MLB 2022 | Arozarena: two homers, Iglesias saves, and more

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

Randy Arozarena (Photo: Getty Images)

May 22, 2022

Yandy Díaz (shoulder) is not in the Rays starting lineup Sunday against the Orioles.

Diaz will get the day off after leaving Saturday's game against the Orioles with a left shoulder strain. The team has an off day Monday, so a Tuesday return is possible if Díaz can avoid the injured list. Isaac Paredes will get the start at third base Sunday.

Blue Jays' Lourdes Gurriel: Not starting Sunday. Gurriel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. The 28-year-old missed one game with hamstring tightness but returned to the lineup Saturday and went 1-for-3 with a strikeout. Gurriel has a .371 OPS through 16 games in May and hasn't hit a home run since April 25. Zack Collins will bat eighth as the designated hitter in Sunday's series finale.

May 21, 2022

Randy Arozarena clubbed a pair of home runs and drove in three on Saturday, powering the Rays to a 6-1 victory over the Orioles.

Arozarena opened the scoring in the contest with a 405-foot bomb on the first pitch that he saw from Orioles starter Kyle Bradish in the opening inning. He victimized him again his next time up -- this time for a 429-foot solo shot in the third inning that extended the Rays lead to 3-0. Arozarena finished the night 2-for-3 plus a walk and is now hitting .253/.302/.413 with four homers, 15 RBI and six stolen bases on the season.

Raisel Iglesias retired the Athletics in order in the ninth inning on Saturday night, protecting a two-run lead to earn his ninth save of the season.

The right-hander got Cristian Paché to fly out to center field, then struck out Elvis Andrus and Kevin Smith to end the ballgame. While he sports an elevated 4.30 ERA on the season, it comes with an outstanding 0.89 WHIP and 19/4 K/BB ratio over his 14 2/3 innings of work. He's still one of the best closers in the business.

Raisel Iglesias (Photo: Angels Béisbol Twitter)

Yordan Álvarez went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI as the Astros triumphed over the Rangers 2-1 on Saturday night in Houston.

Álvarez punched a one-out single into left field off of Jon Gray in the opening inning to give the Astros an early 1-0 lead. He then led off the sixth inning with a triple off of Gray, but the Astros were unable to cash him in. With the two-hit night, the 24-year-old slugger is now hitting .256/.361/.584 to go along with 12 homers and 23 RBI through 35 games on the season.

Nestor Cortés yielded three runs over five innings Saturday in a win over the White Sox.

Cortés recorded seven strikeouts and didn't hand out a free pass. A three-run homer off the bat of White Sox' slugger José Abreu in the third inning accounted for all of the damage against him. The 27-year-old southpaw has evolved into an upper-echelon fantasy contributor this season, compiling a microscopic 1.80 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 56/11 K/BB ratio across 45 innings (eight starts). He'll look to keep the momentum going Thursday in a road matchup against the Rays.

Adolis García went 2-for-4 and drove in a run on Saturday as the Rangers fell to the Astros.

García finally got the Rangers on the board with a run-scoring single off of Hector Neris in the eighth inning, cutting their deficit to one run at 2-1. That would wind up being the extent of their offense. With the two-hit effort, García is now hitting .212/.264/.404 to go along with six homers, 25 RBI and four swipes.

José Abreu launched a three-run homer Saturday in the White Sox' loss to the Yankees.

Abreu, who has been dealing with a non-COVID upper respiratory illness of late, connected on a Nestor Cortés cutter in the third inning, lifting a majestic three-run shot into the left field seats at Yankee Stadium. It was his fourth big fly of the season and first time he's gone deep since May 4.

Yoán Moncada (leg) struck out as a pinch-hitter Saturday in the White Sox' loss to the Yankees.

Moncada was scratched from the White Sox' starting lineup Saturday due to right leg soreness, but was able to come off the bench and pinch-hit in the eighth inning. He wound up striking out against right-hander Miguel Castro to open the frame. It seem likely he'll be ready to return at some point during Sunday's doubleheader.

Yandy Díaz left Saturday's game against the Orioles with a left shoulder strain.

Díaz is considered day-to-day after the exit. Isaac Paredes has taken over at the hot corner. There should be a further update on the 30-year-old before Sunday's finale against Baltimore.

Rockies' José Iglesias: Rested during evening game.

Iglesias sat down for the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets. Iglesias went 1-for-2 in the afternoon game and drove in the Rockies' lone run. Garrett Hampson took over at shortstop in the evening contest.