It appears Chicago Cubs fans do not want to take Alex Cooper out to the ballgame after her performance in the seventh-inning stretch.
Cooper, the famed host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, attended the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field Sunday, where she sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
But her unique rendition and choreographed performance left many fans booing from the stands.
The Cubs had promoted the event as “Big Al’s Takeover.”
“Your Father, Alex Cooper, is taking over the Friendly Confines! Come on down to Wrigley Field Sunday, July 6, and take part in Big Al’s Takeover … You don’t want to miss Alex lead the crowd in ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ during the seventh-inning stretch,” the team wrote ahead of the game.
Video posted to social media shows Cooper starting out the song with an interesting vocal choice as two friends performed choreographed moves behind her.
The boos started shortly after the performance began, but Cooper didn’t appear fazed. She continued through the end of the song, closing with a grand finale as she belted a note from the top of her friend’s shoulders while laughing.
While the seventh-inning stretch has carried many unconventional performances before, it appeared Cubs fans weren’t into this rendition.
“This was so brutal,” one fan wrote on X.
“You know it’s bad when you get booed during the stretch. Most get booed for a bad rendition of the National Anthem, but this is pathetic,” another commented.
A Reddit user reported hearing the boos from their condo four blocks away from the field.
“As a Cards fan, W Cubs fans for booing that horrendous rendition,” another wrote on X.
Cooper did not post any footage of the performance to her own social media channels and has not yet commented on the boos.
The Cubs ultimately gave fans plenty to cheer about Sunday, however, as they shut out the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0.
Just as the Mets appeared close to getting one DH back to full health, another one appears to have sustained an injury.
Starling Marte's right knee "flared up again" during his last at-bat of Sunday's loss to the Yankees and he is undergoing testing to determine the severity of the injury, manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. The skipper added that this is the "same knee that he had issues with last year, spring training."
When asked about his level of concern, Mendoza exhaled and said, "I gotta wait."
"I was just talking to him and he was like, 'Obviously, I felt it,'" Mendoza said. "But I gotta wait and see what the doctor says, or the trainers."
SNY's Andy Martino reported that a source said the Mets don't expect to have anything on the injury Sunday night and might not have any information on Monday, either, as the testing gets done.
"It doesn't sound like a quick resolution with Marte, don't want to speculate beyond that. But that's the deal, there's gonna be some tests and we're not gonna know for a little while," Martino said.
With Monday's day off, the Mets have time. And Tuesday, which Martino indicated could be when the club knows more, could be when a move is made as they are primed to activate Jesse Winker from the IL.
Mendoza said earlier in the day that Winker, who then went on to hit a long home run in Sunday's game for Triple-A Syracuse, had a chance to be added to the 26-man roster for Tuesday's series opener in Baltimore against the Orioles.
Winker has missed around two months of action with a right oblique strain. He had eight extra-base hits (one home run) with 10 RBI in 78 plate appearances over 24 games with a .239/.321/.418 slash line for a .739 OPS (112 OPS+) before landing on the IL.
The injury to Marte appeared to happen when he took a 1-1 offering from Yankees closer Devin Williams for a ball. After Marte took the pitch above the zone, he grabbed at his left knee and called for time. As the Mets coaching staff and training staff came out, they looked at his right knee, which he began flexing. The veteran remained in the game, swung through a change-up and fouled one off, before grounding out to third.
Marte, who finished 3-for-5 on the day, was only able to jog out of the box and slowly made his way down to first in obvious discomfort and disappointment.
The 36-year-old was making just his fifth start in the outfield on the season and had a busy day out in left field, in addition to running the bases (including grabbing a steal) after three of his five trips to the plate. The veteran made 80 starts in the outfield last season and 82 in 2023.
Marte has 11 extra-base hits (four home runs) and 20 RBI in 58 games and is slashing .270/.353/.387 for a .740 OPS.
Fans and teammates cheer after Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw tosses his 3,000th career strikeout at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Clayton Kershaw was named to his 11th All-Star Game on Sunday by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who used his “Legend Pick” to select the Dodgers’ left-hander. Kershaw (4-0) is one of just 20 pitchers in baseball history to strike out 3,000 batters.
