Prior to the middle game of the Yankees' three-game set against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone delivered injury updates on a few players...

The Yankees' bullpen has experienced a number of injuries this season, including to one of their high-leverage arms.

Fernando Cruz was placed on the IL back in late June due to an oblique strain and the Yankees skipper gave an update on his status. Speaking with the media, including the Daily News' Gary Phillips, Boone revealed that Cruz had started his throwing program over the weekend as expected.

Boone also said that the oblique hasn't fully healed, so it's a slower program. It was once thought that Cruz could return to the Yankees in August, but the right-hander's timeline is unclear at this point.

Across 32 appearances, Cruz has been one of the Yankees' best relievers. He's pitched to a 3.00 ERA, recorded two saves and struck out 54 batters in 33.0 innings.

As for Yerry De Los Santos, Boone said the right-hander needs "a couple" more rehab games but should be "in play here very soon."

De Los Santos was placed on the IL in mid-June with elbow discomfort and just completed his first rehab appearance this week. Back on July 19, De Los Santos tossed one inning, allowing two runs on three hits (one home run) while striking out two batters.

In 14 appearances in the majors this year, the 27-year-old has pitched to a 1.80 ERA and struck out 13 batters across 20.0 innings.

Ryan Yarbrough not throwing from mound yet

Boone said the reliever-turned-starter has not begun mound work yet, but he is throwing.

Yarbrough was placed on the IL with an oblique strain back in June, which came at a bad time for the Yankees who have had a number of injuries to the rotation this season. That includes Luis Gil starting the season on the IL -- and has yet to hit a major league mound yet -- Gerrit Cole missing the season after elbow surgery and Clarke Schmidt starting on the IL and suffering his own elbow injury that took him out for the rest of the year.

Before the IL, Yarbrough pitched in 16 games (eight starts), where he pitched to a 3.90 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

As the Yankees wait for Gil to return, Yarbrough could give the rotation a boost. Or, if the Yankees make a trade deadline deal for a starter, he can give the bullpen a long man for the rest of the season and postseason.

20 seasons.

13 teams.

386 games.

248 starts.

And Rich Hill isn't finished yet.

All of those numbers are going to increase by one Tuesday night when the 45-year-old pitcher takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals when they play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro confirmed Monday that Hill would be called up from triple-A Omaha, where he has gone 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA over nine starts and has struck out 10, nine and eight batters in individual games this season.

Read more:Hernández: 'Still a threat.' Why Shohei Ohtani needs to remain a two-player for Dodgers

“He's done well,” Quatraro told reporters of Hill, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox last year before signing a minor league deal with the Royals during the offseason. “He’s had a couple of ups and downs, performance-wise. But when he's been locating, he’s been really good."

At 45 years and 133 days, Hill will be the oldest pitcher to start an MLB game since the Colorado Rockies' Jamie Moyer (49 years, 191 days) on May 27, 2012.

Hill also will tie Edwin Jackson's record of having played for 14 MLB teams and will do so against the team for which he made his major league debut — and in the very same park — on June 16, 2005.

Between his time with the Cubs and his ensuing start with the Royals, Hill also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Red Sox (in four separate stints), Cleveland Indians, Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.

While his stint in Anaheim was a mere blip at just two games during the 2014 season, Hill made much more of an impact during his four seasons with the Dodgers, from 2016 to 2019.

Read more:Column: Dodgers’ Rich Hill ready to start putting controversial World Series exit behind him

During that span, Hill went 30-16 with 427 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.16 in the regular season. He appeared in 12 postseason games (including three during two World Series runs), going 1-2 with 62 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.70.

"I feel great," Hill said, going into his final season with the Dodgers and his 15th overall. “I don’t really know where there is a point of enough is enough. I feel like I can keep going for a while.”

More than six years later, Hill is still keeping it going.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo look back at the week that was coming off of the All-Star break.

Leading off, Connor and Joe talk about the Mets' offense playing small ball, Francisco Alvarez's return to the big-league club, and Brett Baty's contributions to the lineup. Then, the guys discuss the trade deadline and how president of baseball operations David Stearns plans to approach things for the Mets.

Connor and Joe also share their reaction to David Wright's number retirement and go Down on the Farm to discuss potential position player call-ups. They wrap the show with their scoreboard predictions and some Mailbag questions answered about Seth Lugo and potential prospects in centerfield.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sanchez stays brilliant and Phillies win another strange game vs. Red Sox  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cristopher Sanchez stayed at the top of his game and continued to perform like one of the best pitchers in baseball Tuesday night.

Sanchez starred in a 4-1 Phillies win over the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. He threw the third complete game of his career and allowed just four hits and one run. Sanchez’s 12 strikeouts tied his career high. 

