Home Run Derby field has Harper, Muncy
Washington outfielder Bryce Harper will take on Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman in an all-NL East matchup in the first round of the Home Run Derby in Washington on Monday night.
The field was revealed Wednesday night.
Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar faces Philadelphia outfielder Rhys Hoskins in the opening round. Dodgers infielder Max Muncy meets Cubs infielder Javier Baez, and Houston third baseman Alex Bregman faces Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
It’s the second Home Run Derby for Harper, and the first for the rest of the field.
Aguilar is the top seed with 23 homers.
Baez and Schwarber are the 18th pair of teammates to enter the same Derby. Astros demote Giles: Houston optioned reliever Ken Giles to Triple-A Fresno, a night after he appeared to curse at manager A.J. Hinch when he lifted him against the A’s.
The Astros were up by four to start the ninth inning Tuesday when Giles gave up three singles to cut the lead to 4-1. Hinch came to the mound to take out Giles and a telecast caught him appearing to curse at Hinch on his way off the field. Promotion suspended: Yahoo Sports reported that MLB suspended its “Papa Slams” promotion offering discounts on Papa John’s pizza after grand slams after company founder John Schnatter admitted using a racial slur in a company training session. He resigned as chairman of the board Wednesday night. Briefly: St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas was removed from the National League’s active roster for the All-Star Game on Tuesday because he’s scheduled to start Sunday against the Reds. Dodgers righty Ross Stripling was added to the NL pitching staff as Mikolas’ replacement . ... The Angels put right-hander Garrett Richards on the 10-day disabled list with damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow . ... The White Sox designated reliever Bruce Rondon for assignment and purchased the contract of righty Jeanmar Gomez from Triple-A Charlotte . ... Kansas City recalled right-hander Jason Adam from Triple-A Omaha to take the spot of righthander Ian Kennedy, who returned to the disabled list with a strained left oblique . ... Minnesota right-hander Addison Reed (right triceps tightness) was placed on the DL and right-hander Alan Busenitz was recalled from Triple-A Rochester . ... Tampa Bay lefthander Jose Alvarado left the team because of a “personal, medical issue with a family member,” according to manager Kevin Cash.