He’ll be joined on the N.L. team by right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who leads the Dodgers in wins (8), strikeouts (109), innings (96 2/3) and ERA (2.51). The Dodgers declined to make either Kershaw or Yamamoto available to the media after their selections.
First baseman Freddie Freeman, catcher Will Smith and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani were chosen as NL starters last week. The All-Star Game will be played July 15 in Atlanta.
The Dodgers’ injury-battered pitching staff could soon be getting healthier. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow threw a bullpen Sunday in preparation for what Roberts will be a return to the rotation during the Dodgers’ six-game roadtrip. Glasnow has been out sine April 28 with shoulder discomfort. He had a 4.50 ERA in five starts before going on the IL.
Left-hander Blake Snell and reliever Blake Treinen are both scheduled to make minor-league rehab assignments this week in advance for their return to the roster. Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, as been sidelined since April 2 with a shoulder injury, is expected to pitch for Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Treinen, who last pitched in mid-April, is expected to make a one-inning outing with Triple A Oklahoma City. He is recovering from a right forearm strain.
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan gave up one run during five innings against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
When the Dodgers left Los Angeles for their final road trip before the All-Star break last summer, they had a 55-36 record and a 7 1/2-game lead in the National League West.
When this year’s Dodgers land in Milwaukee on Sunday night to begin the last road trip before the All-Star break, their record will be a game better and their division lead about the same, pending the results of San Diego’s game Sunday night.
But if you take a good look under the hood, there are obvious — and worrying — differences between this year and last year.
Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim strikes out in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
In 2024, the Dodgers had one of the best records in baseball against teams with a winning record. After Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros, this year’s team is just a game over .500 — 20-19 — against teams over .500. Those are the only kind of teams the Dodgers will face in the playoffs.
And it’s not just that they lose, it’s how they lose that’s troubling.
In losing three in a row for the first time since mid-May, the Dodgers were outscored 29-6 by the Astros. The sweep was Houston’s first in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium since 2008, when the team played in the National League.
Manager Dave Roberts, however, pronounced himself unconcerned.
“I know we're a good team,” he said. “The point is to win as many games in the regular season as possible. I really don't care who we beat, I just want to win more games than anyone.
“So right now, or even going forward, I don't pay too much attention to that.”
Look a little deeper, though, and there are other concerns. The Dodgers’ injured list, already as crowded as a Beyoncé concert — it swelled to 12 players with Max Muncy’s addition Thursday — could get even larger this week depending on the health of outfielder Teoscar Hernández and utility player Tommy Edman.
Teoscar Hernández, who fouled a ball off his left foot Saturday, spent 13 days on the IL with a groin problem in May and has been troubled by that injury and a nagging hip-flexor issue that could be behind a slump that has seen him hit .188/.240/.321 over his last 30 games. Edman didn’t play Sunday after a ball off the small toe on his right foot over the weekend. Both players had MRI scans Sunday with Edman’s showing a fracture of the toe.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is called out by umpire Paul Clemons during the eighth inning of a loss to the Astros at Dodger Stadium Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Kiké Hernández has been battling a sore left elbow that affects his swing for about a month. He may have to be shut down to let it heal.
“There is talk about one of those guys potentially going on the IL,” Roberts said. “I don't see it being Tommy but we're still kind of trying to figure that out. And then who would we bring [up]?”
With those three unavailable, the only player Roberts had on the bench Sunday was catcher Will Smith. And with the rotation still missing four starters to injury, he gave the ball to right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who had thrown just four big-innings all season.
That left manager Dave Roberts with a short bench. And with the rotation still missing four starters to injury, he gave the ball to right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who had thrown just four big-league innings all season.
Sheehan went one better Sunday, yielding just a run on five hits over five innings. But his teammates did little against Houston starter Ryan Gusto (6-3), who gave up four hits — including a run-scoring double to Dalton Rushing — over a season-high six innings.
