Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Raisel Iglesias pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save against the Nationals on Thursday. Raisel Iglesias secured the save on Thursday against Washington, giving up one hit without any strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning. This performance was crucial for Iglesias, who had allowed a run in each of his last three outings and had blown two of his previous four save opportunities. The 35-year-old has been unusually poor in 2025, with a 5.71 ERA over 17.1 innings, after achieving a sub-3.00 ERA in the past five seasons, including a 1.95 ERA over 69.1 innings in 2024. Andy Pagés boosts Dodgers with a home run. Andy Pagés went 1-for-3 in the Dodgers' 19-2 victory over the Athletics, hitting a home run, driving in three runs, and scoring once. He was later substituted by Chris Taylor. This marked Pagés' eighth home run of the year, bringing his RBI total to 24 for the season. Pagés is batting .291 with eight home runs over 41 games this season. He's been versatile in the outfield and continues to excel at the plate, posting a slash line of .313/.333/.516 with three home runs and thirteen RBIs in his last fifteen games. With 24 RBIs, he's already surpassed half of his 2024 total (46) and is just five home runs short of his personal best (13). Adolis García recorded one hit on Thursday. Adolis García recorded a hit in three at-bats during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Astros. His only hit was his ninth double of the season. Having participated in 44 games this year, García is now hitting .239/.269/.413 in May. He has accumulated 6 home runs and 24 RBIs in 2025. Miguel Vargas achieved a game with multiple hits. In Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Reds, Miguel Vargas went 2-for-4 and drove in the White Sox's sole RBI. As the leadoff hitter, Vargas maintained his impressive performance over the last 15 games, posting a .278/.371/.444 slash line with 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, and four multi-hit games. Cionel Pérez continues to remain scoreless. Cionel Pérez returned to the mound during the Orioles' 4-0 defeat against the Twins on Thursday. He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, issuing one walk and striking out one batter. This marked his third straight appearance without surrendering a run. His ERA dropped from 8.44 to 7.64 for the season, and in May, he has pitched 4 2/3 innings with a 1.93 ERA, though his strikeout-to-walk ratio remains a subpar 4:6. Luis Robert Jr. hitless on Thursday. Luis Robert Jr. did not get any hits in Thursday's 7-1 defeat against the Reds. Robert went 0-for-3 and struck out once. He has failed to get a hit in three of his last four games. Amid ongoing trade rumors before the July 31 trade deadline, Luis Robert's season slash line has dropped to .186/.290/.314, with a high strikeout rate of 29.8%. Nevertheless, he tops the MLB in steals with 17 and excels as a defender in center field. Yordan Álvarez was still absent. Yordan Álvarez is still "a few days away" from rejoining the lineup, as reported by Matt Kawahara. On Thursday, Yordan practiced hitting in the cage again, and manager Joe Espada mentioned that everything went as expected. It seems likely that Yordan will be back during Houston's weekend series, although he was not in the lineup on Thursday against the Rangers. When he does return, fans hope that the muscle strain in his hand will be a thing of the past, allowing him to improve his performance at the plate following a challenging start with a .210/.306/.340 slash line in his first 100 at-bats in 2025. Edgar Quero had the afternoon off. Edgar Quero was not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds. He took a break for the day game, having started as catcher in the first two games of the series in Cincinnati.

The Leñadores' hopes of topping the standings in the qualifying stage of the III Cuban Elite Baseball League (III ELCB) vanished after they forfeited to Granma on Thursday, despite winning the game at Julio A. Mella Park with a score of 12-11. The game was forfeited following a complaint from Granma's manager because relief pitcher Jesús Enrique Pérez, who was not listed on the roster for Thursday's game, was utilized. The inexplicable events surrounding Las Tunas and its manager, Abeisy Pantoja, ended with a forfeit defeat for Las Tunas this Thursday, and the team's chances of advancing to the postseason as the top seed in the qualifying stage of the III ELCB were dashed. (Photo by Periódico26) It was a tough setback for Las Tunas fans, who can't comprehend how a mentor like Abeisy Pantoja, with his experience in recent international events, could make such a fundamental error, particularly in a tournament regarded as the pinnacle of Cuban baseball. Jesús E. Pérez took the mound in the seventh inning when Las Tunas was ahead 8-6. He managed to get only one out before the umpires replaced him, following an appeal by Granma manager Ángel Ortega. Granma eventually tied the game in that inning. Since the possibility of sweeping Granma and advancing to the postseason in first place has been eliminated, the semifinal matchups for this III ELCB are now determined. As anticipated, Las Tunas, in second place, will compete against Santiago de Cuba, in third place, while the leader, Ciego de Ávila, will take on fourth-place Industriales. The postseason schedule for this III ELCB is still pending announcement. Thursday's game was dominated by offense, with both teams combining for 23 runs and 34 hits. Additionally, there were five errors recorded, four of them for Las Tunas team. Out of the nine pitchers used by the teams, seven were unable to hold back the opposing offenses. Lázaro Ponce excelled once more for Las Tunas, achieving a flawless performance by going 5-for-5 and driving in four runs. Darián Palma also contributed significantly for Granma, with four RBIs in a 2-for-5 performance that featured a crucial bases-loaded double. Interestingly, despite the high level of offense, no home runs were hit. Both teams are set to return to the field this Friday at 2:00 p.m., with Granma aiming for another win to help them avoid ending up in last place in the tournament.