Rockies Select Jake Bird, Designate Julian Fernandez
The Rockies announced a trio of roster moves before the second game of their doubleheader with the Padres today, including the news that right-hander Julian Fernandez has been designated for assignment. Right-hander Jake Bird had his contract selected from Triple-A to fill the 40-man roster spot, while infielder Elehuris Montero was also optioned to the minors to create space for Bird on the active roster.
With this slate of transactions, the Rox get a fresh arm added to their bullpen for the second game, and Bird is now on the verge of his MLB debut. Colorado selected Bird in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, and the UCLA product has a 2.77 ERA, 8.5% walk rate, and 32.1% strikeout rate over 26 innings for Triple-A Albuquerque this season. That strikeout rate is notably higher than his totals in any of his previous three pro seasons, which could relate to Bird’s transition to a full-time relief role — he started a handful of games in both 2019 and 2021.
Fernandez has had a much rougher year with the Isotopes, posting a 9.47 ERA and allowing eight home runs over only 19 innings. The hard-throwing righty is known for his ability to hit the triple-digit threshold with his fastball, but Fernandez just had to get re-accustomed to pitching after missing all the 2018-20 seasons — the first two years due to Tommy John surgery and rehab, and then the canceled 2020 minor league season. In 2021, Fernandez finally made it back and threw 42 2/3 minor league innings, plus he made his Major League debut with six games for the Rockies.
Angels Make Several Roster Moves
The Angels have made five roster moves, including optioning outfielder Jo Adell and left-hander Jhonathan Diaz to Triple-A. Infielder Luis Rengifo returns from the paternity list, while the Halos also selected the contract of right-hander Davis Daniel. To create room for Daniel on the 40-man roster, Anaheim designated outfielder Dillon Thomas for assignment.
One of the game’s top prospects, Adell was first optioned to Triple-A in early May, and then called up again last week when Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day IL. Adell posted a .902 OPS over 21 plate appearances during this latest stint, a positive showing considering how overmatched Adell has looked against MLB pitching since debuting back in 2020.
To that end, it is a little surprising to see Adell on the way back to the minors, yet it could simply be a case of roster construction. Ward has been recovering well from his hamstring strain and is aiming to return on Tuesday, while Mike Trout was back in the lineup today after missing three games with a sore groin. With less of a need in the outfield and with Shohei Ohtani monopolizing the DH spot, there isn’t a real everyday spot for Adell, and the Angels would prefer to see him get regular action in Triple-A rather than playing only sparingly in Los Angeles.
Thomas had his contract selected three days ago in another flurry of moves from the Angels, and the outfielder ended up appearing in one game during his cup of coffee on the active roster. The 29-year-old inked a minor league deal with Anaheim during the winter. Thomas has posted some big numbers at the Triple-A level for the Mariners’ and Angels’ affiliates in 2021-22, but that performance has only earned him five MLB games (the first five of his pro career). Primarily a corner outfielder with some experience in center, Thomas could possibly get the attention of another team in greater need of depth on the grass.
Today is Daniel’s 25th birthday, and he’ll receive an unforgettable gift in the form of his first call to the big leagues. A seventh-round pick for the Angels in the 2019 draft, Daniel has a 3.84 ERA over 161 2/3 innings in the minors, starting 31 of his 32 career games. This includes a 3.64 ERA over 47 Triple-A innings this season, though Daniel has a modest 19.3% strikeout rate.
Daniel could now be lined up for a start in the Angels’ six-man rotation, though it remains to be seen exactly how the Angels may reshuffle their pitching order with an off-day coming on Monday. An extra arm will be needed in some fashion, as the Halos have a doubleheader coming up on June 18.
Marlins Place Garrett Cooper On IL, Select Aneurys Zabala
The Marlins have placed first baseman Garrett Cooper on the injured list without a designation, implying that Cooper’s absence is related to COVID-19. Right-hander Aneurys Zabala will take Cooper’s spot on the active roster, as the Marlins selected Zabala’s contract from Double-A.
It isn’t known if Cooper has tested positive for the virus or if he is being held out for precautionary reasons due to symptoms or a close-contact situation. Cooper was removed from yesterday’s game due to body cramping, and Marlins skipper Don Mattingly told reporters (including The Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson) today that Cooper “was not feeling good overnight. We did some testing on him and we’ll see where that goes.”
Cooper did test positive for the virus back in 2020, when the Marlins were hit with a huge COVID outbreak that sidelined several members of the roster. That absence cost Cooper a month of the shortened 2020 season, and it added to the long list of IL absences Cooper has faced in his six-year MLB career. Though he has only 291 games on his resume, Cooper has performed quite well when healthy, and is currently in the midst of what might be his best season. The first baseman is hitting .315/.389/.473 with four home runs over his first 211 plate appearances of the 2022 campaign.
Cooper has split his time between DH and first base this season, and Jesus Aguilar will now likely see more first base time while Jorge Soler is the likeliest candidate for more DH duty. Jon Berti and Willians Astudillo are both utilitymen, and their versatility will be more valuable than ever as the Marlins try to weather this stretch with Cooper, Brian Anderson, and Joey Wendle all on the injured list.
