MLB 2023 | Oviedo crushed in LA, Adolis with no RBI on Thursday, Abreu struggles again

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

Johan Oviedo (Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Jul 6

Johan Oviedo was charged with five runs over 6 2/3 innings on Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers.

Oviedo (3-10) took the loss Thursday versus the Dodgers, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 6.2 innings. Oviedo gave up a two-run home run to Freddie Freeman in the first inning, but then retired 15 of the next 17 batters. In the sixth, Oviedo ran into more trouble with Max Muncy taking him deep for another two-run blast that decided the game. With five homers allowed over his last four starts, Oviedo's had some issues keeping the ball down. Despite making it through 6 2/3 innings, Oviedo yielded five earned runs in losing his seventh straight decision, though some of them were of the hard-luck variety. Including Thursday night’s game, Oviedo has produced a combined 5.52 ERA in his last 45 ⅔ innings that date back to May 19 against the Diamondbacks, the last time he won a decision. He has a 4.75 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 87/40 K/BB ratio across 100 innings (18 starts) just before the All-Star break.

There was no damage done by Luis Robert during Thursday's double header.

In the doubleheader on Thursday against Toronto, Luis Robert was quiet with his bat at the plate. He went 1-for-8 with two strikeouts in a double loss for Chicago, losing 6-2, 5-4. This season, Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox has been phenomenal with a .378 wOBA, 25 home runs and 49 RBIs, making him an All-Star.

Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena combined for just one hit Thursday.

During Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Diaz and Arozarena were 1-for-7 combined. Díaz additionally drew two walks, whereas Arozarena - who went hitless - struck out twice in the inning. After a strong start to the season for the team, both players were selected to the 2023 All-Star Game after an excellent first half of the season where the team is second in the Majors in wins.

Against the Red Sox on Thursday, Adolis García finished the game without an RBI.

As a result of Texas' 10-6 loss to Boston, García did not add to his major league lead (71) in RBIs. In addition to his 19th double of the year, García went 1-for-3 with two runs and two walks in the game. The player, who deservedly was selected to the All-Star Game of 2023 after a phenomenal first half of the season, owns an offensive line of .262/.332/.515 with 22 home runs, 71 RBI and six stolen bases.

Miguel Vargas batted seventh on Thursday.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Vargas was again in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Vargas started at second base on Thursday and batted seventh versus right-hander Johan Oviedo and the Pirates. The Dodgers beat Oviedo and the Pirates 5-2 and Vargas went 1-for-3 in the game with no walks/strikeouts. Vargas is batting .197 this season in 299 plate appearances and it is expected that he will be sent to the minors at any given time.

Dairon Blanco had a double against Cleveland on Thursday.

Blanco saw action on Thursday 6-1 loss to the Guardians and went 1-for-4 with a double, his third of the season, as he played center field for the Royals. It appears that Blanco, considered more of a defensive player but also with remarkable speed on the bases, will be relegated to filling in for a Kansas City team that, along with Oakland, has the worst record in the majors.

Andy Ibáñez doubled, walked and scored a pair of runs on Thursday as the Tigers crushed the Athletics.

Ibáñez crushed a one-out double off of Hogan Harris in the opening inning, then came around to score on a two-run single off the bat of Javier Báez. He also walked and scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the third inning. On the season, the versatile 30-year-old is now hitting .228/.264/.408 with six homers and 17 RBI in 57 games.

As part of Thursday's double header, Oscar Colás had only one hit.

Colás had a chance to play both Chicago games on Thursday and overall went 1-for-7 with a RBI and three strikoeuts. In Game 1 Colás added his double #3 and RBI #8 of the year, also scoring a run, but in Game 2 he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. With this being Colás' second chance in the Majors, and with a team like the White Sox that is well known for its dismal results as a result of its inconsistent performances, he knows that he is going to be tested.

José Abreu was hitless on Thursday.

Abreu went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Friday's 5-1 game loss to the Mariners. As a matter of fact, fans were even raving about the Cuban when he twice missed with RISP. Abreu has seven hit in six games in July -- including two doubles and a home run -- but he still has a disastrous .281 wOBA - the lowest of his career - and 77 wRC+ across 355 plate appearances on the season.

Yasmani Grandal hitless in Game 1 and sitting during Game 2. Grandal was not in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. Grandal went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the first game while playing behind the plate.