MLB REPORT

ATLANTA BRAVES

The rebuilding club invested deeper into its already important June draft on Monday by acquiring the 76th pick in the draft from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitchers Brandon Barker and Trevor Belicek.

The Braves also acquired veteran lefthander Brian Matusz, who was immediately designated for assignment.

The competitive balance draft pick gives the Braves five of the first 80 picks in the June 9-11 draft, including the No. 3 overall selection.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

The team placed AllStar outfielder Alex Gordon on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right wrist. Manager Ned Yost says Gordon will not need surgery but will miss three to four weeks. Gordon was injured in a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday when he collided with third baseman Mike Moustakas, who is listed as day-to-day with a bruised knee.

NEW YORK METS

First baseman Lucas Duda is out at least four to six weeks with a stress fracture in his lower back.

TEXAS RANGERS

Ace Yu Darvish is in line to make his first start Saturday for the club in nearly 22 months, and since having Tommy John surgery.

Darvish is expected to start for the Rangers in Saturday night’s home game against Pittsburgh after five rehab outings this month.

Manager Jeff Banister said Monday that Darvish will start the middle game of that interleague series if he feels good.

The righthander from Japan last pitched in a major league game Aug. 9, 2014, then missed the end of that season with right elbow inflammation. Darvish had more issues the following spring and had surgery on March 17, 2015.

• Shin-Soo Choo (strained left hamstring) is back on the disabled list after the right fielder played only one game in his return to the Rangers.

Fellow outfielder Drew Stubbs (sprained left toe) was also put on the DL.