Zabala had already been with the Marlins on their taxi squad, and the 25-year-old is now set to make his Major League debut. Originally an international signing for the Mariners, Zabala began his pro career as a 17-year-old back in 2014, and he has since bounced around to the farm systems of the Dodgers, Reds, and Phillies before landing with Miami this year. Control has been a problem for Zabala throughout his career, contributing to his 5.48 ERA over 286 innings in the minors.
Twins Designate Chi Chi Gonzalez For Assignment
5:13PM: Gonzalez has been designated for assignment, MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park reports (Twitter link). Gonzalez allowed three runs in four innings during today’s start, as the Twins went on to capture a 6-5 win over the Rays.
11:57AM: The Twins have purchased the contract of Chi Chi Gonzalez and added him to the active roster, optioning Yennier Cano to open the roster spot, per The Athletic’s Dan Hayes (via Twitter). Royce Lewis was moved to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
By promoting Gonzalez, the Twins will keep him in the organization. Gonzalez has an opt-out clause that he was prepared to trigger today if he was not added to the active roster. The former Ranger and Rockie did make one appearance for the Twins this season, tossing three innings and giving up three earned runs to the Blue Jays on June 3rd. He’s done well enough in Triple-A, registering a 3.44 ERA over 36 2/3 innings.
The Twins rotation has been decimated by injuries with Chris Paddack and Kenta Maeda both undergoing Tommy John surgery, Sonny Gray and Bailey Ober both landing on the injured list, and most recently, Joe Ryan being placed on the COVID injured list. That’s a full rotation on the injured list, paving the way for Gonzalez.
Cano has struggled in his two stints with the big league club this season, posting a 9.26 ERA over 11 2/3 innings with a 12-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 28-year-old Cuban has a much more respectable 5.88 FIP over those same nine appearances.
Giants Place Jakob Junis On 15-Day IL Due To Left Hamstring Strain
3:57PM: Junis has been diagnosed with a more serious Grade 2 strain, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reports (Twitter link).
3:08PM: The Giants placed right-hander Jakob Junis on the 15-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. The injury occurred in last night’s game, as Junis had to be removed after slipping off the mound. Outfielder Heliot Ramos has been called up from Triple-A to take Junis’ spot on the active roster.
More will be known about Junis’ recovery timeline once he undergoes an MRI, but the injury is obviously serious enough that the Giants went ahead with the IL placement even before more tests were conducted on the hamstring. Junis will now miss at least the next 15 days, and potentially longer should the strain prove to be a higher-grade issue.
After signing a one-year, $1.75MM free agent deal with San Francisco in March, Junis has seemingly become the latest pitcher to enjoy a career revival in the Bay Area. Junis posted a 5.36 ERA over 240 innings with the Royals from 2019-21, but has thus far pitched to a 2.63 ERA, 47.8% grounder rate, and a 5.3% walk rate over 48 frames in 2022. Advanced metrics (particularly a .231 BABIP, and a .266 wOBA that is far beneath his .325 xwOBA) indicate that some regression is probably inevitable, but it has nevertheless been a very solid start in terms of bottom-line numbers for the 29-year-old Junis.
This performance has helped stabilize a Giants rotation hurt by injuries, as Alex Cobb and Anthony DeSclafani are both still on the IL and Matthew Boyd has yet to pitch this season. On that front (hat tip to MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado), Cobb still just in the playing-catch phase as he recovers from a neck strain, while DeSclafani is set to begin a rehab assignment. DeSclafani was moved to the 60-day IL due to ankle inflammation, and can’t be activated until June 21. Boyd underwent flexor tendon surgery back in September and has advanced to the point where he will be facing hitters in a live batting-practice session.
Sam Long was already added to the roster to help out the rotation, and since the Giants have an off-day on June 16, they might be able to manage this lack of a fifth starter until DeSclafani is able to be reinstated. If not, the Giants could turn to a bullpen game, as is the plan for today’s game against the Dodgers.
Cubs Place Wade Miley On 15-Day IL Due To Shoulder Strain
Just a day after activating Wade Miley from the 15-day injured list, the Cubs are sending Miley back to the IL with another strain in his left shoulder. Right-hander Michael Rucker was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move.
Miley tossed three scoreless innings in his start against the Yankees yesterday, but then had to leave the game while warming up prior to the fourth inning. The veteran left-hander will now return to the IL for what will likely be a longer absence, given the recurring nature of the injury.
Miley’s first shoulder strain cost him a month of action, and he also missed just over a month at the start of the season due to elbow inflammation during Spring Training. All these injuries have limited Miley to only four starts and 19 innings, though he has posted a 2.84 ERA when he has been able to take the field.
In the near term, the top priority is simply Miley’s health, as the hope is that his shoulder strain isn’t indicative of a bigger problem. Given the timing of his latest IL visit, there must now be uncertainty that Miley will be able to return at all prior to the August 2 trade deadline, let alone return and pitch well enough to attract the attention of a team in need of rotation help. The Cubs look like they’ll be sellers at the deadline, and since Miley is scheduled to be a free agent this winter, he stands out as an obvious rental piece if he is healthy.