The 58-43 Phillies will go for a three-game series sweep on Wednesday evening. Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 4.29 ERA) is set to face Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.59 ERA). 

Sanchez is now 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA this season. He’s been brilliant the last two months. The 29-year-old lefty hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since May 24. He’s conceded a single run in each of his last six starts.

The Phillies grabbed a first-inning lead with singles by Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Catcher’s interference then got thrown into a strange spotlight again one night after a very unusual 10th-inning walk-off.

The Phils were aggressive on the base paths vs. Red Sox starter Richard Fitts in the first and Harper took that to the extreme, sprinting home on an 0-1 pitch to Brandon Marsh. Home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled interference on Boston backstop Carlos Narvaez for stepping into the batter’s box. Following extended discussion among the umpires, the call stood. A bemused Marsh confirmed he should stay at first base. 

Max Kepler lifted a solo shot 407 feet to right-center field to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Schwarber put the Phils up 4-0 with two outs by belting a 3-1 slider into the bullpen. 

Sanchez retired the first nine Red Sox in order on five groundouts and four strikeouts. He had great command and his work looked routine. 

Boston’s first baserunner was Rob Refsnyder, who trotted around the diamond to open the fourth inning. Refsnyder’s homer was the first against Sanchez since June 3. 

Sanchez was soon back on track. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and every at-bat finished with a whiff at his changeup. For the night, Boston hitters swung at 22 Sanchez changeups and only made contact eight times. 

The Phillies couldn’t manage any runs after the second inning. That was perfectly fine with Sanchez on the hill.

Sanchez fell behind Refsnyder 3-0 with a runner on second base and two outs in the eighth inning. He was unbothered, eventually striking Refsnyder out on a changeup. Sanchez pounded his glove and shouted in celebration as he walked off the mound.

The home fans roared when they saw Sanchez coming out for the ninth inning. He wrapped up the night with an electric 1-2-3 inning, striking out Romy Gonzalez on his 106th pitch.

Injury updates 

Aaron Nola threw a pregame bullpen session, which Phillies manager Rob Thomson said “went really well.” 

Nola (right rib stress fracture) last pitched for the Phillies on May 14. 

“Forty-two pitches. Threw all his pitches,” Thomson said. “Velocity was very good in the bullpen. So we’ll take him to New York and he’ll do another BP on Friday, an extended BP. It’ll be two-plus innings … and then he’ll definitely do a rehab start.”

In other injury news, the Phillies placed Joe Ross on the 15-day injury list with back spasms and recalled Alan Rangel from Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Wood signs rookie deal 

Phillies first-round draft pick Gage Wood inked his first MLB contract Wednesday. 

The 21-year-old righty out of Arkansas also soaked in Citizens Bank Park with his family.

“It’s awesome,” Wood told reporters pregame. “Got to come up here to Philly for the first time. Worked my whole life for this, so this is a blessing and I’m ready to get going.”

Sanchez stays brilliant and Phillies win another strange game vs. Red Sox  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cristopher Sanchez stayed at the top of his game and continued to perform like one of the best pitchers in baseball Tuesday night.

Sanchez starred in a 4-1 Phillies win over the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. He threw the third complete game of his career and allowed just four hits and one run. Sanchez’s 12 strikeouts tied his career high and he walked no one.

The 58-43 Phillies will go for a three-game series sweep on Wednesday evening. Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 4.29 ERA) is set to face Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.59 ERA). 

Sanchez is now 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA this season. He’s been brilliant the last two months. The 29-year-old lefty hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since May 24. He’s conceded a single run in each of his last six starts.

The Phillies grabbed a first-inning lead with singles by Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Catcher’s interference then got thrown into a strange spotlight again one night after a very unusual 10th-inning walk-off.

The Phils were aggressive on the base paths vs. Red Sox starter Richard Fitts in the first and Harper took that to the extreme, sprinting home on an 0-1 pitch to Brandon Marsh. Home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled interference on Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez for stepping into the batter’s box. Following extended discussion among the umpires, the call stood. A bemused Marsh confirmed he should stay at first base. 

Max Kepler lifted a solo shot 407 feet to right-center field to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Schwarber put the Phils up 4-0 with two outs by belting a 3-1 slider into the bullpen. 

Sanchez retired the first nine Red Sox in order on five groundouts and four strikeouts. He had great command and his work looked routine. 

Boston’s first baserunner was Rob Refsnyder, who trotted around the diamond to open the fourth inning. Refsnyder’s homer was the first against Sanchez since June 3. 

Sanchez was soon back on track. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and every at-bat finished with a whiff at his changeup. For the night, Boston hitters swung at 22 Sanchez changeups and only made contact eight times. 

The Phillies couldn’t manage any runs after the second inning. That was perfectly fine with Sanchez on the hill.