Will Klein came on in favor of Sheehan to start the sixth and after two quick outs, the Astros loaded the bases on a double, a hit batter and an infield single. Klein (1-1) then walked Zack Short on a 3-2 pitch to force in the go-ahead run.
The Astros padded their lead with back-to-back homers from Christian Walker and Yainer Díaz to start the seventh off reliever Tanner Scott.
Jose Altuve closed the scoring with another solo homer off Anthony Banda in the ninth.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo were fired by the Washington Nationals on Sunday amid their sixth consecutive losing season since winning the 2019 World Series.
The move came after the Nationals were swept by the Boston Red Sox. They are 37-53, and the only other National League club with a worse record is the Colorado Rockies.
Owner Mark Lerner announced the change, saying senior VP and assistant GM Mike DeBartolo would take over on an interim basis.
“Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington,” Lerner said. “While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”
The Yankees have been looking for that big play during this tough stretch.
Hoping to snap their season-high six-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, they were able to open an early advantage over the shorthanded makeshift Mets pitching staff in the Subway Series finale at Citi Field.
The Mets refused to go away, though, and suddenly had recaptured the momentum.
They were able to scratch across runs in back-to-back frames against Max Fried and Jonathan Loaisiga to make is a two run ballgame, then Francisco Lindor led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk.
Suddenly, the red hot Juan Soto stepped to the plate representing the tying run.
The star outfielder worked the count before lacing a 105 mph liner into shallow left which looked like a clean knock off the bat, however Cody Bellinger came racing in and made an incredible shoestring catch to rob him.
Bellinger then came up throwing and unleashed a perfect strike to first, doubling off Lindor.
The Mets challenged the play, but replay confirmed the call on the field.
“It was a hard hit ball, so it’s just trying to get the best read possible,” Bellinger said. “I saw it in the air and had a really good beat on it, so I was just glad I was able to make the play and when I looked up I saw Goldy with his glove high so I was trying to make a good throw.”
The Yankees’ bullpen was able to hold on from there, as Tim Hill and Devin Williams kept the Mets off the board over the last two frames to finally end the skid.
Carlos Mendoza called it the "play of the game."
Aaron Boone one-upped him and called it the Yanks' "play of the year, so far."
"That's one of those it's like that in-betweener, do you leave your feet, your best way is to go try and shoestring catch it there," Boone added. "He's able to get underneath it, but just that Cody Bellinger presence of mind thing that he has, we've seen it all year with him defensively, just a really special play."
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants ended up with a disappointing record during their two easiest weeks of the season, but they at least found a way to salvage the final few days and make sure they return home on the right track.
Willy Adames drove in three runs and Luis Matos had a back-breaking two-run double to lead the Giants to a 6-2 win and a series victory at Sutter Health Park. They won five of six against the Athletics this season, and left town back at seven games above .500.
The Giants took the final two games in Arizona and then two of three in Sacramento, finishing with a 5-5 record on their 10-game trip. They went 5-8 during a two-week stretch against teams below .500, and the road ahead gets much tougher. The first-place Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers arrive for the final homestand of the first half, but the Giants are at least playing cleaner baseball than they were a few days ago.
“I’m Back.”
The Giants weren’t thrilled about having to play a late Sunday game, leading to a bus ride back to San Francisco at the very end of a holiday weekend. But Adames might want to stay in Sacramento for a few more days. With two bases-loaded walks and a solo homer, Adames became the first Giants shortstop since the legendary Rich Aurilia to have back-to-back games with three or more RBI.
Adames took better swings for most of June, but the results still weren’t there. In July, he has fully turned a corner. He has reached base 14 times in six games with two homers and nine RBI. Adames’ OPS is up to a season-high .683.
Whatever Works
Hayden Birdsong sprayed his four-seamer all night and walked five. But he was, as they say, effectively wild.
Birdsong gave up just one run, repeatedly working his way out of self-inflicted jams. He threw 46 strikes and 44 balls, so in a lot of ways the outing fit right in with his previous ones, but he was able to get strikeouts when he needed them. Birdsong struck out six — including four straight at one point — and got out of the fifth with a double play after giving up a single and walk.
