MONDAY’S NOTEBOOK
Remarkable rookie
Guardians newcomer Steven Kwan has quickly become the biggest story in baseball after a sensational start in a season-opening series at Kansas City.
The 24-year-old rookie is the first player in major league history to reach base at least three times in each of his first four games. Kwan hit a bases-loaded triple and walked twice Monday in a 10-7 win over the Royals.
Kwan, who made his debut opening day, is 9 for 13 at the plate and has reached base in 15 of 19 plate appearances. That’s the most times any player has safely reached in his first four games since 1901.
“Pretty cool,” Kwan said in his typical understated manner. “Pretty surreal.”
Kwan was Cleveland’s fifth-round draft pick in 2018. He’s a contact hitter – he’s swung 26 times so far this season and gotten a piece of the ball every time, according to Statcast.
Seeing double
Giants reliever Tyler Rogers and his twin brother, Padres reliever Taylor Rogers, spent a few minutes chatting with big grins behind the batting cage Monday afternoon as their teams prepared for a three-game series in San Francisco.
Later, they headed to home plate and exchanged the lineup cards for their managers before posing for photos with the umpire crew.
What fun for these two now playing in the same division on rival clubs.
“Probably if you put them in the same uniform you couldn’t tell them apart,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “I know it’s a special day for both of them being able to be on the field together. There’s twins and then there’s twins, and that is a difficult one to tell apart.”
Both pitched in relief Monday night and played a significant role in the outcome, too. Taylor Rogers earned his third save and Tyler took the loss in San Diego’s 4-2 victory over the Giants.
Trainer’s room
Marlins: DH/OF Avisaíl García was scratched from the lineup due to back tenderness. Manager Don Mattingly said he didn’t expect García’s injury to be serious, but it is possible he could also be held out Tuesday because Wednesday is an off day.
Angels: 2B David Fletcher came out in the seventh inning due to left hip tightness. … OF Taylor Ward (left groin strain) is on track to come off the injured list when he is eligible to return this weekend, according to trainer Mike Frostad.
Blue Jays: C Danny Jansen was put on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique muscle. LHP Anthony Kay was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, C Tyler Heineman selected from the International League club, LHP Tayler Saucedo was optioned to Buffalo and OF Josh Palacios was designated for assignment.
Yankees: LHP Jordan Montgomery “got some swelling that’s kind of moved around the knee” after getting hit by Xander Bogaerts’ 103 mph comebacker Sunday, manager Aaron Boone said.
Athletics: Right-hander James Kaprielian (inflamed right AC joint) threw a simulated game at the team’s complex in Mesa, Arizona, on Sunday.
Rays: Right-hander Ryan Thompson, who hadn’t pitched in the majors since last June 27 and underwent thoracic outlet decompression surgery on Sept. 30, was recalled from Triple-A Durham and worked a scoreless sixth. … Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (left groin tightness) was placed on the 10day injured list, but hopes to miss just one start.
Nationals: Manager Dave Martinez said starting pitcher Aníbal Sánchez, 38, was “still moving very gingerly but he does say he feels better.” The move to place Sánchez on IL with a cervical nerve impingement in his neck was retroactive to Friday. “We want to make sure he’s healthy before he even attempts to start throwing,” Martinez said.