MLB 2023 | Abreu homers and adds three RBI in win, Soler shows power, Blanco with multi-hit game

Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources

José Abreu (Photo: Astros Twitter)

Jun 14

José Abreu homered, doubled and drove in three runs on Wednesday night, powering the Astros to a 5-4 victory over the Nationals.

Abreu went 3-for-4 with a double, a solo homer, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's victory over the Nationals. Abreu got the scoring started in the ballgame with a two-run double off of Josiah Gray in the opening inning. He then crushed a 417-foot (109.6 mph EV) solo shot off of the right-hander in the fourth inning that extended the Astros' lead to 3-0. After going what felt like a full calendar year without a home run, Abreu has now belted three long balls in his last five games. He's still slashing a mere .233/.289/.320 on the season with four homers and 33 RBI, but his bat is finally showing signs of life.

Jorge Soler went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and three walks on Wednesday in the Marlins' 4-1 win over the Mariners.

Soler showed both power and patience at the plate on Wednesday, drawing a walk in his first two at-bats before blasting a solo homer off Luis Castillo to lead off the sixth. He'd draw one more free pass before the game was done. Soler has drawn nine walks over his last seven games, and he's added three homers in that span. He ended his day hitting .258/.357/.564 with 20 homers, 37 runs scored, 12 doubles and 40 RBI across 272 plate appearances and 65 games while enjoying his best season since 2019.

Dairon Blanco went 2-for-5 with a double, triple and an RBI as the Royals fell to the Reds on Wednesday evening in Kansas City.

The 30-year-old speedster smacked an RBI double in the sixth inning that pulled the Royals to within five runs at 7-2. He also added a two-out triple in the eighth, but was stranded at third base. It looks like the Royals are going to give him everyday at-bats in the outfield for the time being, making him a worthy speculative add for the team if looking to add speed.

Yandy Díaz went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk on Wednesday in the Rays' 6-3 win over the A's.

Díaz knocked a single to start the game, but was thrown out at third on a base hit by Wander Franco. He doubled in the fifth to bring in the tying run and drew a walk in the seventh to reach base for the third time. The 31-year-old infielder is batting .311/.404/.539 with 12 homers, 44 runs scored, and 36 RBI across 255 plate appearances.

White Sox's Luis Robert: Smacks 16th homer. Robert went 2-for-6 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a double in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Dodgers. Robert has five multi-hit efforts and three homers over his last nine contests. He's up to 16 long balls on the year after taking Clayton Kershaw deep in the third inning Wednesday. Robert has added a .264/.319/.532 slash line with 35 RBI, 43 runs scored, four stolen bases and 19 doubles through 66 contests. While his ratios are lower than usual, he's enjoyed a run of good health so far while holding down an everyday role.

Tigers' Andy Ibáñez: Big day Wednesday. Ibáñez went 4-for-9 with a solo home run and three runs scored across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against Atlanta. Ibáñez started the first game of the day at second base before shifting to third, and he registered three singles and scored twice. He started in left in the second game and added his fourth home run of the year. Ibáñez is still batting only .221 this season and should continue to serve in a utility role for the Tigers.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told reporters Wednesday that he's unsure if Yoán Moncada (back) will require a trip to the injured list.

Grifol divulged to reporters that Moncada is dealing with an ongoing back issue, which has been a recurring problem throughout the 2023 campaign so far, and might end up needing some time off. Moncada has struggled mightily as of late with a slash of .139/.162/.250 over 36 at-bats in the month of June and no multi-hit games since May 16 versus Cleveland.

White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Three hits in Wednesday's win. Grandal went 3-for-5 with a double in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Dodgers. Grandal has gone 8-for-29 (.276) in June despite hitting safely in just four of nine contests. The catcher remains the White Sox's top option behind the dish with a steady .268/.328/.410 slash line, five home runs, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored over 201 plate appearances. Grandal has a career-worst 7.5 percent walk rate, but it's not holding him back much in 2023.

Working with a four-run lead, Raisel Iglesias gave up a run on three hits in the ninth Wednesday in the first game of the doubleheader against the Tigers.

It would have been two runs if pretty much anyone besides Miguel Cabrera was on second base for the third hit of the inning. Iglesias's velocity isn't down much from last year and he's still getting plenty of swings and misses, but he's been shaky since returning from his shoulder issue. He's now given up eight hits in his last two innings of work, and that's pretty much a typical month's worth of hits from him. Overall, he has a 4.32 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. In Game 2 6-5 win, Iglesias didn't get a chance to pitch after throwing 31 pitches in Game 1.

Astros general manager Dana Brown told reporters Wednesday that Yordan Álvarez (oblique) will be out four weeks.

Brown confirmed that Álvarez underwent an MRI that allowed the club to determine a clearer timetable for his potential return. The definitive timeline puts the 25-year-old fantasy superstar's return sometime shortly after next month's All-Star break.

Johan Oviedo will start today against the Cubs.

It sounds like the Pirates are going to give veteran left-hander Rich Hill an extra day of rest with Oviedo taking the ball for Thursday's series finale.