MLB 2023 | Luis Robert slams fifth home run, Díaz's perfect night, Chapman scoreless inning

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

Luis Robert (Photo: Tampa Bay Rays)

April 12

White Sox's Oscar Colás: Taking Wednesday off. Colás is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. After seeing his four-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0-for-4, two-strikeout performance in Tuesday's 4-3 loss, Colás will receive a breather for the series finale. Gavin Sheets will man right field in Colás' stead.

Astros' Yordan Álvarez: Takes seat for day game. Álvarez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Houston is concluding its series in Pittsburgh with a day game after a night game, so Álvarez is most likely just getting some extra maintenance following a string of eight consecutive starts. Corey Julks will get the nod in left field in place of Álvarez, who drew a walk but also struck out a season-high three times in Tuesday's 7-4 loss.

April 11

Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-4 with a game-tying solo homer on Tuesday in the White Sox' extra-inning loss to the Twins.

Robert went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 3-4 loss to the Twins. Robert hit his fifth home run of the season in the ninth inning, a solo shot off Griffin Jax, to tie the game 3-3. As the most consistent hitter for the White Sox, the 25-year-old outfielder is slashing .347/.347/.714 with five home runs, nine RBI and six runs through 26 at-bats. Robert's performance has contributed significantly to the offense's success, which currently ranks in the top five of the league for batting average and runs batted in.

Royals' Aroldis Chapman: Clean inning on Tuesday. Chapman struck out one hitter in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 8-5 loss against Texas. Chapman breezed through the Rangers lineup and needed just 11 pitches to pick up his fifth scoreless inning. The southpaw has 9 strikeouts this year and collected his save 316 of his career in April 8 against San Francisco. Chapman is in line for saves for Kansas City in the 2023 season, but he may be moved to a different team after the first half of the season.

Astros' José Abreu: Mixed start to season. Abreu went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts Tuesday against the Pirates. Abreu collected at least one hit in each of his first 10 games of the season, but he's also uncharacteristically struck out at a 27.8 percent clip early on. After Tuesday's performance, he's punched out three times in three of his last five games. He also has only one extra-base hit, which has led to an empty .280 batting average across 54 plate appearances on the campaign.

Rangers' Adolis García: Swipes first bag. García went 1-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 8-5 extra-inning win over Kansas City. García plated a run with a sacrifice fly then another in the extra frame with a single. The stolen base was the first of the season for Garcia, who swiped 25 bags in 2022 and 16 the previous season.

Rays' Yandy Díaz: Fine after shoulder scare. Went 3-for-3 Tuesday against Boston.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Díaz will play Wednesday against the Red Sox after leaving Tuesday's game with a left shoulder injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported. He went 3-for-3 with a home run and two additional runs before exiting.

Díaz left late in the contest after crashing hard on his left shoulder, and he was replaced by Manuel Margot. Fortunately the exit was just precautionary, and Díaz will be ready to roll for Wednesday's contest against the Red Sox. The 31-year-old has been sizzling at the plate to start the 2023 season, slashing .303/.425/.606 with three homers and seven RBI.

Yoán Moncada (back) remained out of the White Sox' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins. Probably out until Friday.

Moncada (back) is expected to remain sidelined through the end of the White Sox' series against the Twins, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Moncada sat out Monday's contest with back tightness and it sounds like he'll be out Tuesday and Wednesday, as well. The White Sox have an off day Thursday before beginning a homestand Friday, so perhaps Moncada will be ready to play by this weekend. Hanser Alberto and Jake Burger could see time at the hot corner while Moncada is banged up.

Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel: Day off Tuesday. Gurriel wasn't in Arizona's lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers. Gurriel has gotten off to a slow start this season, slashing .205/.238/.282 through 10 games. As a result, he'll take a seat against Corbin Burnes while Evan Longoria takes over as Arizona's designated hitter, batting fourth.