Birdsong has 23 walks in 42 1/3 innings as a starter this season. He has walked at least four in each of his past three starts.
Circle of Trust
Spencer Bivens has jumped past Ryan Walker on the bullpen’s depth chart and he continues to show that he’s ready for more responsibility. Bivens came on in the sixth with the Giants leading by four and had a quick inning, striking out one and getting a groundout and flyout.
The right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.09, and he has five strikeouts and just one hit allowed over his last three appearances. He was followed Sunday by All-Star Randy Rodriguez, who lowered his ERA to 0.69. Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval closed out the win.
Now, ace Max Fried and infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. have also been selected to represent the organization.
For Fried, it will mark a return to Atlanta, where he spent the first eight years of his career.
The southpaw has been spectacular during his first season with the Yankees, taking home the victory in 11 of his 19 outings and pitching to a 2.27 ERA.
With Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season, he's stepped in perfectly atop their banged-up rotation, and now logs his third career All-Star appearance.
"It's an honor," Fried said. "We have a lot of players on this team who are really deserving. Hopefully, over the next week or so, we can add a few more, but it's special and it's a really cool experience to go and be able to share that with teammates and family."
Chisholm has been forced to battle through some injuries in his first full season with the organization, but he's been extremely productive when healthy.
The 27-year-old infielder is hitting .245 with nine doubles, 10 stolen bases, 15 homers, 38 RBI, and a .841 OPS over 59 games.
The Yankees snapped a six-game skid and held on to beat the Mets, 6-4, avoiding the sweep on Sunday in the finale of 2025's Subway Series.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Chris Devenski did his job as the Mets opener and pitched a scoreless first inning, allowing just a one-out single to Trent Grisham before getting Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to fly out. The right-hander surprisingly came back out for the second inning and sent the Yanks down in order, including back-to-back strikeouts.
-- New Met Zach Pop made his team debut and came in for Devenski in the third inning, but it go as planned. He allowed a solo homer to Austin Wells on his second pitch as the Yankees took a 1-0 lead. Pop escaped the third without further damage and stayed in to pitch the fourth inning. The righty allowed a leadoff double to Stanton and found himself in a first-and-third situation after Cody Bellinger singled. Pop got Anthony Volpe to hit a grounder, but the Mets could only turn one as the run scored to push the Yanks' lead to 2-0. He allowed another single and was then replaced by Brandon Waddell with runners on the corners.
Wells hit another hard grounder that the Mets couldn't turn two on, making it a 3-0 game. Waddell got Oswald Peraza to fly out and end the inning. Waddell stayed in to pitch the fifth and things fell apart fast. Paul Goldschmidt doubled and then Judge launched a two-run homer as the Yanks went up 5-0.
-- Starling Marte dropped a surprise bunt to leadoff the bottom of the first inning and beat it out for a single. Yankees starter Max Fried got a bit upset during Francisco Lindor's at-bat, as he was called for a pitch clock violation with a 2-2 count and walked off the mound to argue with the home plate umpire, but no one was ejected. Marte stole second while Lindor struck out and then advanced to third on a wild pitch by Fried. The Mets failed to capitalize on the early scoring chance as Pete Alonso flied out.
-- Fried kept the Mets bats quiet for most of the day, but found himself in a tough spot in the fifth inning. Jeff McNeil and Hayden Senger hit back-to-back one-out singles and Marte collected his third hit of the day to load the bases. Lindor delivered with the fourth straight hit against Fried on a single up the middle, scoring two and cutting the Yankee lead to 5-2. Fried escaped by striking out Juan Soto on a slider in the dirt and getting Alonso to fly out to right field.
The left-hander's day ended after plunking Brandon Nimmo to leadoff the sixth, as he tossed 98 pitches (61 strikes) and allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
-- Ronny Mauricio pinch-hit for Mark Vientos with Nimmo on first base and came through with a single. It was then Brett Baty's turn to pinch hit for Tyrone Taylor and he loaded the bases with another single. McNeil hit a dibbler that was misplayed by Jonathan Loáisiga, allowing the run to score and keeping the bases juiced. Senger grounded into a double play, but another run scored to cut the Yankee lead to 5-4. Loáisiga escaped by getting Marte to line out with some help from a sliding Judge in right field.
