Category: MLB

CHICAGO — Noah Syndergaard will attempt to make a comeback with the Chicago White Sox, who have signed the veteran right-hander to a minor league deal.

Syndergaard has reported to the team’s spring complex in Glendale, Arizona, the White Sox confirmed.

The 32-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2023, when he was cut by Cleveland. He went 2-6 with a 6.50 ERA in 18 combined starts for the Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers that year.

Nicknamed “Thor” for his long blond hair and 6-foot-6 frame, Syndergaard debuted for the New York Mets in 2015 and won a World Series start that season. He was an All-Star in 2016, but injuries have sidetracked his career.

Syndergaard is 59-47 with a 3.71 ERA in eight major league seasons.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Alex Cora is 0 for 2 in arguing obstruction calls with umpire Alan Porter after the Boston Red Sox manager was ejected in the fifth inning of a 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the second straight game in which Cora was tossed.

Boston was trailing 5-4 when Jarren Duran doubled to lead off the fifth. Abraham Toro grounded to shortstop, but Duran hesitated before breaking for third and was tagged out in a rundown by Angels second baseman Christian Moore.

Moore then spun and threw to second base, where Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo was covering, to nail Toro trying to advance. Cora argued that Rengifo blocked the bag with his knee and was ejected after a long argument with Porter, who made the out call.

Porter ejected Cora for arguing a similar play in a game against Minnesota last Sept. 22 after Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta threw to second baseman Vaughn Grissom in an attempt to pick off Byron Buxton.

Buxton was safe, but the Twins argued that Grissom blocked Buxton’s path to the bag with his knee. The umpires ultimately agreed, and Buxton was awarded third base.

“Our point of view was that he was blocking the bag,” Cora said, referring to the most recent play. “I guess the rule is if he’s going to be out easy, they can do that. But we had a similar situation last year with the same (umpiring) crew … and Alan reversed the call.

“That was the whole point
I was trying to make — it happened six months ago, the same situation, and it was reversed. Maybe he’s right, you know, if he was going to be safe, but I wanted to make sure.”

Major League Baseball Rule 6.00(h) awards the base to the runner when the fielder is ruled to have impeded the runner’s progress while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball.

Porter, however, told a pool reporter there was an extenuating circumstance — mainly, that Moore’s throw arrived well before Toro, who was out by several feet, essentially making an obstruction call moot.

“Did the fielder obstruct, or was the runner just out?” Porter said. “We felt that the runner, no matter what the fielder had done in that situation, was out. He was out by a lot. And that’s part of also not calling the obstruction.

“And the other side of it is that it’s a very quick developing play there. So we’re able to give them a little bit of leeway when they don’t have time to set up because it was the rundown, and (Rengifo) is running back (toward second base).”

Cora wasn’t around to see the Angels score four runs in the eighth to snap a 5-all tie, but he saw enough of Walker Buehler’s shaky start to acknowledge the veteran right-hander might be losing his grip on a rotation spot.

Handed a 3-0 lead before he took the mound, Buehler walked four and hit two batters during a five-run first inning in which he threw 39 pitches. He finished with a career-high seven walks in four innings.

The Red Sox rallied to tie the score in the sixth, taking Buehler off the hook for a loss, but he is 5-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 13 starts. In his previous outing, he gave up eight runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings in a loss at Seattle.

“You can’t walk seven guys in a major league baseball game and expect to be successful,” Buehler said. “I think we keep trying different things and looking at different stuff, this (pitch) mix or that mix, but at the end of the day, if you don’t execute and throw strikes, you really don’t have a chance.

“I feel like a broken record. It’s embarrassing. It’s not who I want to be as a baseball player, obviously. I’d rather get whacked around than do that.”

Buehler struggled in his return from a second Tommy John surgery last season, going 1-6 with a 5.95 ERA in 16 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he recovered in October to play an integral part in the team’s run to a World Series title. He even came out of the bullpen to get the final three outs of the series-clinching win over the New York Yankees.

