AROUND THE HORN
Guardians: Franmil Reyes, who began the season as the cleanup hitter for the Guardians, was designated for assignment Saturday. The 27-year-old outfielder/ designated hitter had been optioned to Triple-A Columbus earlier in the week after batting .213 with nine home runs and 104 strikeouts in 263 at-bats. Reyes belted 37 homers in 2019 — splitting the season between Cleveland and the Padres — and had 30 homers and a career-high 85 RBIs in 2021. He is earning $4.55 million on a one-year contract and was arbitration eligible. “Franmil wasn’t getting to the fastballs, and the breaking balls he hit were going for singles,” manager Terry Francona said. “There weren’t many home runs. It was tough. It was difficult.We want to see our young guys play, and this gives the opportunity for somebody to claim him.” The Guardians have seven days to trade, release or send Reyes outright to the minors if he clears waivers. Reyes has the service time to reject an outright assignment by the Guardians.
Cubs: Drew Smyly tossed shutout ball into the seventh inning for his first win at Wrigley Field for the Cubs, leading them past the Marlins 4-0 on Saturday. P.J. Higgins homered and singled, and Nico Hoerner added three hits and an RBI to help the Cubs defeat Miami for a second straight day after losing five straight. Ian Happ had two hits and scored a run and Willson Contreras had an RBI single. Both All-Stars, Happ and Contreras were the subject of trade rumors before Tuesday’s deadline, but remained with the Cubs. The Marlins have lost six of seven and were shut out for the 12th time this season. Smyly (4-6) finally prevailed at home in his sixth start this season at Wrigley after signing a one-year, $5.25 million contract in March that includes incentive pay and an option for 2023. The 33-year-old righty allowed five hits, struck out four and walked none before being replaced with Mark Leiter Jr. with two outs in the seventh. Leiter retired the next seven Marlins hitters. Smyly was 11-4 last season for World Series champion Atlanta, but missed six weeks this year with an oblique strain. He returned on July 10 but had struggled since, with a 6.06 ERA in four starts heading into Saturday. The Marlins’ Pablo López (7-7) allowed four runs on nine hits in five-plus innings . ... The Cubs reinstated 11-year veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the injured list on Saturday, then designated the four-time Gold Glove winner for assignment before their game with the Marlins. Simmons signed a $4 million deal with the Cubs in March and appeared to be slotted for a regular role with the team. But the 32-year-old from Curacao appeared in just 34 games with the Cubs because of two right shoulder injuries. Simmons hit .173 with seven RBIs for the Cubs.
Mets: Francisco Lindor doubled off the padding atop the outfield wall in center field to drive in two, Edwin Díaz put out a fire for the final two outs and the Mets beat the Braves 8-5 Saturday in a doubleheader opener. Lindor had three hits, including an RBI single during a two-run first inning against Jake Odorizzi (4-4). His double stretched the Mets’ edge to 5-0. Pete Alonso upped his NL-best RBI total to 92 with a single, moving 10 ahead of Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The NL East leaders improved to an MLB-best 30-9 following a loss and moved 4 games ahead of the Braves.