American League notes
AL EAST Baltimore Orioles
It wasn’t a surprise when Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore’s first-round pick in 2015, was not on the opening-day roster. He’s expected to join the team at some point this season, but where he will play remains undetermined.
The 2019 International League MVP was drafted as a shortstop but has yet to find a position. At Class AAA Norfolk, Virginia, last season, he appeared in 84 games at first base, 26 in left field, and nine at third base while batting .312 with 25 homers and 83 RBI.
“I do feel like we’re putting a plan together to get as many left field reps as possible with first base being kind of a secondary position at this time,” manager
Brandon Hyde said.
❚ RHP Alex Cobb, limited to just three starts in 2019 following hip and knee surgeries, defeated the Boston Red Sox on July 25 for his first win since Sept. 4, 2018.
Boston Red Sox
SS Xander Bogaerts appeared in 155 games last year, but Boston’s best player was out of the starting lineup in this season’s second game. It was not a health issue, though.
Because of the unorthodox start to this unprecedented season, manager Ron Roenicke said he will try to find rest for his regulars, especially early. With a day game after a night game, it was the right time for Bogaerts.
“I don’t want anyone playing 10 games in a row right now,” Roenicke said. “It’s important, I know, to start, but it’s more important to make sure they stay healthy through these 60 games.”
❚ LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston’s would-be No. 1 starting pitcher, developed a heart condition in his recovery from COVID-19. Although Rodriguez was shut down from baseball activities, Roenicke said he is confident he will pitch this season.
New York Yankees
RHP Gerrit Cole earned his first Yankees win with a rainshortened decision over the Washington Nationals on opening day.
That extended his personal winning streak to 17 games over 23 starts dating to May 27, 2019. In that stretch he had a 1.78 ERA and 231 strikeouts in 151 innings.
“He’s always attacking hitters, always following the plan. It just makes my job really easy,” C Gary Sanchez said through an interpreter.
❚ Giancarlo Stanton’s two home runs in the opening series against Washington were the 21st and 22nd of his career at Nationals Park, the most of any visiting player in the park’s history. Ryan Howard (14) is next.
Tampa Bay Rays
LHP Blake Snell, the 2018 AL Cy Young winner, missed almost two months last season following arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow before returning to make three September starts and three appearances in the AL Division Series.
For that reason, he is expected to be limited in his first few starts this season. Snell said that because of the shortened summer camp, he felt as if he was still a few starts away from lengthy outings and wants to be cautious.
“I’m taking this step back to make sure I’m not doing too much to aggravate anything,” he said.
❚ With a homer on opening day for his first major league hit, 3B Yoshi Tsutsugo became the sixth Japanese-born player to homer in his major league debut.
Toronto Blue Jays
RHP Matt Shoemaker picked up where he left off more than 15 months ago, allowing just one run in six innings in a no-decision against the Rays on July 25 at Tampa Bay.
It was his first start since he tore the ACL in his left knee on April 20, 2019, and missed the rest of the season.
That good news was tempered when RH closer Ken
Giles went on the injured list because of a strained forearm. RHP Anthony Bass was expected to take over as closer.
❚ The day after the season officially opened, the Blue Jays finally found a home for 2020, announcing they will play the majority of their home games at the home of their Class AAA affiliate in Buffalo, New York. While the Buffalo park undergoes some necessary infrastructure upgrades and renovations because of COVID-19 restrictions, Toronto will play its first “home” games on the road, acting as the home team against Washington at Nationals Park on July 29-30.
AL CENTRAL Chicago White Sox
CF Luis Robert is the consensus favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year award and got off to a good start in his career by going 4-for-11 with a home run and a double in the first three games of the season.
Robert had a big season in the minor leagues last year. He started in high Class A, finished in Class AAA and his combined totals were a .328 batting average with 32 home runs.
However, Robert is focused more on team goals than individual honors.
“First and foremost, the goal is just win and win the World Series with this team,” he said through an interpreter. “I know if the team does well, I’ll be good, too.”
❚ OF Nicky Delmonico started in right field on opening day as RF Nomar Mazara began the season on the injured list because of an unspecified ailment. Mazara was acquired from the Texas Rangers in an offseason trade.
Cleveland Indians
Owner Paul Dolan said he and other members of the organization will speak to Native American groups before deciding whether to change the team’s name.
The team has been called the Indians since 1915. However, it is considering rebranding because of a national movement this year to remove racist sym