NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Jeimer Candelario became the latest prospect to make his major league debut when he was called up Sunday from Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa.
Candelario started at third base and went 1-for-4, with a single off Noah Syndergaard. The 22-yearold switch-hitter batted .333 with three home runs and a 1.052 onbase-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) in 25 games with Iowa after beginning the season with Class AA (Kodak) Tennessee and hitting just .219 with four homers and a .690 OPS in 56 games.
“Has pop from both sides. A really nice approach at the plate,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He's a young kid with a great body and a big upside.”
Candelario replaced utility player Chris Coghlan, who was placed on the disabled list because of a strained right rib cage. Infielder Tommy La Stella, on the DL since June 8 because of a strained right hamstring, is expected to be activated this week. He was 4-for-18 (.222) with a home run through five games of a rehab assignment with Iowa.
Veteran reliever Joel Peralta gave up five runs in three innings in his first four appearances after a call-up from Iowa. He was signed as a free agent June 13, nine days after being released by the Seattle Mariners.
Cincinnati Reds
General manager Walt Jocketty said the front office deserved some of the blame. Manager Bryan Price said it was partly his fault. The pitchers said it was on their shoulders.
But the one who paid for the Reds’ majors-worst 5.51 ERA was first-year pitching coach Mark Riggins, who was fired Monday. Bullpen coach Mack Jenkins replaced him, and Class AAA Louisville (Ky.) pitching coach Ted Power was elevated to bullpen coach with the Reds.
Jenkins said it best: “No matter what sport they’re in, coaches get fired if the team doesn’t perform, whether they are at fault or not,” he told The Cincinnati Enquirer. One of those young pitchers is right-hander Keyvius Sampson, getting his third look this season after being recalled from Louisville. Sampson was 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA through his first six major league relief appearances of 2016.
“His nemesis at this level has been a low overall strike percentage and a low first-strike percentage,” Price said.
Rookie reliever Caleb Cotham (shoulder) likely will be activated from the disabled list this week. He began a rehab assignment June 30 with Class AA Pensacola (Fla.).
Milwaukee Brewers
Starting pitchers Jimmy Nelson, Zack Davies and Chase Anderson are desirable to teams in trades. All three are in their 20s and have low salaries that can be controlled contractually for the foreseeable future. But general manager David Stearns has little interest in trading anyone from that trio.
In fact, Stearns would like to add more young starters if the Brewers deal veterans such as left fielder Ryan Braun, right-hander Matt Garza, catcher Jonathan
Lucroy, third baseman Aaron Hill, closer Jeremy Jeffress or left-handed reliever Will Smith by the trade deadline.
“It would have a very high price to trade any young player that has significant control remaining and who we believe can contribute to the organization for a long time.” Stearns said.
Veteran infielder Will Middlebrooks’ contract was selected from Class AAA Colorado Springs (Colo.) on Sunday with the hope he can add some right-handed pop off the bench. He batted .282 with 10 home runs and an .816 OPS in 68 games in the Pacific Coast League.
Right- hander Taylor Jungmann, who began the season in the major league rotation, was dropped to Class AA Biloxi (Miss.) after going 1-3 with a 9.87 ERA in eight starts with Colorado Springs.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Right-handers Gerrit Cole and Ryan Vogelsong faced live hitters July 1 for the first time since going on the disabled list. Each pitched two innings in a simulated game.
Cole, the ace of the rotation, has been shelved by a strained right triceps since leaving his June 10 start against the Cardinals. No possible date for being activated has been set.
“So far, it’s gone really well,” he said. “We’ve been able to stay on schedule.”
Vogelsong is on the 60-day disabled list while recovering from facial fractures sustained May 23 when he was hit by a pitch. He appears likely to be activated July 23, the first day he is eligible. Eric Fryer was claimed off waivers Sunday from the Cardinals as the Pirates continue to look for catching depth with starter Francisco Cervelli (broken left hand) on the DL. Fryer, who began his career with the Pirates in 2011-12, hit .368 in 24 games with St. Louis this season.
The Pirates have just five interleague games remaining, which is too bad for Jeff Locke. The left-hander improved to 8-1 in his six-year career against American League teams when he beat Oakland on July 1.
St. Louis Cardinals
Though no official declaration was made, it appears Seung Hwan Oh has moved to the head of the closer-by-committee that is replacing Trevor Rosenthal.
Oh notched his first two major league saves over the weekend when he closed out wins against the Brewers. The 33-year-old rookie from South Korea had a 1.71 ERA through his first 41 games, allowing 25 hits, walking 13 and striking out 57 in 42 innings.
In 11 seasons pitching professionally in the Far East — nine in South Korea and two Japan — Oh had 357 saves. That earned him two nicknames, “Final Boss” and “Stone Buddha.”
“He’s continuing to impress us,” manager Mike Matheny said. “I think the rest of the league is obviously seeing that this guy is for real.”
Right- hander Sam Tuivailala was recalled from Class AAA Memphis (Tenn.) to provide bullpen help when left-hander Kevin Siegrist was placed on the disabled list because of mononucleosis.
Backup catcher Brayan Pena finally made his Cardinals debut. Signed to a two-year, $5 million contact as a free agent in the offseason, Pena began the season on the disabled list after injuring his left knee during spring training.
“He’s a different type of pitcher. Everything he throws looks the same up there. It’s not overpowering. Everything starts in a general area and moves in a lot of different ways.” Brewers second baseman Scooter
Gennett on Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia, who allowed one run in eight innings to beat Milwaukee on July 1