Asked if he was sure Buehler is healthy, Cora said: “One hundred percent.” When Buehler was asked if he’s pitching through anything right now, he said, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Buehler recovered from his brutal first inning to blank the Angels on one hit over his final three frames, perhaps earning a longer leash in the team’s rotation.

“The second, third and fourth innings were really good,” Cora said. “The velocity was up and the movement on his pitches were great. There’s a few things mechanically that he feels he needs to do better, but he’ll be ready for the next one.”

Buehler was a postseason star for the Dodgers as they won three National League pennants and a World Series crown from 2017-20. But is he worried about his spot in the Boston rotation?

“Yeah, I think you have to be,” Buehler said. “At some point, there’s 26 guys that are going to help this team hopefully make the playoffs and if you’re not one of them, I don’t really think it matters what you’ve done in years past.

“At some point, I’ve got to put some results out there for myself, but also for this organization. … It just sucks, man. I want to contribute to this team so badly. I’ve enjoyed playing here so much outside of my own performance, so it’s just really frustrating.”

CHICAGO — Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll has a chip fracture in his left wrist and his timeline for a return is unknown, manager Torey Lovullo said.

Lovullo told reporters after a 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox that Carroll would “continue to get some opinions just to find out what that official diagnosis means and what the time frame will be.”

Carroll hasn’t played since a pitch hit him in the left hand in Toronto. X-rays at the time showed no fracture.

“That’s a little bit confusing to all of us,” Lovullo said of the chip fracture. “It’s on the back of his hand. The impact of the ball hit the side of his hand. Just goes to show you how hard these guys are throwing today. Definitely that fracture in there.”

Carroll is batting .255 with 20 homers and 44 RBIs this season. He was the NL rookie of the year and an All-Star in 2023.

The Diamondbacks saw infielders Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor leave with injuries. Suárez left after he was hit on the right hand in the first inning on a pitch from Shane Smith. The team announced he had a right-hand contusion and X-rays were negative.

Naylor appeared to injure his shoulder on a swing in the second inning and left in the fourth after grounding out. He is day-to-day with right shoulder discomfort.

MINNEAPOLIS — Cal Raleigh picked up right where he left off last week.

Raleigh hit his major league-leading 32nd home run in the ninth inning of the Seattle Mariners’ 11-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Raleigh was chosen AL player of the week after he hit .417 with five homers and 12 RBIs in six games. Much of that came in the Mariners’ series with the Cubs, when Raleigh hit four home runs as the Mariners took two of three at Wrigley Field.

His latest home run came off left-handed reliever Joey Wentz, a two-run shot to left field off a high changeup that Wentz left over the middle of the plate. It was Raleigh’s fourth straight game with a home run.

“He’s just in a really good spot,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “I think he feels comfortable, clearly, and he’s getting good pitches. And when he gets them, he doesn’t miss them.”

In his last 30 games, Raleigh is hitting .331 (39 for 118) with 17 home runs and 36 RBIs. For the season, he’s hitting .278 with 68 RBIs and a 1.048 OPS.

The 28-year-old catcher, who signed a six-year, $105 million contract with Seattle this spring, needs three more homers to match Ken Griffey Jr. for the most before the All-Star break in Mariners history.

“He’s hit a lot of home runs, but he’s found a lot of barrels, and when you’re hitting .270 with that kind of power, you’re putting up a lot of good at-bats,” Wilson said. “He’s hitting the ball hard. He’s hitting the ball on the line, and then occasionally he’s getting ... underneath it a little bit more and driving it out of the ballpark.”

Mariners starter Bryan Woo struck out nine in six innings to earn the win. He’s pitched at least six innings in each of his 15 starts this year and sports a 3.12 ERA. But even Woo shook his head when asked how he’d pitch to Raleigh right now.

“I’d put up four fingers and let him take first base,” said Woo. “Yeah, I’m not pitching to him.”

CINCINNATI — Growing up, Chase Burns dreamed of playing for the New York Yankees.

He’s about to make his major league debut against them.

The 22-year-old Burns will take the mound for the Cincinnati Reds less than a year after being the second overall pick in the 2024 amateur draft.

