Young NL West OFs get big chances
the bottom of the eighth inning.
h LHP Ross Detwiler, 36, was called up from Class AA on May 14 and the Reds became the 10th team of his 14-year career.
Milwaukee Brewers
RF Christian Yelich hit for the cycle for the third time in his career May 11 in a loss at the Reds, joining Trea Turner, Adrián Beltre, Babe Herman, Bob Meusel and John Reilly in accomplishing the feat.
Yelich doubled in the first inning, hit a three-run homer in the third and singled in the fifth before hitting a triple in the ninth.
“A lot of things kind of have to happen to hit the cycle,” Yelich said. “It is hard enough to get four hits in a major league game and to have the right kind, there’s an element of luck.”
h LHP Josh Hader became the first pitcher in major league history to have saves in each of his first 13 appearances of a season when he closed out the Marlins on May 13.
Pittsburgh Pirates
RHP Zach Thompson had his second consecutive scoreless outing against the Reds on May 14, totaling 11 innings.
With the recent win, Thompson improved his record to 2-3 with a 5.47 ERA through seven games.
Thompson credits his improvement to mechanical adjustments he made before facing the Reds the first time.
“He makes pitches and he has good movement on them,” Reds manager David Bell said.
h The Pirates became just the sixth major league team since 1901 to win a game without a hit when they beat the Reds 1-0 on May 15.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are slowly building up RHP Jordan Hicks’ workload while he makes the conversion from reliever to start. Hicks pitched five innings and threw 77 pitches May 13 in a loss to the Giants.
“The quality of his last two innings, he felt really good, and he looked good, and if it was up to him, he would have been fine going back out there,” manager Oliver Marmol said.
Hicks began his career by making 114 consecutive relief appearances, 73 of which came in 2018 during his rookie season. He injured his elbow the next year and had Tommy John surgery.
h Albert Pujols, 42, came into a blowout win as a pitcher May 15 for the first time in his career in the ninth inning. He gave up a three-run homer to Luis Gonzalez and a solo homer to Joey Bart but managed to get the final three outs. “A dream come true to say that I did it,” Pujols said. “It was fun. It wasn’t fun giving up two bombs.”
NL WEST Arizona Diamondbacks
Promising CF Alek Thomas is getting his chance to show why he’s Arizona’s top prospect.
Thomas, a second-round pick in 2018, was summoned from Class AAA to make his major league debut after C Carson Kelly (oblique) landed on the injured list. That forced Daulton Varsho to vacate center field to replace Kelly, which gave Thomas his big opportunity.
“He’ll get a little runway here to show what he can do,” Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said.
Thomas, who turned down a football scholarship from TCU after Arizona drafted him, hit .309 with a .881 OPS in 300 minor league games. He had five hits in his first 13 at-bats with Arizona, and that included a 441-foot opposite-field home run. He is considered an elite defender.
h Manager Torey Lovullo got his 354th victory to surpass Kirk Gibson for the most wins in franchise history.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are anxious for the return of OF Kris Bryant (back). But while Bryant was resting, OF Yonathan Daza was busy.
Daza’s forte was always his speed, range and athleticism on defense. But now he’s added some offensive punch to capitalize on his big chance with Bryant idle. In his first 23 games, Daza batted .382 with a .426 on-base percentage.
In his two previous stints with Colorado (2019, ’21), Daza’s at-bats were noted for their soft contact. So Daza attacked his offseason conditioning program, which included spending time in the water,
to strengthen his upper body.
h RHP Riley Pint, the No. 4 overall pick in 2016, has rebounded in Class AA after quitting baseball last year, frustrated by performances and injuries. His fastball is touching 99 mph.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers’ rotation depth is being tested, especially after three-time Cy Young Award winner LHP Clayton Kershaw (hip) went on the injured list. He joins LHP Andrew Heaney (elbow) as LA looks to the minors for reinforcements.
RHP Ryan Pepiot will likely eat some starters’ innings after a solid MLB debut. Pepiot, the team’s No. 6 overall prospect with a stellar change-up, could be a key contributor with others on the mend. RHP Garrett Cleavinger has also taken a rotation turn.
It doesn’t appear veteran LHP David Price is being considered. Price, on the COVID-19 IL since April 24, is more likely to see one- and two-inning stints when he returns soon.
h RHP Blake Treinen (shoulder), a critical piece in LA’s bullpen, is likely out until after the All-star break.
San Diego Padres
Looking for something to spark a dormant offense, the Padres signed veteran 2B Robinson Canó, who was released by the Mets on May 2. Canó could get atbats
as the designated hitter, as well as spelling 2B Jake Cronenworth.
The Padres await the mid-June return of All-Star SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist).
h Larry Lucchino, a former Padres CEO, and Ted Leitner, the team’s longtime ex-radio broadcaster, will enter the Padres Hall of Fame. Lucchino was instrumental in building Petco Park and he helped construct rosters which led to three playoff appearances. Leitner called the team’s games for 41 years.
San Francisco Giants
OF Luis Gonzalez, 25, who was claimed off waivers in August, had been waylaid by shoulder issues that required surgery last summer.
This season, the one-time White Sox prospect batted .349 in his first 63 atbats after his call-up, with 15 RBI and three stolen bases.
Although Gonzalez’s minor league numbers weren’t overwhelming and his shoulder was an issue, the Giants claimed him last year when the White Sox tried to sneak him through waivers.
Gonzalez is just another in a long line of players whom Giants President Farhan Zaidi has added while churning the roster.
h RHP Kyle Harrison continues to dominate in Class A with four outings recording at least nine strikeouts.