Marcus Stroman and Drew Smyly are also on the 15-day IL, so the Cubs again find themselves particularly short-handed in the rotation. Mark Leiter Jr. is the likeliest candidate to fill Miley’s rotation spot, joining veteran Kyle Hendricks and then the less-experienced trio of Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson, and Matt Swarmer.
Dodgers Activate Clayton Kershaw
As expected, the Dodgers have activated legendary southpaw Clayton Kershaw for his start today. Justin Bruihl was optioned to Triple-A to open the roster spot, per MLB.com’s Juan Toribio (via Twitter).
The veteran southpaw was at his best before a balky back sent him to the injured list for 33 days. He returns owning a 1.80 ERA/2.27 FIP over 30 innings with a stunning 32-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Kershaw’s return couldn’t come at a better time, given the current uncertainty over the health of Walker Buehler. The Dodgers are clinging to a one-game lead over the Padres in the division. It’s too early to think about the standings, but given the competition in the NL West recently, there doesn’t figure to be much margin for error. Regardless, the Dodgers’ +109 run differential is the best mark in the National League by a decent margin (the Mets are second at +68). Even without Kershaw, the Dodgers rotation has set the tone with a league-leading 2.71 ERA.
Bruihl, 24, has been a vital cog for manager Dave Roberts’ bullpen since making his debut last season. Over the two seasons, the California native has a 3.34 ERA/4.35 FIP over 35 career innings. This season, Bruihl has a 3.86 ERA/4.79 FIP in 17 appearances totaling 16 1/3 innings. Bruihl has held lefties to a punchless .250/.273/.250 line in 35 plate appearances this season, but he’s given it back to righties, who have hit .269/.394/.539 across 34 plate appearances.
Injury Notes: Padres, Rangers, Rockies
The Padres placed Mike Clevinger and Adrian Morejon on the COVID injured list, recalling Ray Kerr and Reiss Knehr from Triple-A, per the team. Kerr, 27, will give the Friars a third southpaw out of the bullpen behind closer Taylor Rogers and Tim Hill. Though Clevinger has been starting, Knehr, 25 will probably pitch in relief for now. Knehr has been tagged with a 5.84 ERA across 51 2/3 innings in Triple-A so far this season while making 10 starts and appearing twice in relief. The Padres rotation currently goes six deep, even with Clevinger out. Brent Rooker was also added to the active roster to serve as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader.
- Rangers outfielder Steele Walker was placed on the COVID injured list, per the team. Zach Reks has been placed on the active roster to take his place. This will be Reks’ third go-round with the Rangers already this summer, though he’s been limited to just 22 plate appearances over nine games. Reks has torn it up for Round Rock, however, slashing .340/.433/.631 in 120 Triple-A plate appearances. Walker was only recently recalled for his big league debut. He’s gone just 1-for-14 at the plate with a pair of walks over five games. His lone hit was a solo shot. Walker, 25, was a former second-round pick of the White Sox, acquired straight-up in the deal for Nomar Mazara in December of 2019.
- The Rockies have placed southpaw Ty Blach on the 15-day injured list with a left wrist sprain, per the team. Ryan Feltner was recalled from Triple-A to take his roster spot. Justin Lawrence was also added to the active roster to serve as the 27th man for today’s twin bill. Blach, 31, has made 15 appearances on the year (one start) with a 6.61 ERA over 31 1/3 innings.
Tigers Acquire Michael Mariot From Phillies For Cash Considerations
The Tigers and Phillies got together on a trade today. The Phillies sent Triple-A right-hander Michael Mariot to the Tigers in exchange for cash considerations, per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki (via Twitter).
Mariot, 33, has not appeared in the Majors since 2016. He has 44 career appearances to his name – all out of the bullpen – between the Royals and Phillies from 2014 to 2016. With the Phillies, he made 25 appearances with a 5.85 ERA/5.96 FIP across 21 2/3 innings during that 2016 season.
Since that time, Mariot has bounced around the league, spending time with the Phillies, Royals, Padres, and Reds, but not yet making it back to the bigs. He may have that opportunity with the Tigers, who have seen their big league rotation limited by injuries. Mariot, meanwhile, has made 11 starts in Triple-A this season, pitching to a 4.64 ERA over 52 1/3 innings.
Reds Claim Stuart Fairchild Off Waivers From Giants
The Reds have claimed outfielder Stuart Fairchild off waivers from the Giants and optioned him to Triple-A, per the team. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander James Marinan was designated for assignment.
This will be Fairchild’s second turn with Reds. He was previously traded from Cincinnati to the Diamondbacks are part of the Archie Bradley trade. The versatile outfielder wasn’t been able to get much playing time in the Majors with the Diamondbacks, however, nor with the Mariners or Giants, his next two stops. In Triple-A this season, Fairchild has slashed .232/.376/.449 over 85 plate appearances.
Marinan, 23, has yet to pitch higher than High-A. The right-hander has struggled this season in particular, racking up a 7.71 ERA over 32 2/3 innings with High-A Daytona. Given the numbers, he’s unlikely to be claimed, though the other 29 teams will have their chance to add him to their 40-man rosters, should they so choose.