Russell eligible soon; Escobar is hot in desert
son because of back spasms. He is out indefinitely after a setback during his rehab at extended spring training in Goodyear, Arizona.
Milwaukee Brewers
LHP Gio Gonzalez returned to the Brewers as a free agent on a one-year, $2 million contract and immediately was inserted into the rotation.
He started April 28 against the Mets at New York and was not involved in the decision. He gave up two runs in five innings.
After making three starts with the New York Yankees’ Class AAA Scranton/WilkesBarre club (Moosic, Pennsylvania) and going 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA, Gonzalez exercised an optout clause in his contract. The Brewers acquired him Aug. 31 in a trade with the Washington Nationals, and he helped them reach the National League Championship Series.
Gonzalez said he chose between the Brewers and Mets. He can earn an additional $2 million in performance bonuses.
❚ RF Christian Yelich came out of the April 28 game because of a stiff back. He was out of the lineup the next day, one home run short of the record for homers by the end of April.
Pittsburgh Pirates
RHP Chris Archer (sore right thumb) became the 16th Pirates player to be placed on the injured list this season.
The move came one day after Archer was tagged for six runs in four innings against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Pirates do not consider the injury serious, and he is expected to resume throwing this week.
With three off days in an eight-day span from April 29 to May 6, the Pirates are likely to use a four-man rotation while Archer recovers. He is 1-2 with a 4.33 ERA in five starts.
❚ LF Corey Dickerson was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis on April 27, but those plans were scrapped when he felt tightness in his right shoulder, the same injury that forced him to the IL on April 4.
St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Michael Wacha was scheduled to return to the rotation April 29 against the Nationals at Washington after missing one turn because of tendinitis in his left knee.
Wacha was placed on the injured list retroactive to April 18 and missed his scheduled start April 23 against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, Wacha needed only 11 days on the IL.
“Something he’s had in the past,” manager Mike Shildt said. “I definitely think this is something that we will put behind us once he takes his next start.”
Wacha was 1-0 with a 4.64 ERA in four starts when he was injured.
❚ RHP Carlos Martinez, out all season because of a strained rotator cuff, could begin a rehab assignment by the weekend. The Cardinals plan to use him in relief to save wear and tear on the shoulder.
NL WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks traded for 3B Eduardo Escobar last season after IF Jake Lamb’s season was ended by a shoulder injury. The move is paying dividends again this season — with Lamb sidelined by a quad strain this time, Escobar has been on a tear, hitting .424 with four home runs and nine RBI in eight games through April 28.
Escobar did most of his damage against the Pittsburgh Pirates, recording three consecutive three-hit games April 22-24 and going 9-for-15 in the fourgame series.
With Escobar and 1B Christian Walker hitting well, manager Torey Lovullo will be forced to make some decisions in May if Lamb returns, as expected.
❚ RHP Zack Godley had another rough outing, lasting only 22⁄3 innings and allowing five runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on April 27. That raised his ERA to 7.58 in six starts.
Colorado Rockies
When the Rockies won 10 of 12 to approach the .500 mark, 3B Nolan Arenado, SS Trevor Story and RF Charlie Blackmon led the power surge but under-the-radar LF Raimel Tapia also was solid, particularly defensively.
Colorado welcomed the return of 1B Daniel Murphy, who hit his first two homers of the season on consecutive days, adding more pop to a lineup that was starting to find its way. Murphy hadn’t played since March 30 because of a fractured left index finger.
❚ The Rockies can make up more ground in the division in a nine-game homestand, all against NL West rivals, that starts this weekend with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Los Angeles Dodgers
LHP Clayton Kershaw hasn’t shown any lingering issues with the shoulder problems that sidelined him for the season’s first month. He had three straight solid outings and earned his first win April 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu returning from a groin strain and LHP Rich Hill (strained medial collateral ligament in left knee) making his season debut this weekend, the Dodgers rotation was healthy for the first time this season.
❚ The Dodgers’ streak of home runs at home ended at 33 consecutive games, a major league record. They went deep in 24 of their first 30 games.
San Diego Padres
The long ball has helped the Padres stay in the division race. Although they ranked among the majors’ worst in runs, average, hits and RBI, they were among the top five in home runs in the National League and 11th in the majors through 28 games.
The Padres’ 40 homers during that stretch set a franchise mark, but solo shots accounted for 24 of those.
SS Fernando Tatis Jr. and OF Franmil Reyes had a clubhigh six homers apiece.
❚ The Padres had eight goahead RBI in the seventh inning or later through 26 games, which ranked second in the NL behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants’ bullpen ranked first in the major leagues in ERA (2.79) and home runs allowed (seven) through April 28.
LHP Will Smith, RHP Nate Vincent and RHP Trevor Gott were key contributors; none of the three had allowed a home run until Vincent gave one up April 28. RHP Reyes Moronta, who possesses some of the bullpen’s best stuff, had struck out 13 and walked two in his last 71⁄3 innings entering the week.
RHP Mark Melancon hadn’t allowed a run all season before the streak ended April 26 against the New York Yankees.
❚ C Buster Posey homered for the first time this season, but his sacrifice fly April 26 against the Yankees carried more significance. It allowed the Giants to snap a 25-game streak of failing to score in the first inning and avoid the major league mark of 28 straight, set by the 1948 Chicago White Sox.