AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox Left-hander Jose Quintana might have started rebuilding his trade value.
Quintana stopped a seven-start winless streak June 16 when he beat the Blue Jays in Toronto, allowing two runs in seven innings of an 11-4 victory. Quintana improved his record to 3-8 and lowered his ERA to 5.07 ERA through 14 starts.
The White Sox fielded numerous trade inquiries about the 28-year-old over the winter. Before the White Sox’s offense erupted at Toronto, including scoring seven runs in the first two innings, Quintana was getting a career-low 2.65 runs of support per nine innings.
“Every time is good when you get a lot of support,” Quintana said. “Wow, it was a lot of runs, though.” Right- hander James Shields was activated from the disabled list Sunday to start against the Blue Jays and did not factor in the decision as he allowed three runs in 52⁄ innings. 3 Shields had been out since April 17 because of a strained lat. Right-hander Miguel Gon
zalez (shoulder) was placed on the DL to make room in the rotation for Shields. Draft Watch: Right-hander Chance King, son of television and radio talk show host Larry King, was selected in the 39th round. Chance King is from Beverly Hills and attended the Pendleton School at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Cleveland Indians
Terry Francona could laugh after another health scare.
The manager was back to work June 14, a day after leaving in the eighth inning of a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was taken from Progressive Field to the Cleveland Clinic, where he underwent a battery of tests and given an IV because he was dehydrated.
“They checked my brain and they didn’t find anything, which did not surprise me,” he said.
Francona missed a game against the Nationals last season in Washington because of chest pains. He said he did not feel the
same symptoms this time.
“I was having a hard time during the game,” Francona said. “I was lightheaded. I knew my heart was going too fast, and I had one of the trainers check me. I finally came inside because I was like, ‘Something’s not right.’ ” Outfielder Michael Bran
tley went from the paternity list to the disabled list because of a sprained ankle that hadn’t healed yet. It wasn’t considered serious.
Draft Watch: Having forfeited their first-round pick as a result of signing Edwin Encar
nacion, the Indians chose outfielder Quentin Holmes from McClancy Memorial High in East Elmhurst, N.Y., in the second round. Holmes has been clocked at 4.1 seconds from home to first.
Detroit Tigers
Designated hitter Victor Mar
tinez wound up spending two nights in a hospital after being placed on the disabled list because of an irregular heartbeat.
Martinez, 38, left a win against Tampa Bay on June 15 in the seventh inning when he began experiencing a racing heartbeat, dizziness and cold sweats. He first was treated for dehydration before being taken to a hospital when symptoms continued. “It’s a little scary,” manager
Brad Ausmus said. “It’s not something that, at his age, you generally consider an issue or worry about. I think there’s a little bit of an unknown factor, which is causing more anxiety than anything else.”
Martinez was expected to remain in Detroit to be monitored this week while the Tigers were on a seven-game road trip to Seattle and San Diego.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera will assume DH duties with Martinez sidelined, and righthanded hitting catcher/first baseman John Hicks was recalled from Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) to platoon with Alex Avila at first base. This is Hicks’ third stint with the Tigers this season.
Draft Watch: Infielder Colby Bortles, brother of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, was the Tigers’ 22nd-round pick. He led the Uni- versity of Mississippi with 10 home runs this year.
Kansas City Royals
Rookie left-hander Matt
Strahm made a good impression in his first major league start.
The 25-year-old won on the road June 15, holding the Los Angeles Angels to one unearned run in five innings. He was moved into the rotation after making 20 relief appearances this season and 21 last year, compiling a 2.86 ERA.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen him in the windup this year, but he commanded his pitches well,” manager Ned Yost said.
Strahm took the rotation spot of another rookie lefty. Eric Sko
glund was moved to long relief after going 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in three starts after a call-up from Class AAA.
uThird baseman Mike Moustakas is seemingly on his way to a big payday in free agency next winter. Through his first 61 games, Moustakas had 18 home runs, four short of the career high he set in 2015, when he helped the Royals win the World Series.
Draft Watch: The Royals went for power in the first round, tabbing Huntington Beach (Calif.) High first baseman Nick Pratto at 14th overall. He is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 2011 Little League World Series.
Minnesota Twins
The Major League Baseball Players Association reportedly pushed hard for the roster limit to be expanded to 26 during negotiations on a new basic agreement last winter but was unsuccessful. Right-handed reliever Ryan
Pressly had to wish there was an extra roster spot when he was optioned to Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.) on Saturday. The Twins made the move because they needed fresh arms for that day’s doubleheader.
After being recalled from Rochester four days earlier, Pressly pitched twice and allowed only one run in four innings. That made it difficult for manager Paul
Molitor to demote him. “How would you take the news after you’ve pitched a couple of good games?” Molitor said. Right- handed reliever Alan Busenitz was promoted from Rochester to take Pressly’s spot and became the 18th Twins pitcher used in relief this season.
Draft Watch: Holding the first overall pick, the Twins chose shortstop Royce Lewis from JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and signed him to a $6.725 million bonus. The Twins took Joe
Mauer the last time they had the No. 1 pick, in 2001.
Contributing: Wire reports
“I know Cliff pretty well. I told him he’s a terrible friend. I’m deleting his phone number from my phone.” Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy after giving up a home run to Los Angeles Angels infielder Cliff Pennington in Kansas City’s 3-1 win June 16. The two were teammates with the Arizona Diamondbacks.