Stanton out six weeks; Ohtani HRs just like Babe

Giancarlo Stanton is likely to be sidelined for six weeks because of a strained left hamstring, the latest in a string of injuries for the New York Yankees slugger. Stanton, 33, has not played a full season since 2018, the first year after the Yankees acquired him from the Miami Marlins.

He was hurt Saturday while running out a tworun double in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees placed him on the injured list the following day, his seventh trip to the injured list/disabled list in five seasons with the Yankees and 11th in 14 major league seasons.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave the sixweek estimate before Tuesday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.

Stanton missed 223 of 546 games in the previous four seasons because of a strained right biceps and strained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (2019), strained left hamstring (2020), strained left quadriceps (2021), and right ankle inflammation, and left Achilles’ tendinitis (2022).

While with the Marlins, he was out because of right knee surgery (2012), a right hamstring strain (2013), broken left hand (2015), and strained left groin (2016).

The evening got a little more painful for the Yankees as Shohei Ohtani homered on the 100th anniversary of the original Yankee Stadium, following Babe Ruth’s example with a loud two-run drive in the first inning that started the Angels to a 5-2 win.

When the original Yankee Stadium opened across 161st St. on April 18, 1923, Ruth capped a four-run third inning with a three-run homer off Boston’s Howard Ehmke in New York’s 4-1 win to inaugurate America’s first three-deck stadium.

Springs may need Tommy John

Rays lefthander Jeffrey Springs was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow flexor strain that may require Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old Springs, a breakout star during the Rays’ 13-0 start to the season, met Tuesday with Dr. Keith Meister, who specializes in the elbow ligament replacement procedure.

Springs left after throwing two pitches in the fourth inning Thursday against Boston. He threw a 79.8-mile-per-hour changeup and a 83.5-m.p.h. slider, then looked at his hand and elbow.

Springs went 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA in 33 games, including 25 starts, last season. He signed a fouryear, $31 million contract in January.

The Rays did get some good news later in the day, however, as Taylor Walls homered twice and drove in four runs and rookie righthander Taj Bradley dazzled in his second start in a 10-0 victory in Cincinnati. The Rays have homered in each of their first 18 games this season, the second-longest streak to begin a campaign since the 2019 Mariners went deep in 20 straight games.

MLB tests other rule changes

Major League Baseball isn’t done looking at potential rule changes. The league announced a series of experimental rules Tuesday that will be used in the Atlantic League this season.

The designated pinch runner rule allows a player who is not in the starting lineup to be used at any point as a substitute baserunner. The player who was subbed out, as well as the pinch runner, would still be able to return to the game.

The “double-hook” designated hitter rule allows teams to use the DH as long as the starting pitcher throws at least five innings. If that doesn’t occur, the team loses its DH and the pitcher’s spot would bat for the remainder of the game.

There’s also a single-disengagement rule, which means pitchers can only take their foot off the rubber once per at-bat.

E-Rod, Tigers sweep twinbill

Riley Greene hit a sixth-inning homer and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched eight scoreless innings, helping the host Tigers beat the Guardians, 1-0, to sweep a doubleheader that took all of 4 hours and 13 minutes to complete. In the opener, Kerry Carpenter hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth for a 4-3 win, the Tigers’ third straight walkoff win. Rodriguez (1-2) allowed four hits, no walks, and struck out 10 while matching the longest outing of his career. The lefthander lasted eight innings for the first time since 2017 when he played for the Red Sox . . . Lucas Giolito and four relievers combined on a one-hitter as the host White Sox beat the Phillies, 3-0, to split a doubleheader. Brandon Marsh had Philadelphia's only hit, an opposite-field double to left on reliever Aaron Bummer's first pitch of the eighth.

Mets lose yet another starter

The Mets placed righthander Carlos Carrasco on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. Carrasco joins righthander Justin Verlander (upper back) and lefthander José Quintana (ribs) among Mets starters on the IL. The 36-year-old Carrasco is 0-2 with an 8.56 ERA in three outings ... Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a three-run homer as the host Marlins won, 4-2, over the Giants, who lost starter Alex Wood because of a left hamstring strain in the third after awkwardly fielding a bunt . . . Hard-throwing righthander Hunter Greene and the Reds agreed to a $53 million, six-year contract. Greene, 23, started Monday and left after three innings after being struck on the right leg by a comebacker. X-rays were negative, and he is expected to make his next start.