MLB 2023 | Cano took a loss, Moncada hitless in return, Yordan still not activated

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

Yennier Cano (Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Jul 25

Yennier Cano took a blown save in the ninth after allowing two runs Tuesday against the Phillies.

With Félix Bautista unavailable, Cano was called upon to protect a precious one-run lead Tuesday. Sadly, things did not go his way. He allowed four hits, two of them would come around to score, and struck out just one batter. In that ninth inning, Trea Turner grounded out, Harper singled and Nick Castellanos struck out on a changeup. But Bryson Stott followed with an RBI double to score Harper from first base with the tying run before Alex Bohm's hit brought Stott home with the winning run. It was Cano's fifth blown save of the season. Afterwards, Cano said through team interpreter Brandon Quiñones: “It’s a difficult inning to pitch in”... “at the end of the day you have to get the job done, and unfortunately I didn’t do that tonight. And I’m also human; I make mistakes.”

Adolis García went 1-for-4 on Tuesday in his return to the Rangers’ lineup.

It’s an encouraging development that García returned to Texas’ lineup following a brief two-game absence due to a hand contusion. It doesn’t appear that he’ll wind up missing any additional time. The outfielder, who is tied for first in MLB with 80 RBI, finds himself in a mini-slump with just two hits over the last 17 at-bats.

Moncada went 0-for-3 with an RBI against the Cubs on Tuesday.

Moncada returned from a six-week absence caused by a back issue to start at third base and hit fifth. He struck out twice but managed a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. There was some concern about Moncada's potential for playing time given the power production of Jake Burger while Moncada was sidelined, though Burger slid to second base Tuesday. That could leave both Zach Remillard and Elvis Andrus as the biggest playing-time losers due to Moncada's return.

Yandy Díaz was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Marlins due to left groin tightness.

Díaz was pulled from Tuesday's game against the Marlins with left groin tightness. After extending to catch a throw to first base, Díaz was removed from the game in the third inning and walked off with a noticeable limp. He's now officially listed as day-to-day with a groin injury and will be re-evaluated Wednesday when he will have a MRI. The 31-year-old infielder is slashing .321/.387/.482 since July 1. Manager Kevin Cash said that Díaz woke up Wednesday feeling no worse than Tuesday, so the Rays are optimistic that he won't have to go on the injured list as a result of the groin issue. Luke Raley will replace him at first base and will bat cleanup Wednesday.

Yordán Álvarez was not activated from the injured list on Tuesday.

The Astros continue to take things day-by-day with their 26-year-old superstar — with Wednesday looking like a realistic possibility for his return. Álvarez has been shelved since early June due to his oblique injury.

Néstor Cortés will make his next minor league rehab start on Friday.

No word yet whether he’ll take the ball for Double-A Somerset again or move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 28-year-old southpaw is expected to return to New York’s starting rotation in a few weeks.