Abreu ties homer marks; Lewis paces AL rookies
courage him and try to remind him every step of the way that the most important thing is his health and well-being.”
❚ RHP Triston McKenzie had a memorable major league debut Aug. 22, allowing one run in six innings and striking out 10 in a victory over the Detroit Tigers. He missed last season because of shoulder and pectoral injuries.
Detroit Tigers
Two of the top pitching prospects in baseball made their major league debuts in consecutive games against the White Sox at Chicago, and each took a loss.
LHP Tarik Skubal was the starter Aug. 18, getting tagged for four runs in two innings. The next night, RHP Casey Mize, the first overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft, went 4 1⁄3 innings and allowed three runs.
“We saw a pretty good pitcher out there,” manager Ron Gardenhire said of Mize. really excited for him.”
The Tigers called up the duo after RHP Ivan Nova (right triceps tendinitis) went on the injured list.
❚ 3B Isaac Paredes made his major league debut and went 5for-20 (.250) with a homer – a grand slam – and a double in his first six games.
Kansas City Royals
After recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery and a bout with COVID-19, C Salvador Perez is sidelined because of vision difficulties.
Perez was placed on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 18. The six-time All-Star missed last season because of surgery, then contracted the coronavirus early in summer camp.
Manager Mike Matheny said Perez’s condition should not cause long-term damage, and “there’s a long, complex name for it.”
Perez is hitting .307 with four home runs in 22 games. C Cam Gallagher is handling the bulk of the duties behind the plate.
❚ RHP Trevor Rosenthal, who had a 13.50 ERA in 2019, is having a strong comeback season. He converted his first six save opportunities and had a 1.59 ERA through 12 games.
Minnesota Twins
Even though they placed three key players – RHP Jake Odorizzi (bruised chest), C Mitch Garver (chest muscle strain) and CF Byron Buxton (sore left shoulder) – on the injured list last weekend, the Twins still had won eight of their last 11 games through Aug. 23.
“Most teams are dealing with rosters that don’t necessarily look like they looked on opening day,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Some of these teams – and we want to be in this group – just continually find ways to win.”
3B Josh Donaldson (right calf ) hadn’t played since July 31.
❚ C Ryan Jeffers, the Twins’ second-round amateur draft pick in 2018, was called up when Garver went on the IL. Jeffers went 2-for-3 in his major league debut Aug. 20 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
AL WEST
Houston Astros
The Astros were eager to see what DH Yordan Alvarez could do this season after he hit 27 home runs in just 87 games in 2019 and won AL Rookie of the Year. Instead, he was delayed because of COVID-19 and then played in only two games before a knee injury ended his season.
Fortunately for the Astros, Michael Brantley returned on Aug. 23 from a quad injury and was back in the lineup at DH. Brantley also will play some left field now that he’s healed.
❚ The Astros’ alternative training site in Corpus Christi,
Texas, was shut down temporarily because of one positive test for COVID-19.
Los Angeles Angels
SS Andrelton Simmons is back after missing a month for the second consecutive season because of a sprained left ankle. On both occasions, Simmons was injured while lunging for first base, and he said he won’t make that baserunning mistake again.
The Angels needed a boost after losing eight of nine games to fall to last place and possibly become sellers at the Aug. 31 trade deadline. They have missed the playoffs the last five seasons.
IF David Fletcher was stellar while replacing Simmons. Fletcher will switch to second base while occasionally playing shortstop as Simmons is eased back into the lineup.
❚ While the Angels have stumbled in manager Joe Maddon’s first year, 3B Anthony Rendon has rebounded. Rendon, who signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in the offseason, shed a slow start with a 13-game hitting streak in which he batted .481 with five home runs.
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics are encouraged by the progress of LHP A.J. Puk (shoulder), and he soon might make his season debut from the team’s stellar bullpen.
While Puk is seen as an eventual starter, he could supply extended innings in relief outings. That’s a need with RHP Burch Smith (forearm) out indefinitely.
Puk, a former first-round pick, has yet to start in the majors. But in 10 relief appearances last year he had 13 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA in 11 1⁄3 innings.
❚ There was one constant in Oakland’s recent nine-game home winning streak: The A’s wore their Kelly green uniforms in every game. In the final victory on Aug. 21, RF Stephen Piscotty had his fourth game with at least three RBI this season.
Seattle Mariners
CF Kyle Lewis is leading a young team that likely won’t make the playoffs, something Seattle last did in 2001. He is also the leading candidate to win AL Rookie of the Year.
Through Aug. 23, Lewis was among the top three in the majors in hits (39), batting average (.368) and on-base percentage (.456) and led rookies in a long list of statistical categories.
❚ OF Jake Fraley, another of the Mariners’ key prospects, was added to the roster when OF/IF Dylan Moore (wrist) was sidelined. Fraley will alternate with Braden Bishop and Sam Haggerty at the corner outfield spots. When Moore was shelved on Aug. 22, he was one of just four players with at least five doubles, five homers and five stolen bases.
Texas Rangers
If the Rangers decide to become sellers at the trade deadline, they have potential pieces to move as they continue rebuilding.
RH closer Rafael Montero, who had five consecutive saves earlier this month, has value and is signed through 2022. LHP Mike Minor, one year removed from being an American League All-Star, is another option, although he lost his first five decisions this season.
OF/DH Shin-Soo Choo might draw interest, especially with both leagues utilizing the designated hitter. But leg issues have cut into his production.
❚ OF Willie Calhoun (hamstring) is expected to miss at least two more weeks, while SS Elvis Andrus (back) could return sooner. Andrus has hit just .184 with no homers in his first 21 games.