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Andy Pagés with his seventh homer. In Wednesday's 9-3 win over the A's, Andy Pagés achieved three hits in four at-bats, including a solo home run. Pagés went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's series opener, ending an eight-game hitting streak, but he bounced back on Wednesday with his seventh home run and his fifth three-hit performance of the season. The 24-year-old started the season with a .544 OPS in his first 20 games, but over his last 20 games, he's hitting .388 (33-for-85) with 11 extra-base hits, five stolen bases, 16 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. The three hits and a walk, along with his seventh homer of the season, have him slashing .291/.346/.486, and he's driven in 21 runs despite often batting closer to the bottom of the lineup than the top. On Wednesday, Adolis García hit his sixth home run of the year. Adolis García went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk, and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 victory over Colorado. This was the 10th multi-hit game of the season for Adolis, who also recorded his sixth home run of the year. The experienced outfielder has been in the cleanup spot for six of Texas' last seven games, though he's hitting just .185 with two doubles and four RBI during this stretch. Adolis started Wednesday with an impressive 15.7 percent barrel rate for the season and has homered only twice in May. With his home run, he increased his season OPS to .683. Luis Robert Jr. secures his 17th stolen base. Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a run scored, and a stolen base during Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Reds. He played a key role in several rallies, made a spectacular catch in center field, and secured his league-leading 17th stolen base of the season. The steal marked his 10th in his last 15 games, as he stole second base in the second inning after getting on base with a single. The 27-year-old is currently slashing .190/.296/.321 over 137 at-bats, but he has hit three home runs, stolen 10 bases, and achieved an .803 OPS in his last 15 games. Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the ninth inning on Wednesday and took the loss in relief against the Tigers. For the Tigers Andy Ibáñez scored the decisive run. Aroldis Chapman (2-2) failed to secure the save and took the loss against the Tigers on Wednesday, conceding one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one batter in 2/3 innings. Chapman entered in the ninth inning with the task of maintaining the 5-5 tie. After walking Andy Ibáñez, he managed to retire the next two batters by striking out Trey Sweeney and getting Javier Báez to pop out. However, Ibáñez stole second and advanced to third due to a throwing error by catcher Connor Wong. Chapman was unable to push the game into extra innings when Justyn-Henry Malloy delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to win it for the Tigers. This marked Chapman's first blown save of the season, and the veteran left-hander now has a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 16 innings. In the game for Detroit, Andy Ibáñez scored the decisive run after coming in as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He reached base with a walk and then stole second. Despite his limited role, he has a batting line of .304/.370/.348 with 4 RBIs in 23 at-bats over his last 15 games. Randy Arozarena remains perfect in steals. Randy Arozarena went 0-for-2 with a stolen base and was hit by two pitches during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees. Despite being hit twice, Arozarena remained in the game, playing left field. Since last week's minor hamstring injury scare, he has gone 7-for-24 (.292) over eight games. This season, he has successfully stolen nine bases. Arozarena has a .236/.385/.414 slash line, with five home runs, 20 RBIs, 18 runs scored, and 10 doubles over 40 games. Yariel Rodríguez achieved his fifth hold of the year. Yariel Rodríguez earned his fifth hold of the season in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Rays, striking out one batter during a scoreless eighth inning. This marked Yariel's fourth straight appearance without giving up a run, and his fifth such performance in six outings in May. Throughout this month, he has limited opponents to a mere .130 batting average over 7 1/3 innings. This impressive showing has helped him reduce his ERA from 5.68 to a respectable 4.05 for the year. Edgar Quero collects a single. Edgar Quero recorded a hit in five at-bats, striking out twice, in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Reds. Serving as catcher and batting third, Quero is currently hitting .296/.390/.338 for the season, with zero home runs and nine RBIs. His power remains absent, as he has managed just three doubles and no home runs in 22 games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. contributes two hits and a run on Wednesday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. played a key role in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 8-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants by securing 2 