Sanchez fell behind Refsnyder 3-0 with a runner on second base and two outs in the eighth inning. He was unbothered, eventually striking Refsnyder out on a changeup. Sanchez pounded his glove and shouted in celebration as he walked off the mound.

The home fans roared when they saw Sanchez coming out for the ninth inning. Sanchez said he had “goosebumps.”

He wrapped up the night with an electric 1-2-3 inning, striking out Romy Gonzalez on his 106th pitch.

“He’s a determined guy,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He wants to get it done, he wants to finish it. He doesn’t want to come out. He doesn’t like coming out in the middle of an inning. … If he’s in trouble, he wants to get himself out of trouble. He’s really grown up the last couple of years.”

Injury updates 

Aaron Nola threw a pregame bullpen session, which Thomson said “went really well.” 

Nola (right rib stress fracture) last pitched for the Phillies on May 14. 

“Forty-two pitches. Threw all his pitches,” Thomson said. “Velocity was very good in the bullpen. So we’ll take him to New York and he’ll do another BP on Friday, an extended BP. It’ll be two-plus innings … and then he’ll definitely do a rehab start.”

In other injury news, the Phillies placed Joe Ross on the 15-day injury list with back spasms and recalled Alan Rangel from Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Thomson called the IL stint “just a precaution” and said he’s “positive” Ross will return after 15 days. 

Wood signs rookie deal 

Phillies first-round draft pick Gage Wood inked his first MLB contract Wednesday. 

The 21-year-old righty out of Arkansas also soaked in Citizens Bank Park with his family.

“It’s awesome,” Wood told reporters pregame. “Got to come up here to Philly for the first time. Worked my whole life for this, so this is a blessing and I’m ready to get going.”

Rafael Devers' first-base debut leads to success at plate as Giants drub Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Entering Tuesday on a six-game losing streak, the Giants desperately needed to switch something up.

Having your star slugger play a new position for the first time in his MLB career might not be the obvious move to help turn things around, but that’s exactly what San Francisco manager Bob Melvin did.

And the early returns couldn’t have been much better, as the Giants shellacked the Atlanta Braves 9-0 at Truist Park to end their July slide.

Landen Roupp’s five shutout innings certainly deserve credit, but at the forefront of the momentum-shifting win were Rafael Devers and Wilmer Flores, who traded places for a night to great success.

Devers never had played first base at any level in his career and hadn’t appeared in the field at all this season prior to Tuesday night. He hardly was tested with minimal defensive action in his debut, but his mere presence on the field could lead to a resurgence at the plate.

Primarily a third baseman during his Boston Red Sox tenure, Devers was asked postgame if he believes his offense is better when he’s playing in the field rather than serving as a designated hitter.

“Definitely. It keeps me active,” Devers told reporters, speaking through translator Erwin Higueros. “It keeps my head out of just thinking about the next at-bat. I’m the kind of player that likes to be active, likes to be on the field. I’d rather be on the field than be in the cage hitting all the time and just thinking about the next at-bat.”

Rafael Devers explains how playing in the field, rather than DHing, benefits his hitting pic.twitter.com/6vRFSSkrdM

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 23, 2025

It’s only one game, but the results backed up that intuition. Devers entered the night with just a .667 OPS in 29 games with the Giants — all at DH. On Tuesday, he went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Over his entire career, meanwhile, Devers’ OPS improves by about 18 points playing in the field compared to DHing.

Though his defensive fit this season was the center of much discourse in Boston, Devers’ eagerness to play first base in San Francisco has been clear.

In fact, Devers revealed Tuesday he ordered a first baseman’s glove right away after he arrived in San Francisco.

The three-time MLB All-Star also might not be the sole beneficiary of Melvin’s defensive swap.

In recent weeks, Flores has been tasked with playing first base more often, which has coincided with a drop in his offensive production. But in his first game as a DH since June 15, Flores hit his first home run since June 7, a three-run blast in the seventh inning that put the game to bed. He also added a sacrifice fly in the second despite being behind in the count 0-2.

Wilmer makes it nine 🤩 pic.twitter.com/puS9GFTy1d

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 23, 2025

“Flo, his numbers DHing have been really good, and he hits another home run tonight,” Melvin said postgame. “So it’s good to be able to get him off his feet.”

Flores, who turns 34 in two weeks, has dealt with injuries later in his career. In 2024, he struggled with a career-low .206 average in just 71 games as he dealt with a nagging knee injury. So, as the Giants enter the final third of the MLB season, it might not hurt to put their best clutch hitter in a more relaxed situation.

Melvin mentioned Devers will return to DH on Wednesday, while Flores will get the day off. Nevertheless, how the Giants manage two of their most important hitters in the field could be a big storyline to watch during the rest of the year.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast