MLB 2023 | Cortes handed first loss, Oviedo with no-decision Tuesday, Gurriel with power and speed

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

Yulieski Gurriel. (Photo: MLB)

April 25

Nestor Cortes yielded four runs -- three earned -- in five-plus innings Tuesday in a loss to the Twins.

Cortes (3-1) was charged with the loss Tuesday in Minnesota after he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits across five-plus innings. He struck out six and walked one. It was two runs through five, but Cortes gave up a double to Jorge Polanco and a homer to Byron Buxton to open the sixth. He was pulled at that point. Of his 13 whiffs, 11 came on his fastball. The 28-year-old has yet to give up more than three earned runs in any of his five starts this year and has a 3.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 28:5 K:BB over 28.1 innings. His next start is against the Rangers.

Johan Oviedo was charged with five runs (four earned) over 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday in a no-decision against the Dodgers.

Oviedo gave up a two-run double to Miguel Vargas in the opening frame, but managed to hold the Dodgers scoreless until the fifth inning and wound up being lifted after loading the bases in the sixth inning. The right-hander saw his quality start streak end at three, but Oviedo still exited the game in line for his third win of the season, only to see Colin Holderman serve up a game-winning blast to Chris Taylor in the eighth inning. Oviedo will take a 3.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB through 29.2 innings into his next outing, likely to come this weekend on the road against the Nationals.

Marlins' Yuli Gurriel: Showcases power, speed. Gurriel went 2-for-4 with one homer, one RBI, one run scored and one steal in Tuesday's loss against the Braves. Gurriel swiped his first bag of the 2023 season Tuesday, taking second base after hitting a single in the second frame. The first baseman also came through in crunch time, clubbing a solo home run in the top of the ninth that brought the Marlins to within three, but they were unable to build momentum and mount a comeback. Though Gurriel is used primarily as a bench option for Miami, he's worth a look in daily formats when in the starting lineup against left-handed pitching considering his extremely low career 9.1% strikeout rate and .191 ISO.

Yasmani Grandal was pulled from Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays due to back spasms.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol classified it as a day-to-day situation and said that Grandal could catch in an emergency situation. He also noted that the team shouldn't have to make a roster move. Consider him day-to-day for now, but be sure to check back to see how he's feeling on Wednesday.

Royals' Aroldis Chapman: More runs allowed on Tuesday. Chapman allowed two runs - one earned - on three hits with one strikeout over 1/3 inning, but was still credited with the hold in a 5-4 victory against Arizona. Chapman started the year on an eight-inning scoreless streak, but it came to a close Monday when he allowed his first run of the season. Now in back to back outing he has been inefficient and showing similar performance to the 2022 start of the season with the Yankees. Chapman still has an excellent 17:3 K:BB with a 1.93 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through nine one third innings.

Padres signed INF José Iglesias to a minor league contract.

The 33-year-old officially opted out of his contract with the Marlins on Thursday and it didn't take him long to land another opportunity. He'll add depth for the Padres at the Triple-A level, but it'll likely take an injury in front of him for Iglesias to see time with the big league club.

Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel: Steals bag in loss. Gurriel started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Royals. Gurriel swiped his first base of the season, but he's not typically a threat in that fantasy category. The outfielder entered 2023 with 14 steals (14 times caught) over 427 games during his MLB career. Gurriel has been the primary DH for the Diamondbacks and could see more opportunities in the outfield after the team optioned Jake McCarthy to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

Miguel Vargas: Two hits on Tuesday.

Miguel Vargas went 2-for-4 on Tuesday in a 8-7 win against the Pirates. The second baseman went 2-for-4 with his four double of the season and his RBI # 5 and 6. He also walked and scored a run. Vargas is slashing .231/.378/.323 with zero homers and six RBI this year.

Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is scheduled to face live hitters again -- perhaps on a minor league rehab assignment -- on Thursday.

It may just be a live batting practice session, that hasn't been finalized yet. The 33-year-old right-hander is finally making tangible strides toward a return and should be ready to join the Braves' bullpen early in the month of May.

Yordan Alvarez (neck) was absent from the Astros' lineup for Tuesday's showdown against the Rays.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said earlier Tuesday in a local radio interview that Alvarez was "about the same as yesterday" and the club is waiting for team doctors to determine a course of action. It's possible the 25-year-old fantasy superstar, who sat out Monday's series opener due to neck discomfort, could wind up requiring a trip to the injured list. There should be some clarity on his status sometime this week.

White Sox's Oscar Colas: On bench again Tuesday. Colas is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. On the bench for the third time in four games, Colas looks to be at risk of losing his regular role in the outfield or possibly even facing a demotion to Triple-A Charlotte. After earning his way onto the Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Colas has made little impact through his first 21 games in the big leagues. He enters Tuesday hitting just .219 with two extra-base hits (one home run, one double) and two stolen bases over 71 plate appearances.

Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena combined for two hits on Tuesday.

In a 5-0 loss to the Astros, Diaz and Arozarena went 2-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts. Diaz was coming back of an injury and was the DH for the second game of the series against the reigning World Series champions.

Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Sitting out again Tuesday. Diaz was out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Angels, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reported. Diaz was out of the starting lineup for the second time in three games. The veteran infielder took a seat with Kevin Smith getting the start at shortstop and hitting ninth against the Angels on Tuesday.

Reds' Jose Barrero: Hitless after late addition to lineup. Barrero started at designated hitter and batted eighth in Tuesday's game against the Rangers. Barrero was scheduled to get Tuesday off, but he end up starting after all due to Wil Myers (neck) being scratched from the lineup. Barrero went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. His slash line this year continues to be a poor one sitting at .217/.304/.300.