hits, including a double, and scoring a run. His recent performance against the Giants increased his season total to 34 hits in 152 at-bats. Gurriel's batting average is now .224, with a slugging percentage of .428. In the last three games, he has maintained a batting average of .522 with three doubles. On the road, Gurriel holds an average of .276, contributing four home runs and 11 RBIs. Yennier Cano suffers another loss and blew a save opportunity. Yennier Cano suffered a loss in the second game of a doubleheader against the Twins on Wednesday. Cano entered the 8th inning with a 6-5 advantage but allowed a single to Willi Castro. Castro then stole second base and advanced to third on a balk by Cano. The Cuban reliever walked Royce Lewis, putting runners on the corners. Subsequently, he gave up a three-run homer to Kody Clemens, which handed the Twins a crucial 8-6 lead. Cano experienced his third loss in his last seven games, during which he has been struggling with a poor 11.81 ERA, giving up seven earned runs in only 5 1/3 innings. Cionel Pérez delivered an inning without allowing any runs. Cionel Pérez delivered a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Twins. He gave up a single and issued a walk but managed to keep the inning scoreless over 14 pitches. This outing helped reduce his season ERA to a still high 8.44. His strikeout-to-walk ratio remains poor at 16:15, but performances like this can boost his confidence and help him return to his 2022 form. Miguel Vargas went hitless on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Miguel Vargas didn't get any hits in the White Sox's 4-2 win over the Reds. Vargas went 0-for-5 but did not strike out. Following an 8-game hitting streak at the end of April and into his first game in May, his season average increased to .222., but Vargas has slowed down a bit and is currently slashing .200/.304/.425 in May, with three hitless games in his last four appearances. On Wednesday, Jorge Soler and Yoán Moncada together managed to get one hit. Jorge Soler and Yoán Moncada together managed just one hit in the Angels' 5-1 loss to the Padres. Soler contributed the sole hit for the duo, finishing 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. On the other hand, Moncada had a night without hits, going 0-for-4 and also striking out twice. Additionally, he committed his second error of the season. Adrián Morejón secured his sixth hold of the 2025 season. Adrián Morejón delivered a swift, scoreless inning on Wednesday, contributing to a 5-1 win over the Angels. He efficiently completed his task with just seven pitches, five of which were strikes. This performance earned Morejón his sixth hold of the season and reduced his ERA to 3.32. In April, he allowed only three runs over 12 outings and 11 2/3 innings. However, in May, he has already given up four runs in just five games, all of which occurred during his rough outing on May 6 against the Yankees.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks took a first step toward reclaiming the top spot in the Third Cuban Baseball Elite League (III ELCB) with a resounding 18-5 rout of the Granma Alazanes at Julio A. Mella Stadium in Las Tunas. The seven-inning victory was their first in a four-game series, the final series of the qualifying round of the tournament, which should determine the top two spots heading into the postseason. For Las Tunas to overtake current leader Ciego de Ávila, the team must win the remaining three games against Granma. This Wednesday, a powerful 16-hit, 18-run offense propelled the team to an easy victory. The Las Tunas team sealed the game between the second and fourth innings, scoring three, five, and eight runs, respectively, to secure a comfortable 16-5 lead after four innings. The offensive effort included four home runs: a two-run shot by Yunier Rondón, a grand slam by first baseman Lázaro Ponce who overall drove in five runs in the game, a homer by catcher Deismel Hurtado who brought in three runs, and a two-run homer by pinch-hitter Yordan Molina in the sixth inning, completing the team's 18 runs. Lázaro Ponce hit a grand slam in Las Tunas' victory over Granma on Wednesday. (Lázaro Ponce Instagram photo) Right-handed pitcher Sammy E. Benítez (4-3) was unable to pitch beyond the third inning, responsible for the first seven runs scored by Las Tunas, with five being earned. Benítez gave up seven hits, including a three-run homer by Hurtado in the second inning and a two-run homer by Rondón in the third. Granma turned to its bullpen in the third inning to halt the opposing offense, but it was ineffective, as relievers Yurisbel Rivera and Railán Santana gave up an additional nine hits and eleven runs. Meanwhile, right-hander Albert Valladares, the starter for Las Tunas, also couldn't secure a decision, having allowed five runs by Granma in his 3 1/3 innings on the mound. In the second inning, Granma took the lead with a four-run inning, which included a two-run homer by Yordanis Samón. The following inning, they added another run by combining three hits. However, when Valladares hit Samón with a pitch in the fourth inning with one out, the home plate umpire, Omar Peralta, immediately ejected Valladares from the game, while Samón continued to complain about being struck. Ultimately, the ejection turned out to be advantageous for the Las Tunas team. They successfully combined relief efforts from Keniel Ferráz (1 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 1 strikeout, 1 walk), Rodolfo Silva (1 inning, 1 hit), and closer Alberto P. Civil (1 inning, 2 hits, 1 strikeout) to prevent the Granma team from scoring any more runs. Ferráz was credited with the win. The two teams will face off again this Thursday at 2:00 pm.