AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox
After a 23-10 start, the White Sox had lost 17 of 23 games when they acquired right-hander James Shields from the San Diego Padres on June 4.
Shields, 34, was 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts for the Padres this season. However, he has made at least 31 starts every year since 2007 and adds balance to a rotation led by left-handers Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon.
Furthermore, Shields helped lead the Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals to World Series appearances.
“He’s been in some big games and big situations, and you’re hoping for some of that he can bring here,” manger Robin Ventura said. “There’s also the mentality of knowing that he can go deep in games and eat some innings for you.”
Shields will make his White Sox debut Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.
Right- hander Miguel Gonzalez will be shifted to a long relief role to open a rotation spot for Shields. Gonzalez was 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in six starts.
Left fielder Jason Coats made it through six innings in his major league debut June 4 against the Detroit Tigers. He required five stitches in his mouth after colliding with center fielder J.B. Shuck while catching a fly ball.
Cleveland Indians
Carlos Carrasco had a solid first start after being activated from the disabled list, allowing three runs in five innings in a no-decision against the Royals.
It was the right-hander’s first appearance since April 24, when he strained his left hamstring covering first base against the Tigers.
Last season, Carrasco was 14-12 with a 3.63 ERA in 30 starts. He was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA through his first five starts this season.
“I thought he threw the ball well,” manager Terry Francona said. “He made a couple costly mistakes. It’ll be nice to have him back. He’s a big, big guy for us.” Rookie right-hander Mike Clevinger was optioned to Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) after
going 0-1 with an 8.79 ERA in his first three major league three starts.
Lonnie Chisenhall was seeing regular action in right field after Marlon Byrd was suspended for 162 games June 1 for his second violation of Major League Baseball’s drug policy. Chisenhall, the Indians’ first-round draft pick in 2008, was shifted to right field from third base last season.
Right- hander Joba Chamberlain is expected to be activated from the disabled list this week after being out since May 22 be- cause of a strained rib muscle. He had a 1.93 ERA in 14 games before being injured.
Detroit Tigers
Left-hander Matt Boyd is getting the opportunity to cement a spot in the rotation after veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez was moved to long relief.
The Tigers acquired Boyd on July 30 as part of a three-player deal from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade for left-hander David Price. Boyd was 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in his first three games this season after going 1-4 with a 6.57 ERA in 11 games after the trade last year. Sanchez went 3-6 with a 6.67 ERA in 11 starts. His fiveyear, $80 million contract does not expire until the end of the 2017 season.
“I’ll be back,” Sanchez said. “I’m healthy. I’ll do what I can control to be back in the rotation.”
Former New York Mets closer Bobby Parnell was called up from Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) to work in middle relief. The right-hander gave up two runs over one inning in his first two appearances for the Tigers after posting a 3.38 ERA with four saves in 21 games at Toledo.
After beginning the season as a starter, right-hander Shane Greene also was working in middle relief after being activated from the disabled list. He was 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts before being shelved April 25 because of blisters on his right middle finger.
Kansas City Royals
Right-hander Chris Young was moved back into the rotation when Dillon Gee was optioned to Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.).
Gee shifted to the rotation from the bullpen when Young went on the disabled list May 10 because of a strained right forearm. Gee kept that spot when Young returned May 28 but went 2-2 with a 6.05 ERA in four starts.
Young pitched four scoreless innings in two relief appearances after being activated, then started Sunday against the Indians and allowed five runs, four on solo homers, in 42⁄ innings. He was 3 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA in seven starts before the injury.
“I need to be better,” Young told MLB.com. “It’s frustrating. I feel like it’s been the way my season is going.”
Rookie outfielder Reymond
Fuentes, who began the season with the Royals, was recalled from Omaha when outfield Brett Eibner went on the DL because of a sprained left ankle, sustained in his fourth major league game.
Eibner, who went 6-for-13 (.462) with three doubles, is expected to be out until at least late June. Fuentes hit .302 with a .717 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 17 games at Omaha.
Omaha outfielder Travis Snider did not exercise the June 1 opt-out clause in his contract. He has played in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles.
Minnesota Twins
Right-hander Kyle Gibson made a rehab start for Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.) on Sunday, allowing two runs in six innings against Louisville three days after he originally was supposed to be activated from the 15-day disabled list to pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Gibson has been on the DL since April 24 because of a strained right shoulder after beginning the season 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA in four starts. His return to the major-league rotation was delayed after he felt soreness in his lower back.
Gibson also pitched twice for high Class A Fort Myers (Fla.), where he gave up one run in 91⁄ 3 innings. Rookie Max Kepler was getting playing time in right field after Miguel Sano was placed on the DL because of a strained left hamstring. Sano likely won’t be activated when first eligible because the Twins, who have little hope of contending this year, don’t want the injury to worsen.
Kepler is considered one of the Twins’ best prospects. He was named the most valuable player of the Class AA Southern League last season while playing for Chattanooga (Tenn.). Outfielder Logan Schafer’s contract was purchased from Lancaster (Pa.) of the independent Atlantic League, and he was assigned to Rochester. He played in 292 games with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2011 to 2015.
“I think anytime you’re in extra innings, it gets a little weird.”
White Sox manager Robin Ventura, after reliever Matt Albers doubled for his first hit since 2007, then scored the winning run in the 13th inning of a 2-1 victory against the New York Mets on June 1.