“I wanted to be like Derek Jeter and play shortstop. I’m excited to have a Reds uniform, though,” Burns said before Cincinnati opened a three-game series against the Yankees.

The right-hander went 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts with Class-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville before Reds brass declared him big league ready. He was elevated to the taxi squad and will be added to the active roster.

“I talked about it a lot. I wanted to move up quick and make an impact, but when it happens it’s surreal. Just the other day it felt like I was in Dayton and making my first start,” Burns said.

Burns will be the fifth first-round selection from last year’s draft to reach the majors, joining Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, Angels second baseman Christian Moore and Astros outfielder Cam Smith, who was selected by the Cubs before going to Houston in the Kyle Tucker trade last December. Burns and Kurtz both attended Wake Forest.

Burns’ strength is his fastball, which is averaging 97 mph and regularly hits triple digits. He also has an above-average slider as a secondary pitch and has improved his changeup.

He led full-season minor league pitchers with a 0.77 WHIP, ranked fifth in ERA, was sixth with 89 strikeouts and tied for sixth with an opponents’ batting average of .167.

“He’s electric on the mound. He throws hard and his off-speed stuff is great,” Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott said. “He comes in with the right makeup and mentality. With all of those things combined, he’ll be ready.”

Making a big league debut creates its own special kind of stress. Doing it against one of the top lineups in the majors takes that to another level.

The third hitter Burns will likely face is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who hit his 28th home run during the first inning in the first game of the series.

Burns, though, is trying to remain level-headed.

“I know he’s there. Just enjoy the moment,” Burns said. “There’s going to be pressure in anything you do in life. That’s what my dad instilled in me. And, of course, being the No. 2 overall pick, you’re going to have a lot of pressure. At the end of the day, you just have to have fun.”

According to baseball-reference.com, Burns will be the 58th starting pitcher since 1961 to make his major league debut against the Yankees. Included on that list are Luis Tiant, Blake Snell, Jacob deGrom, David Wells and Jake Peavy.

Another person who isn’t concerned about Burns’ debut coming against the Yankees is his manager.

“I don’t think you give a (darn) about the mystique. If we did that, we probably made a mistake,” Terry Francona said. “We don’t make decisions because of that. That’s maybe for social media, not for what we’re doing.

“You can’t replicate your first game in the major leagues. It might be the most exciting day in your life, and don’t back away from that. But whatever happens tomorrow is not going to define his career. You know, if he throws seven shutout innings, everybody is going to put him in the Hall of Fame. If he gives up four runs in three innings, they will want to send him down. I told him, just be who you are and let’s see if they can hit you.”

The Reds (41-38) opened the series with a 6-1 win having won 11 of 16 to get within two games of the final NL wild-card spot.

Cincinnati is 12-8 in June, tied for the third-best record in the NL.

Burns’ promotion and high-priced infielder Jeimer Candelario being designated for assignment indicate the Reds think they can make a run at a postseason spot in Francona’s first year as manager.

“The front office and ownership could have stalled out Burns, but he’s an extremely talented player that everyone can see can help us win now. It reinforces and shows they believe in us as well, which is pretty cool,” said outfielder Gavin Lux, who homered in the win. “Guys are pulling for each other and we’re starting to gain some momentum.”

CINCINNATI — Jeimer Candelario — the Reds’ highest-priced signing of the past six seasons — has seen his tenure in Cincinnati end.

The Reds designated the oft-injured infielder for assignment before their game against the New York Yankees.

Candelario signed a three-year, $45 million contract in December 2023. He is owed nearly $23 million, including $7,983,871 for the remainder of this season, $12 million for next season and a $3 million buyout for 2027.

“It was hard to get a hold of him. And (general manager) Nick (Krall) finally talked to him and said it was, as you can imagine, (difficult),” manager Terry Francona said. “I have tried to reach out to him, and he understandably, it was just going to voicemail, and I get it. But again, I will say, it’s tough. I know that’s not an easy decision, but we think it can help make us better.”

