marlins this offseason and he has played below-average defense in that unfamiliar spot. The 30-year-old speedster was an excellent defender at second in Miami. Guillermo Heredia would stand to get more playing time in center, which is deserved given his promising start to the season both offensively and defensively.

Cano was batting .287/.385/.441 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 39 games this year at age 35.

This PED suspension will cost him about $11.85 million, and probably some Hall of Fame votes.

Pollock Potentially Out Two Months

Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock has been one of the most valuable players in baseball through the first seven weeks of the 2018 season, ranking tied for sixth on the wins above replacement (WAR) leaderboard as of Tuesday night, with only Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Manny Machado, and Aaron Judge above him.

But the 30-year-old impending free agent was diagnosed Tuesday with an avulsion fracture in his left thumb after diving for a Tyler Saladino line drive on Monday night that eventually went for an inside-the-park home run. Pollock is expected to miss at least four weeks and possibly as much as eight weeks.

The primary fantasy angle here is that this flat-out stinks for Pollock owners. He was a relative bargain in drafts this spring after a couple injury-plagued years and had posted a .293/.349/.620 batting line with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, nine stolen bases, and 23 runs scored through 40 games for a Diamondbacks team that still sits atop the NL West standings despite being in the midst of a rough 1-6 stretch.

But this injury does open more starts in center field for Jarrod Dyson, who had been relegated to a bench role (pinch-runner, defensive replacement) since Steven Souza returned from the disabled list on May 3. Dyson is a flawed player -- he’s batting .184/.245/.333 this season -- but the 33-year-old remains one of the fastest players in the majors and he can have a significant fantasy impact in the stolen bases department with more of an everyday gig. He stole 28 bases in 111 games (99 starts) last year with Seattle and he swiped 30 bags in 107 games (83 starts) with the Royals in 2016. Dyson has five steals in 31 games (21 starts) this year.

Lyles Flirts With Perfect Game

Lyles carried a perfect game into the top of the eighth inning Tuesday afternoon against the Rockies before giving up a one-out single to Trevor Story and issuing a walk to Pat Valaika. Lyles was lifted after that, finishing with 10 strikeouts and just one hit allowed over 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

The 27-year-old entered this season with a career 5.43 ERA and he registered a hideous 7.75 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, and 55/22 K/BB ratio across 69 2/3 innings last season between Colorado and San Diego, but Lyles was once considered a top-100 prospect by both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, and he looks like a new pitcher this year with a fastball that is averaging a career-high 94.4 mph and a wicked reworked curveball that he is featuring much more frequently.

Lyles has been dominant since joining the Padres’ rotation last week and he now holds a 2.53 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 32/9 K/BB ratio in 32 total innings (two starts, 13 relief appearances) this season.

National League Quick Hits: Cardinals manager Mike Matheny acknowledged Tuesday that Carlos Martinez (lat) will miss more than one start … Adam Eaton (ankle) said Tuesday that he expects to return to the Nationals' active roster in six weeks … Yoenis Cespedes (quad, hip) was held out of the Mets’ starting lineup Tuesday night against the Blue Jays … Clayton Kershaw (biceps) played catch again Tuesday … Braves manager Brian Snitker said he might use Dan Winkler to close some games going forward … Jacob deGrom will make his next start Friday against the Diamondbacks … Joey Votto is day-to-day with lower back tightness … Madison Bumgarner (finger) is on track to begin a minor league rehab assignment on May 26 … Trevor Williams notched six strikeouts across seven scoreless innings in the Pirates’ victory over the White Sox on Tuesday … Yu Darvish was lifted with leg cramps after allowing one run in four innings Tuesday against the Braves in his return from the disabled list … Joe Musgrove (shoulder) is in line to join the Pirates' rotation on May 23 against the Reds …The Padres aren't counting on Wil Myers returning from his strained left oblique prior to June … Starling Marte was removed from Tuesday's game against the White Sox with right side discomfort … Robbie Ray (oblique) threw from a distance of 90 feet on Monday … Devin Mesoraco went 2-for-2 with a homer, three walks, and four runs scored as the Mets clobbered the Blue Jays on Tuesday … Dansby Swanson (wrist) is on track to be activated off the disabled list this weekend … Daniel Murphy (knee) has reported to the Nationals' spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida and could soon begin playing in games … Padres placed starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi on the 10-day disabled list with a right hip strain … Brad Boxberger pitched a clean ninth inning on Tuesday against the Brewers to earn his 12th save of the season … Mark Melancon (forearm) could begin a minor league rehab assignment by early next week … J.T. Realmuto went 3-for-4 with an RBI double as the Marlins defeated the Dodgers on Tuesday … Zach Davies (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday … Hunter Renfroe (elbow) could begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A El Paso … Brandon Crawford went 4-for-4 with two runs scored Tuesday in the Giants’ win over the Reds … Cardinals placed right-hander Adam Wainwright on the disabled list with elbow inflammation … Mac Williamson (concussion) could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend … Stephen Vogt will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder this week.

American League Quick Hits: Rangers placed third baseman Adrian Beltre on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain … Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire indicated Tuesday that Leonys Martin (hamstring) will not be activated from the disabled list when first eligible on Friday … Jorge Soler was held out of the Royals' lineup on Tuesday because of a displaced rib … Jean Segura racked up four stolen bases Tuesday in the Mariners’ victory over the Rangers … Edwin Encarnacion is day-to-day with a stiff upper back and neck … Zach Britton (heel) threw batting practice Tuesday in Baltimore … Jose Berrios whiffed 10 batters and yielded just two singles, one walk, and a hit-by-pitch over 7 1/3 frames of one-run ball Tuesday in a win over the Cardinals … Nelson Cruz is day-to-day after getting hit on the right foot by a pitch Tuesday night against the Rangers … Indians placed outfielder Bradley Zimmer on the 10-day disabled list with a left rib contusion … Athletics optioned starter Kendall Graveman to Triple-A Nashville … C.J. Cron went 2-for-5 and hit his ninth homer Tuesday as the Rays edged the Royals … Nicholas Castellanos (finger) belted a solo home run in his return to the Tigers' lineup Tuesday … Red Sox placed setup man Carson Smith on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder subluxation … Marcus Stroman (shoulder) is scheduled to report to the Blue Jays' spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida on Thursday … Matt Duffy left Tuesday night's game against the Royals due to right hamstring tightness … Jordan Zimmermann (shoulder) will try to throw a bullpen session later this week … Stephen Piscotty homered Tuesday in his first at-bat back from the bereavement list … Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that Darren O'Day (elbow) is close to returning … Troy Tulowitzki (heel) has begun running on an anti-gravity treadmill … Nathan Eovaldi (elbow, rib) will make another rehab start Friday with Triple-A Durham … Randal Grichuk (knee) could begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week … Alex Wilson (foot) is hoping to return to the Tigers' bullpen in about two weeks … Carlos Gomez made an early exit from Tuesday's game against the Royals with right groin tightness … Christian Bergman will be called up to start for the Mariners on Wednesday against the Rangers … Miguel Castro will start for the Orioles on Wednesday against the Phillies … Yankees recalled outfielder Clint Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … Tyler Thornburg's (shoulder) scheduled rehab appearance Tuesday at Triple-A Pawtucket was cancelled so that he can work on his mechanics … Steve Pearce (oblique) has not yet been cleared for baseball activities … Orioles released outfielder Michael Saunders.