Daily Dose: Carrasco Crush
Indians starter Carlos Carrasco took a Melky Cabrera comebacker off the left side of his face early last week and had to miss his scheduled turn in the Cleveland rotation on Sunday afternoon in Minnesota. But the right-hander returned to action Tuesday night on the south side of Chicago and showed no ill effects from that frightening incident, striking out eight batters and walking none over five innings of one-run ball as the Tribe bested the host White Sox by a final score of 6-2. The only real blemish on Carrasco's outing was a first-inning solo home run by all-world slugger Jose Abreu.
Carrasco probably could have gone much deeper in the game -- he was lifted at just 60 pitches -- but it makes sense that the Indians' coaching staff would want to treat him with a level of precaution. He didn’t suffer a concussion and a range of tests ruled out any facial fractures, but Indians manager Terry Francona acknowledged to reporters over the weekend that Carrasco did have some significant swelling in his left jaw.
Carrasco should be able to climb back near 100 pitches in his next start at home against the Royals.
Including his line from Tuesday night’s win over the White Sox, Carrasco boasts a 1.75 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 135 strikeouts in 123 1/3 innings dating back to last April 30. He is a legitimate fantasy ace.
Giavotella Finally Gets Shot In Anaheim
Despite being a second-round pick of the Royals in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft and posting intriguing numbers at just about every level of the minor leagues, infielder Johnny Giavotella never got much of a chance at regular playing time in Kansas City. Over his four major league seasons with the Royals, he logged just 111 starts in the field and made only 465 total plate appearances.
Giavotella was finally set free this winter, heading out to Anaheim in a December trade that only netted the Royals a 28-year-old right-handed reliever named Brian Broderick. Giavotella beat out Josh Rutledge for the Angels’ starting second base gig this spring and he’s off to a really nice start in that gig, batting .317/.383/.439 through his first 47 plate appearances this season. The 27-year-old went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored in Tuesday night’s 14-1 thrashing of the Athletics. He’s owned in 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Giavotella was a .315/.384/.451 hitter in 413 career games at Triple-A. This could be for real.
Tomas In With Lamb’s Foot Aching
Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb has been on fire over the first two weeks of the 2015 regular season, batting .414/.514/.690 with a home run, a triple, three doubles, and nine RBI in 10 games. He even has a stolen base. But it’s going to be a little while before we see more from the 24-year-old prospect.
Lamb was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday evening with a stress reaction in his left foot. It’s an injury that has a big range of recovery timetables -- from a couple weeks to a couple months. Arizona’s training staff seems optimistic that he’ll be on the shorter side of that range.
Yasmany Tomas drew the nod at third base in Lamb’s place on Tuesday night against the Rangers in what was the first career major league start for the $68.5 million Cuban slugger. The big-bodied 24-year-old looked rough defensively at the hot corner, as was the case all spring, but he finished 2-for-3 with a run scored at the plate. Tomas got promoted from Triple-A Reno last Wednesday to serve as a bench bat for the Diamondbacks, but he now figures to get an extended look at the hot corner along with some continued spot starts in the corner outfield. His offensive potential is all fantasy owners need to care about, and that seems to be fairly promising.
National League Quick Hits: Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco remains day-to-day with a left hip impingement … Curtis Granderson went 3-for-5 with four RBI as the Mets rattled off a ninth straight win on Tuesday night … Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich could be headed to the disabled list with a lower back injury … Nolan Arenado (wrist) and Corey Dickerson (foot) are both expected to return to the Rockies’ lineup Wednesday … Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a two-run single in Tuesday's comeback win over the Pirates … Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy is likely to be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken left big toe … Braves outfielder Cameron Maybin hit his third home run of the season in Tuesday’s loss to the Mets … Hunter Pence (forearm) is not expected to debut before the end of April … Giancarlo Stanton slugged a 450-foot home run Tuesday in the Marlins’ loss to the Phillies … Anthony Rendon (knee) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday … Pirates closer Mark Melancon blew the save in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs, serving up three runs in an inning of work ... Mets fill-in catcher Kevin Plawecki went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in his major league debut Tuesday against the Braves … Gio Gonzalez tossed six shutout innings in a no-decision Tuesday against the Cardinals … David Wright (hamstring) is nearing baseball activities … Matt Holliday went 4-for-4 with a walk Tuesday in the Cardinals’ loss to the Nationals … Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday morning with a left hand laceration … Jay Bruce hit a grand slam as the Reds outslugged the Brewers on Tuesday night in Milwaukee … Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer remains day-to-day with a bruised rib … Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the season as the Phillies defeated the Marlins on Tuesday.
American League Quick Hits: MLB suspended David Ortiz one game for making contact with home plate umpire John Tumpane on Sunday … Edwin Encarnacion launched two solo home runs Tuesday in the Blue Jays’ rout of the Orioles … Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday’s comeback win over the Twins … Andrew Miller recorded his fifth save of 2015 on Tuesday night against the Tigers … Rays starter Drew Smyly (shoulder) could make his 2015 debut on Friday against the Blue Jays … Joe Nathan (elbow) will make a rehab appearance Wednesday at Triple-A Toledo and could then be cleared to rejoin the Tigers … Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Rays … Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis remains day-to-day with a bruised rib … Carlos Santana hit his third home run of the season Tuesday as the Indians defeated the White Sox … Royals setup man Kelvin Herrera has been suspended five games for throwing at Brett Lawrie on Sunday … Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi held the Tigers to one run over seven innings to record his first win of the season on Tuesday night … Michael Saunders (knee, hamstring) is on track to make his Blue Jays debut Friday … Red Sox starter Wade Miley held the Rays scoreless over 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday night, earning his first win … Josh Hamilton (shoulder) is expected to rejoin the Angels sometime in early June … Wade Davis pitched a perfect ninth inning Tuesday against the Twins to earn his third save … Jake McGee’s minor league rehab assignment has been delayed by general body soreness … Rays first baseman James Loney (oblique) expects to be activated from the disabled list this weekend … Nick Swisher (knees) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Friday … Red Sox closer Koji Uehara earned his second save of the season Tuesday night against the Rays.