-- The Yankees tacked on another in the top of the seventh on a Judge sacrifice fly, making it 6-4. Bellinger made the play of the day in the bottom half on a low catch in left field against Soto and was able to double-up Lindor retreating back to first base, helping Mark Leiter Jr. avoid potential trouble.
-- Carlos Mendoza was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the ninth inning. Home plate umpire John Bacon called two low pitches strikes against Luis Torrens, as both pitches were clearly outside the zone.
Game MVP: Aaron Judge
The slugger hit HR No. 33 on the season with a two-run blast and picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly. He's up to 74 RBI on the season.
Honorable mention: Bellinger, for his scooping catch and throw to shut down a Mets comeback.
Carlos Mendoza is usually pretty calm and collected -- but frustration has been brewing for the second-year Mets skipper throughout Sunday's Subway Series finale at Citi Field.
Finally, in the ninth inning, things reached the breaking point.
With Luis Torrens pinch-hitting against Yankees closer Devin Williams leading off the bottom of the ninth, home plate umpire John Bacon made an extremely questionable strike two call on a pitch out of the zone.
Mendoza gave Bacon an earful from the first-base dugout, but play went on.
Seconds later, Bacon punched out Torrens on a changeup even further out of the zone, and this time the skipper immediately came sprinting out of the dugout.
Mendoza quickly earned his second ejection in the last eight days, and this time he got his money's worth -- kicking some dirt on home plate and getting in Bacon's face before being separated.
"It was building up the whole game," Mendoza explained postgame. "In that situation, leading off the inning down two runs, you want to get guys on base and keep the line moving so hopefully [Juan] Soto and Pete [Alonso] get a chance here.
"You get two calls like that that don't go your way, it's just pretty frustrating."
And as things played out, the Mets ended up going down quietly against Williams, who got Starling Marte to ground out and then punched out Francisco Lindor on a 98 mph fastball to end the game.
Still, the club was able to secure the series victory and Subway Series split for the season.
Jesse Winker has been sidelined since the beginning of May, but he finally appears ready to roll.
The Mets' left-handed hitting slugger took the field in his potential final rehab appearance down in Syracuse on Sunday afternoon and he looked back in form.
It didn’t take Winker very long to make his mark, as he jumped on a first pitch sweeper from Worcester right-hander Cooper Criswell in the bottom of the first and crushed it 410 feet for a no-doubt two-run home run.
It was his first long ball with Triple-A, but the second on his rehab assignment.
He then worked the count full before drawing a walk to load the bases during his next at-bat, but he was a little too aggressive on the bases and was thrown out trying to advance to third on a Jared Young sacrifice fly.
Winker came up with a man on two innings later and he worked another walk, but after two more free passes forced in a run and loaded the bases, he was stranded as Jose Azocar struck out to end the inning.
The 31-year-old was finally retired in each of his final two plate appearances, flying out to center in the seventh and then the same leading off the bottom of the ninth.
Overall, he finished the day 1-for-3 with the two-run homer and a pair of walks.
Winker’s hitting just .143 through five games of his minor league rehab assignment, but he’s driven in seven runs and has a .904 OPS.
Carlos Mendoza said pregame that the Mets will see how he feels following the back-to-back contests, but there’s a chance he could rejoin the team as they kick off a series Tuesday in Baltimore.
Getting Winker back in the mix will be a huge boost for this offense -- prior to the injury, he was receiving the bulk of the DH at-bats against right-handed pitching.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed infielder Pavin Smith on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique and recalled infielder Tristan English from Triple-A Reno.
Arizona also placed right-hander Ryan Thompson on the 15-day injured list with a strained scapular, retroactive to Saturday, and recalled right-hander Bryce Jarvis from Reno before Sunday’s game against Kansas City.
Right-hander Tommy Henry was recalled to the big league roster and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow injury to make room for English on the 40-man roster.
Smith is hitting .261 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 79 games while primarily splitting time between first base and designated hitter.