The 31-year old Candelario was batting .113 (9 of 80) in 22 games this season. He had been sidelined since late April due to a lumbar spine strain. He was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville before returning to Cincinnati.

Candelario played 131 games for Cincinnati and batted .207.

The Reds, who have won 11 of their last 16, have been encouraged by the play of Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third base and Spencer Steer at first.

NEW YORK — Rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña was sent to the minors by the slumping New York Mets amid several roster moves.

New York also signed left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady to a one-year deal and selected the contract of outfielder Travis Jankowski from Triple-A Syracuse. Both were available for the opener of a four-game series against Atlanta.

Acuña, the younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., was optioned to Syracuse along with right-handed reliever Tyler Zuber following a 7-1 loss at Philadelphia.

Before that game, the Mets demoted another touted youngster to Syracuse: catcher Francisco Alvarez.

New York has lost nine of 10, falling 1.5 games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East.

Acuña, acquired from Texas in 2023 for three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, has scuffled lately at the plate after hitting .308 with six steals to earn NL rookie of the month honors for March/April. The 23-year-old has slumped to a .241 batting average and largely been relegated to pinch running and defensive-replacement duties. He is expected to receive regular playing time at Syracuse.

In other news, ace pitcher Kodai Senga, speaking through a translator, told reporters his injured right hamstring feels “great” and he hopes to throw off a mound soon. Senga, injured covering first base June 12 against Washington, believes a rehab assignment is “on the horizon.”

“The good thing is that he kept throwing, even right after the injury, so he was able to keep the arm going,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I was told that he was going to play catch off the mound. Not necessarily a bullpen, but he’s already getting on the mound and letting the ball go with some type of intensity. That’s a really good sign.”

After being limited to one start during the 2024 regular season because of shoulder and calf injuries, Senga was brilliant in his first 13 starts this year, going 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA.

“I feel great and I am recovering really well,” he said. “I want to take it day by day. Maybe some days I can push it a little bit further, while some days I need to take it a step back and take it easy. So those are the types of conversations I’m having every day and those are very helpful.”

Jankowski signed a minor league contract with New York on June 10. He is playing on his third major league team in 2025, after spending time with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. He received a spring training invite from the Chicago Cubs but was released on March 12.

Jankowski appeared in 43 games for the Mets in 2022. He played college ball at Stony Brook University, located on Long Island less than 40 miles from Citi Field.

Lovelady had been pitching at Triple-A St. Paul in the Minnesota Twins organization before getting released. The 29-year-old reliever had a 1.31 ERA in 19 outings.

Lovelady made two appearances for Toronto in March and also has pitched for the Royals, Rays, Athletics and Cubs during a six-year career. He is 5-13 with a 5.26 ERA and three saves in 110 games, holding left-handed hitters to a .232 batting average.

“Lefty, kind of the low slot, the sinker, the slider, and now he’s got a sweeper, too,” Mendoza said. “He’s just another weapon for the bullpen that we can use to mix and match.”

Right-hander Frankie Montas is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to make his Mets debut. Montas, signed to a two-year, $34 million contract in December, has been sidelined since spring training with a right lat strain.

“He’s a guy, when we signed him in the offseason, that was going to be a big part of this rotation,” Mendoza said. “I’ve seen him pitch for a lot of years at this level and have success. ... The expectation is to go out there, compete and give us a chance to win a baseball game every time he takes the ball, starting tomorrow.”

In another roster move, outfielder Jose Siri (left tibia fracture) was transferred to the 60-day IL.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitchers Brandon Woodruff and Nestor Cortes finally are getting closer to returning after lengthy recoveries from their respective injuries.

Woodruff and Cortes both pitched in simulated games. Woodruff, who hasn’t pitched in a major league game since September 2023, threw 60 pitches. Cortes, who made just two starts this year before going on the injured list in early April, threw 22-23 pitches in the simulated game and about 25-30 more in a bullpen session.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the staff would work together to determine the next steps for Woodruff, who is hopeful he might need only one more rehabilitation outing before making his long-awaited return from postseason shoulder surgery in 2023.

