MLB 2022 | Cortés shuts down Boston, Moncada homers, Chapman could be DFA by the Yankees, and more

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources.

Néstor Cortés. (Photo: New York Yankees Twitter)

Sep 25, 2022

Néstor Cortés fired six scoreless innings in an impressive victory over the Red Sox on Sunday night in New York.

The left-hander allowed just one hit and two walks in the contest while striking out five. Technically, he worked a complete game in this one, as the game was called after six frames due to rain. Cortés got six swings and misses on 101 pitches in the ballgame, registering a CSW of 26 percent. Cortés' game score of 72 is his highest mark since May 26, as he's continued to pitch well but hasn't gone as deep into games, averaging just under 5.2 innings during 10 second-half starts. Now 11-4 on the season, the 27-year-old southpaw will carry a stellar 2.56 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 151/36 K/BB ratio into Saturday's matchup against the Orioles.

Adolis García (wrist) returned to the Rangers starting lineup on Sunday against the Guardians.

The 29-year-old was drilled by a 100.3 mph cutter from Emmanuel Clase on Friday night and sat out on Saturday due to soreness in his left wrist. He wound up going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts and a sacrifice fly in the contest. On the season, he's slashing .251/.302/.455 with 25 homers, 96 RBI and 25 stolen bases.

Yordan Álvarez came through with a go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly in the 11th inning on Sunday, lifting the Astros to a 6-3 win over the Orioles in an 11-inning marathon.

Álvarez lifted a fly ball to center field against Orioles reliever Keegan Akin to spark a four-run outburst in the 11th inning and lift Houston to their 101st victory of the season. The 25-year-old fantasy superstar has put together a phenomenal 2022 campaign, hitting .303/.407/.614 with 92 runs scored, a career-high 37 home runs, 96 RBI and one stolen base in 536 plate appearances over 128 games.

White Sox's Yoán Moncada: Homers in defeat. Moncada went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's 4-1 loss to Detroit. The White Sox were unable to generate much offensive production Sunday, but Moncada accounted for the team's lone run with his home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. He has three extra-base hits over his last five games, and he's gone 3-for-20 with two solo home runs, a double, a walk and four strikeouts over that stretch.

Yandy Díaz (shoulder) missed his sixth consecutive game on Sunday.

The 31-year-old received a cortisone injection and reported feeling much improvement on Saturday. It sounds like he's only a couple of days from returning to his spot atop the Rays lineup.

Yankees considering designating Aroldis Chapman for assignment.

The New York Yankees are "at least contemplating" designating left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman for assignment, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Yankees' decision boils down to whether or not they think Chapman's mechanical woes can be corrected over the next week -- and then if they'd be willing to carry him on their postseason roster. Sherman also suggests that the Yankees have no plan to bring Chapman, an impending free agent, back for next season. Chapman, 34 years old, used to be one of the top relievers in the majors. He's struggled this season, posting a 4.36 ERA (90 ERA+) and a 1.52 strikeout-to-walk ratio over the course of 33 innings pitched. He's seen his velocity drop more than a mile per hour this season compared to last, and he's required a pair of trips to the injured list. Chapman only returned to the active roster in mid-September after missing several weeks because of an infected wound from a recent tattoo he received.

White Sox's José Abreu: Rare day off Sunday. Abreu was not in Sunday's lineup against the Tigers. This was Abreu's first day off this month. Andrew Vaughn started at first base while Adam Engel entered the outfield mix.

White Sox's Luis Robert: Ruled out for season. Robert (wrist) won't play again in 2022, James Fegan of The Athletic reported. Robert was placed not he 10-day IL with a left wrist sprain Saturday, and the White Sox will keep him sidelined for the final week and a half of the regular season. The 25-year-old appeared in just 98 games this year while battling injuries, and he slashed .284/.319/.426 with 12 home runs, 56 RBI, 54 runs and 11 stolen bases. Mark Payton was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to provide additional outfield depth for the White Sox down the stretch.

Reds' José Barrero: On bench again Sunday. Barrero was not in the lineup Sunday against the Brewers. Barrero is 6-for-44 with 22 strikeouts in his past 12 appearances and finds himself on the bench Sunday for the third time in Cincinnati's past four games. Kyle Farmer will shift to shortstop while Spencer Steer mans the hot corner.

Sep 24, 2022

Miguel Vargas hit a two-run homer Saturday in a 6-2 victory for the Dodgers over the Cardinals.

Congrats to Vargas on his first MLB homer. The 22-year-old connected on the blast off Jordan Montgomery with a runner on. Vargas has mostly struggled to start his MLB career, but his upside competes with most infield prospects in the sport. There are many more bright days ahead.

Randy Arozarena went 2-for-4 with his 40th double of the season as the Rays fell to the Blue Jays on Saturday evening in Tampa Bay.

The 27-year-old smacked a two-out double off of Alek Manoah in the fourth inning, but wound up stranded at second base. He also singled in the seventh. He's having quite a productive season at the plate, slashing a terrific .273/.336/.460 with 20 homers, 40 doubles, 87 RBI and 32 stolen bases on the year.

Johan Oviedo delivered a dominant performance in Saturday's victory over the Cubs, matching his career-high with seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.

The right-hander scattered just three hits on the night and did not walk a batter. Oviedo generated nine swings and misses on 82 pitches in the game -- seven of those on his slider -- while posting a CSW of 33 percent. The 24-year-old hurler holds an impressive 3.13 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 49/21 K/BB ratio over 46 innings between the Pirates and Cardinals this season. He'll take on his former club his next time out in St. Louis on Friday night where he makes for an interesting streaming option in deeper mixed leagues.

White Sox placed OF Luis Robert on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist sprain.

The White Sox have finally elected to give Robert an extended break and he's likely out for the remainder of the regular season. The 25-year-old outfielder had sat out six of the White Sox' previous eight contests, including three straight games, due to an ongoing soreness in his left wrist. It was a frustrating situation for fantasy managers, but Robert certainly deserves credit for attempting to play through the lingering issue rather than shutting it down a few weeks ago.

Yandy Díaz said Saturday that his left shoulder feels "a lot better" after a recent cortisone injection.

Díaz remains without a timetable to return to the Rays' lineup, but there's been no talk between him and the organization regarding a possible trip to the injured list. He's missed five consecutive games due to left shoulder soreness. It sounds like there's a chance he's back atop Tampa Bay's lineup sometime this upcoming week. Stay tuned.