MLB 2024 | Yariel looked impressive; Yandy with one RBI in win; Cortés still seeks his first victory

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources

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Yariel Rodríguez tossed four hitless innings on Tuesday for Triple-A Buffalo.

Rodriguez looked extremely impressive in his minor-league debut after failing to make Toronto’s season-opening rotation. The 27-year-old Cuban righty, who signed a five-year, $32 million contract during the offseason, piled up six strikeouts and only issued one walk, needing just 55 pitches to navigate four frames. It’s possible he’ll be summoned to make his major-league debut in the near future, especially if Bowden Francis continues to struggle.

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Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored in Tuesday’s win over the Rangers. Randy Arozarena and Adolis García also singled.

Díaz laced a single to right field in the third inning to give the Rays their first run of the day. Díaz would score in the bottom of the fifth inning after reaching base via a walk and is now hitting .261 on the young campaign. Díaz has cooled off after starting 5-for-9 at the plate through his first two games. Tuesday’s lone hit brought him to 1-for-14 over his last three games. In the same game for the Rays, Randy Arozarena went 1-for-3 with a run, a RBI, and a walk while for the Rangers, Adolis García went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

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Néstor Cortés allowed three runs in five innings Tuesday in a loss to the Diamondbacks.

Cortés (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. He struck out two. Cortés allowed three runs in the first inning for a second-straight start Tuesday. Like his previous outing versus Houston, Cortés would rebound to blank the Diamondbacks over his final four frames, though he'd ultimately take the loss as the Yankees couldn't crack Zac Gallen in a shutout defeat. Cortés will look to limit the early damage in his next start, currently lined up for next week versus Miami.

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Tuesday, Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert Jr. combined for two hits.

As a team, Moncada and Robert combined for two hits against the Braves in a 3-2 Chicago victory. Furthermore, Moncada walked and struck out, while Robert scored one run and struck out as well.

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Aledmys Díaz has yet to resume running.

Aledmys Díaz has resumed baseball activities, but hasn’t progressed to running yet, after landing on the injured list last week with a calf strain. He figures to be ready to make his season debut later this month.

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The season has started slowly for Yordan Álvarez and José Abreu.

In Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, Álvarez and Abreu each had one hit, but power still eludes them. Both Alvarez and Abreu went 1-for-4, with Abreu striking out twice. This season, Alvarez is slashing .125/.222/.125 while Abreu is sitting at .105/.190/.105, neither is homering or driving in runs. 

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Marlins designated RHP Vladimir Gutiérrez for assignment Monday.

Gutiérrez was added to Miami’s active roster over the weekend and wound up allowing four runs over four innings on Sunday in relief against the Pirates. The 28-year-old righty will presumably head back to Triple-A Jacksonville, if he goes unclaimed on waivers. Miami called up Kent Emanuel from Triple-A Jacksonville to replace Gutierrez as a long man out of the bullpen.

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