“I’ve always been a guy, when I’m ready, I’m ready,” Woodruff said. “I kind of know that. I’m not saying that’s going to lead to results, but I know that I’m ready to go pitch and compete. I think I’m to that point now.”

Cortes says he’s aiming to start a rehabilitation appearance in early July before rejoining the Brewers just after the All-Star break as the 30-year-old left-hander recovers from a flexor strain in his throwing elbow.

“That’s when we believe is the safest — and I guess the safest and quickest way to get back — combination of both,” Cortes said.

Woodruff, 32, already has been on two separate rehabilitation stints this year.

The two-time All-Star right-hander left the first one with tendinitis in his right ankle. He was pitching for Triple-A Nashville again on June 3 when a 108-mph line drive struck him in the right elbow, leaving a bruise that delayed his return.

“It’s been the hardest thing,” Woodruff said. “If you don’t stay positive with it, it makes coming to the field miserable, to be honest. When the team’s on the road and I’m here, me and Nestor are here by ourselves, it’s a pretty lonely place.”

Woodruff said his family has helped him stay positive. That’s also worked for Cortes.

Woodruff and his wife, Jonie, have a daughter named Kyler who turns 5 in August and a son named Bowen who was born last July. Cortes’ wife, Alondra, gave birth to Nestor Cortes III in April.

“That’s been the biggest help for me,” Woodruff said. “I was thinking about it last night. Getting to feed my little boy a bottle at night before he goes to bed, you don’t get that when the team’s on the road. All these experiences, and getting to see him about to start walking, getting to see that day to day, family’s been the biggest thing for sure. That’s filled the time up until the game starts and I’m watching the games. Having two kids has definitely kept me busy.”

While Woodruff and Cortes move closer to a return, the Brewers await word on the severity of a minor league prospect’s injury.

Third baseman Brock Wilken, the 18th overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2023 draft, hurt his knee during Double-A Biloxi’s celebration of its Southern League South Division first-half title. Murphy said Wilken had a dislocated patellar tendon and was awaiting a second opinion regarding the injury.

Wilken, 23, was hitting .230 with a .392 on-base percentage, 18 homers, 41 RBIs and 57 walks in 65 games with Biloxi.

ST. LOUIS — The Chicago Cubs selected the contract of right-hander Michael Fulmer from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-hander Nate Pearson to Iowa ahead of a four-game series against the Cardinals.

Fulmer, 32, returns to the Cubs after going 3-5 with two saves and a 4.42 ERA in 58 appearances for Chicago in 2023.

Fulmer missed the 2024 season after undergoing UCL revision surgery on his right elbow on Oct. 18, 2023.

Fulmer, who was the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year with Detroit, had Tommy John surgery on March 27, 2019, and returned to the major leagues on July 27, 2020, just after the start of the pandemic-shortened season.

“It took me a few months to get stuff and velo back,” Fulmer said about his first Tommy John surgery. “Once I got all the game reps I needed, my stuff came back. So, I think we’re getting on that timeline now where I’m feeling good, body’s feeling great, no complaints, stuff’s starting to come back a little bit and I’m really just excited.”

Fulmer signed a minor league deal with Boston on Feb. 2, 2024, but did not play for the rest of the season. He allowed three runs on four hits in his lone appearance with Boston in April at Tampa Bay before the Red Sox designated him for assignment four days later.

Fulmer inked a minor league contract with the Cubs on April 22 and went 1-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 24 1/3 innings over 15 games with Iowa.

“You know he’s went through a lot, you know he’s sticking with it,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s a sign of what you’re made of, I think. It really is. I know moments like getting back to the big leagues are important, and they validate a lot of the hard work and a lot of the rehabs and a lot of the things like that. You’re happy for guys like Michael who get a shot again.”

Pearson was recalled from Iowa and allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in two innings on versus Seattle.

Chicago (46-31) enters play with a 3 1/2 game lead over Milwaukee and a 4 1/2 game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central Division.