MLB 2024 | Iglesias successfully gets save No. 25; Soler hits his 25th double; Cortés shines against the White Sox; Pagés hits a home run; Ribalta gets promoted by the Nationals
- Ray Otero-Alonso
- Aug 14, 2024
- 4 min read
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources
On Tuesday against the Giants, Raisel Iglesias once more delivered a flawless performance in the 10th inning to safeguard a slim one-run advantage.
On Tuesday, Iglesias pitched the 10th inning without allowing any runs, securing a 4-3 lead. He efficiently retired the first two batters with just two pitches and then induced Heliot Ramos to fly out, ending the game. With this performance, Iglesias earned his 25th save, placing him in a tie for sixth place in all of baseball. He is poised to achieve his second consecutive season with 30 or more saves. The 34-year-old is also on course to achieve the lowest ERA and WHIP of his 10-year career. Currently, he boasts a 1.54 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and an impressive 45:8 K: BB ratio in 46.2 innings pitched, demonstrating that he is not just the top Cuban closer in the Majors, but also among the elite players in the game at present.
Luis Robert had one hit and an RBI in Tuesday's game against the Yankees, going 1-for-4.
Even though the White Sox only had five hits in the game, it was Robert's hit that led to a run, as is frequently the scenario. His single in the eighth inning brought Corey Julks home, avoiding a shutout and enabling veteran reliever Jake Cousins to earn his first career save.
Jorge Soler slugs a double in win.
Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 victory against the Giants. The double it was Soler's first hit against his former team, it gave his team a 2-0 lead in the second inning. He's now slashing .245/.339/.440 with 16 homers, 51 RBI, 64 runs scored, 25 doubles and a stolen base over 105 contests this season. He will aim to maintain his good batting form in the remaining two games of the series in San Francisco.
Néstor Cortés dominated the White Sox effortlessly.
Improving his performance, Néstor Cortés (6-10) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while striking out nine batters without issuing a single walk. This victory against the White Sox marked a significant turnaround for Cortés, who had struggled in his previous five starts. His impressive nine strikeouts equaled his season best, and it was the first time since June 23 that he managed to avoid walking a batter. With a 4.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 133:29 K:BB ratio in 141.1 innings over 25 starts this season, Cortés will aim to carry this momentum into his upcoming game, likely scheduled to be played at home against the Guardians.
Andy Pagés hits a home run in a victory.
In Tuesday's 7-2 win against the Brewers, Andy Pagés went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. He has been performing well lately, going 8-for-22 (.364) in his last seven games, but this was his first home run since June 18. While Pagés is still getting playing time on a somewhat regular basis, it might become more challenging now that Mookie Betts has returned and is expected to take over the right field position full-time. If Pagés continues to hit well, he might avoid being part of a strict platoon with Kevin Kiermaier, who bats left-handed and plays in center field. However, Kiermaier's exceptional defense could also keep him in the lineup in various situations. So far this season, Pagés has a .248/.307/.390 slash line with nine home runs, 35 RBIs, 54 runs scored, and one stolen base in 387 plate appearances.
Miguel Vargas back in the lineup.
Miguel Vargas returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday following a day of rest on Monday. In a 4-1 loss to the Yankees, he batted 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Vargas showcased his defensive skills at third base by making a slick play to retire Gleyber Torres in the sixth inning, drawing comparisons to his father, the renowned Lázaro Vargas, who had a successful career in the Cuban National Series and national team. Vargas' consistent presence at third base is not a coincidence. White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore stated to the press last Saturday that the team aims to give the 24-year-old infielder regular playing time at third base in the upcoming games for stability and development.
Vargas is hitting just .191/.286/.345 with four homers, 11 RBI and one stolen base in 126 plate appearances on the season.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies.
As anticipated, he was back as the designated hitter and batting third for Tuesday's matchup after sitting out one game due to tightness in his left hamstring. Fortunately, Arizona identified the issue early, preventing it from escalating into a more serious concern. The positive news is that the 30-year-old was back in the starting lineup after missing just one game. In Arizona's 4-3 win on Tuesday, he went 0-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout. Gurriel has had a slow start in August, going 7-for-31 with a double and four walks in nine games.
Nationals call up Orlando Ribalta.
According to the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals have brought up right-handed pitching prospect Orlando Ribalta from Triple-A Rochester. MLB Pipeline ranks Ribalta as the team's 28th prospect. The 26-year-old pitcher from Cuba started the season at Double-A Harrisburg before moving up to Rochester. In the 2024 season, he has achieved a 5-1 record with a 2.58 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, five saves, 67 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 45 1/3 relief innings across two minor league levels. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 245 pounds, Ribalta is set to make his MLB debut when enter a game, although he is likely to be used in lower-pressure situations. Ribalta's pitching arsenal includes a high-90s four-seam fastball, a sinker, a slider, and a changeup. While Ribalta may give up hits, his strong pitching attributes position him as an interesting bullpen option for the future.
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