Rockies’ Bryant out with sore back
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies placed struggling left fielder Kris Bryant on the 10-day injured list Friday because of back pain.
The move is retroactive to Tuesday, and Bryant won’t be eligible to return until May 6 at Arizona.
Bryant, who signed a $182 million, seven-year free-agent deal in March, is still looking for his first home run with the Rockies. He’s batting .281 with four RBIS and 12 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances.
An MRI Friday showed no structural issues.
Manager Buddy Black said Bryant has been experiencing back soreness since a week ago in Detroit and believes it has affected his early performance.
“He would never tell you that, but I do think it has limited him,” Black said.
The Rockies recalled infielder Elehuris Montero from Class AAA Albuquerque to replace Bryant. He was expected to arrive sometime during Friday’s game against Cincinnati.
Sam Hilliard was to start in left field Friday night against the Reds.
Syndergaard late scratch for illness
Los Angeles Angels righthander Noah Syndergaard was scratched from his scheduled start against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night because of an undisclosed illness.
Righthander Jimmy Herget got the start in place of Syndergaard against Lucas Giolito in the opener of a four-game series.
Manager Joe Maddon said Syndergaard “wasn’t feeling well,” but wouldn’t elaborate on the symptoms the 6-foot-6 pitcher was experiencing.
Should the Angels and White Sox be forced to play a doubleheader Sunday — heavy rain is forecast for Saturday in Chicago — Maddon hinted Syndergaard might be available to start one of the games.
Syndergaard is 2-0 with a 1.04 in his first two starts with the Angels in a comeback attempt.
The former All-star signed a one-year, $21 contract with Los Angeles in November after being limited to only two innings the past two years following Tommy John surgery in March 2020.
Herget (1-0, 6.48) will make his first start this season in what figures to be a bullpen game.
The Angels activated infielder David Fletcher from the 10-day injured list and placed him in the lineup at shortstop. Fletcher has been out since April 11 with a hip injury.
Los Angeles optioned infielder Jack Mayfield to its taxi squad in a corresponding roster move.