MLB 2022 | Iglesias saves, Abreu homers, Chapman to the IL, and more

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

Raisel Iglesias (Photo: Getty Images)

May 24, 2022

Raisel Iglesias recorded one out to pick up his 11th save of the season in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Rangers.

Iglesias should have had the night off in this one, as the Angels led 5-0 at the start of the eighth inning. Jonah Heim would cut into that advantage via a solo homer to lead off the frame, with an additional solo homer by Mitch Garver with two outs in the ninth inning -- plus a subsequent walk to Kole Calhoun -- necessitating Iglesias' entrance. That started rockily enough, as he immediately gave up an RBI double to Adolis García, but the veteran reliever bounced back to strike out Jonah Heim to end the game. Iglesias is now 11-of-12 in save chances while sporting a 3.94 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 23/4 K/BB ratio in 19 appearances this season. While the ERA stands a bit on the high side, that is largely due to a couple of tough showings earlier this month.

José Iglesias singled, doubled, and stole a base Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Iglesias' double in his first plate appearance was the Rockies' only extra-base knock of the night and he followed it up with an infield single and a stolen base in his next trip to the dish. The counting stats have been lackluster, but Iglesias is now hitting .311/.369/.387 and has his first stolen base.

White Sox's José Abreu: Notches homer, double in the loss. Abreu went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a double in Tuesday's 16-3 loss to the Red Sox. Abreu ripped a two-run home run off Nick Pivetta in the bottom of the fourth inning before later doubling off the starter in the sixth frame. The homer was his fifth of the year and second in four games. Over his last seven games, Abreu has notched five extra-base hits while batting .346 and driving in seven runs in those contests. The hot stretch has raised his batting average to a still uninspiring .225 over 151 at-bats in 2022, but the 35-year-old may be set to take off as the calendar closes in on June.

Astros' Yordan Álvarez: Knocks in 25th run. Álvarez delivered an RBI single in the fifth inning and came around to score in the same frame. He's hit just .167 across his last 10 games but has still driven in four and scored five runs in that span. Overall, Álvarez has maintained a 164 wRC+ with 12 home runs, 26 runs scored, and 25 RBI across 159 plate appearances.

Rangers' Andy Ibáñez: Slump continues. Ibáñez started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Angels. Ibáñez is batting just .050 (2-for-40) over 14 games since May 4. Texas third basemen rank last in the majors with a -0.8 WAR, so it's fair to wonder when they make a change. Ibáñez has started 20 of the team's 41 games at third base while also playing seven at DH, six at first base, and two at second.

Yankees placed LHP Aroldis Chapman on the 15-day injured list with left Achilles tendinitis.

An MRI taken Monday came back negative for any structural damage, but the Yankees might view this as a good time to give Chapman an extended break seeing as he had allowed an earned run in each of his last five appearances. Clay Holmes, who has a 0.42 ERA and four saves this year, projects to serve as the primary closer for New York while Chapman is on the shelf.

Blue Jays' Lourdes Gurriel: Back on bench. Gurriel was not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals. Gurriel found himself on the bench for the second time in three games and the third time in the Blue Jays' last five contests. His .225/.273/.326 slash line may be the cause of his drop in playing time, though Raimel Tapia, who started in left field Tuesday, is hitting an even worse .228/.256/.276.

White Sox placed OF Luis Robert on the COVID-19 injured list.

Robert was off to an impressive start this season, hitting .285/.319/.438 with six homers and six stolen bases across 144 plate appearances. The 24-year-old is showing minor symptoms but could return sometime next week if he's able to pass through the necessary protocols. Jake Burger has been recalled to take his spot on the White Sox' active roster.

Yandy Díaz (shoulder) remains absent from the Rays' starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.

Díaz will miss his second consecutive contest due to a left shoulder strain that he sustained Saturday against the Orioles. He's considered day-to-day for now and appears likely to avoid a trip to the injured list. Isaac Paredes takes over at third base on Tuesday evening once again in his absence.