NEW YORK — Mets ace Kodai Senga could rejoin the rotation next weekend in the final series before the All-Star break, a little over a month after straining his right hamstring.
Senga allowed four runs — three earned — and six hits in 3 2/3 innings during Saturday’s minor league injury rehabilitation start for Double-A Binghamton at Hartford. Senga struck out four, walked two and threw 44 of 68 pitches for strikes.
“Physically he feels fine,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday before the Mets concluded their three-game series against the Yankees. “So we’ll see how today, tomorrow, how they go and hopefully he’s making a start for us next time.”
Senga was injured covering first base on a grounder by CJ Abrams when he made a leaping catch on Pete Alonso’s throw June 12 against Washington.
Senga is 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts this season for the Mets, whose starters had a major league-best 2.78 ERA at the time of his injury. The Mets lost 14 of 17 after Senga’s injury, then won four straight with a patchwork rotation that included two openers and Justin Hagenman’s first big league start.
“He’s a big part of this team,” Mendoza said of Senga. “He’s a big part of the rotation. For us to be able to get him back this quickly (is big) because we thought when he went down, in my head I was more like after the All-Star break and then for him to be in play for us now before we go into the All-Star break is huge for us.”
Mendoza also said Sean Manaea may start Sunday in Kansas City. Manaea is slated to make his fifth rehab start and sixth overall appearance Tuesday.
Manaea has been sidelined since spring training with a strained right oblique and had a rehab outing pushed back because of elbow discomfort to a bone chip. The left-hander received a cortisone shot and threw 60 pitches in three innings Wednesday for Binghamton at Hartford.
The Mets have 13 pitchers on the injured list and entered Sunday with the fourth-best rotation ERA at 3.38.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays placed second baseman Andrés Giménez on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left ankle sprain.
Giménez left Toronto’s 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. He had tweaked his left ankle covering second base on a steal on Wednesday against the New York Yankees and did not play Thursday as Toronto completed a sweep of the four-game series. His move to the IL was retroactive to Saturday. Giménez is batting .218 with five homers and 23 RBI’s for the AL East-leading Blue Jays.
In other moves before Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, right-hander Ryan Burr was reinstated from the 60-day IL and outfielder Joey Loperfido was recalled from Triple-A. Also, right-hander Lazaro Estrada was optioned to Triple-A and outfielder Will Robertson was designated for assignment.
Burr had been sidelined with a right shoulder issue and did rehab with Triple-A Buffalo, where he struck out 17 in 12 1/3 innings over 11 games and went 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA.
Loperfido was in the lineup Sunday, batting eighth and playing right field. This season in Triple-A, the 26-year-old is batting .278 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs.
Estrada made his big league debut against the Angels on Saturday, striking out four in four innings of relief.
Robertson made his MLB debut last month and saw action in three games. He had one hit and one RBI with Toronto.
CLEVELAND — Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot Sunday before Cleveland faced the Detroit Tigers.
The move is retroactive to Saturday. Infielder Will Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Columbus
Thomas also missed 11 games in late May and early June because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Manager Stephen Vogt said before the game that next week’s All-Star break should hopefully also give Thomas plenty of time to rest up for the second half of the season.
“With eight days until the break, we’re not in a position to play short right now and wait day to day. And we want to give this the 13-14 days that we have from now until we come out of the end of the break to really try and knock it out.”
Thomas hit a grand slam in last year’s fifth and deciding game of the American League Division Series against Detroit, but his tenure in Cleveland has been mostly frustrating. Since being acquired at the trade deadline last year from Washington, Thomas has a .189 batting average in 92 games.
This season, Thomas is batting .160 and .197 (13 for 66) since coming off the injured list on June 9.
Thomas also missed five weeks because of a right wrist bone bruise after getting hit by a pitch during the April 8 home opener against the Chicago White Sox.
“It’s been a frustrating year for Lane. We feel it with him. It’s not at all what we want for him. Not at all what he wants,” Vogt said. “So hopefully with this break we’re able to really get this thing under control so that we can get the best version of Lane.”