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Miguel Vargas went 2-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored on Tuesday evening, propelling the White Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Reds in 10 innings. Vargas smacked a leadoff double off of Andrew Abbott in the fourth inning and scored the game’s first run on an RBI knock by Edgar Quero. He then broke it open with a 373-foot (101.7 mph EV) three-run blast off of Emilio Pagan in the 10th inning that increased the White Sox’ lead to 5-1. He's looked much better at the plate over the last few weeks, slashing .328/.414/.541 with three homers, nine RBI, 10 runs and a 9:7 BB:K in 17 games. Overall, Vargas has picked up the pace considerably since his brutal start to the season and is now hitting .221/.314/.350 with three homers and 15 RBI on the season. Aroldis Chapman pitched one scoreless inning. Aroldis Chapman maintained his impressive performance in the 2025 season by pitching a scoreless inning during Boston's 10-9 loss to Detroit in extra innings. With the game tied, Chapman took the mound in the ninth inning, striking out one batter in a 12-pitch inning that included 9 strikes. This marked his third consecutive appearance without giving up a run, following a run allowed against Texas on May 7. His ERA for the year dropped to 1.76, with a 2-1 record and 6 saves over 17 games. Edgar Quero continues to make an impact. On Tuesday against the Reds, Edgar Quero had a strong performance, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. This marked his sixth multi-hit game of the season and his second with three hits. Quero is having a solid rookie year, posting a .308/.379/.346 line with 4 RBIs over his last seven games. Since his debut on April 17, he has accumulated 77 plate appearances, maintaining a .303 average with a good 11:9 K:BB ratio. Yandy Díaz is set to miss the three-game series with the Blue Jays because of a passport problem. Yandy Díaz was added to the restricted list before Tuesday’s series opener in Canada due to a delay in renewing his passport, which could not be expedited. Jonathan Aranda will fill in at the cold corner during his absence. The 33-year-old veteran is expected to return for Friday’s game against the Marlins at loanDepot park. This season, Yandy has a slash line of .238/.291/.400, with six home runs, 20 RBIs, and two stolen bases over 40 games. After missing two games due to soreness in his right knee, Luis Robert Jr. returned to start in center field on Tuesday. Luis Robert Jr. batted fourth against left-hander Andrew Abbott, but he had a rough game, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout. Despite ongoing trade rumors, Robert's batting average has dropped to a disappointing .179 (24-for-134), with only 5 home runs and 16 RBIs. However, he remains tied for the lead in MLB steals with 16. Jorge Soler and Yoán Moncada delivered matching performances on Tuesday. In Tuesday's surprising 6-4 loss by the Angels to the Padres, Jorge Soler and Yoán Moncada had identical performances at the plate. Both went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. Soler is enduring a tough May, hitting just 7-for-37 over 11 games with a slash line of .189/.302/.297. In contrast, Moncada has been thriving in May, with a slash line of .286/.394/.643, including 2 home runs and 6 RBIs. Adolis García recorded one hit on Tuesday. In the Rangers' 4-1 victory over the Rockies on Tuesday, Adolis García had one hit in four at-bats. His sole hit was his ninth double of the season. The powerful outfielder now has 14 extra-base hits, including five home runs, and has driven in 22 RBIs this year. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with multi-hit performance. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-3 with a walk in the D-backs' 10-6 defeat to the Giants on Tuesday. Gurriel has achieved ten multi-hit games in 2025 and is hitting 15-for-47 (.319) with three home runs, five doubles, and ten RBIs in May. This productive period is helping him recover from a slow start to the season. The veteran outfielder is currently batting .224 with a .680 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBIs, 14 runs scored, ten doubles, and one stolen base over 39 games. Andy Pagés went hitless on Tuesday. In the Dodgers' 11-1 loss to the A's, Andy Pagés went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Pagés is currently experiencing his best MLB season, posting a .278/.333/.458 slash line with 6 home runs and 20 RBIs in a highly competitive and challenging Dodgers lineup. In his second MLB year, he is projected to exceed all his personal records, including last year's totals of 100 hits, 1 triple, 13 homers, 46 RBIs, and 29 walks. Randy Arozarena hitless on Tuesday. In an 11-inning game where the Mariners defeated the Yankees 2-1, Randy Arozarena struggled, finishing 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He faced ace Max Fried in his first two at bats, but struck out in his final two at-bats against the Yankees bullpen. Despite a challenging start to the season, Arozarena has improved, achieving a slash line of .300/.435/.440 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 11 walks over his last 15 games. Yordan Álvarez remained on the injured list and did not play in Tuesday’s game against the Royals. Yordan Álvarez began batting on Monday as he progresses in his recovery from a muscle strain in his right hand. The Astros are likely to activate him once he feels ready, with Thursday being the most probable day for his return. Néstor Cortés is currently engaged in a throwing program. According to MLB.com, Néstor Cortés began playing catch again last week. After being placed on the injured list on April 6 due to a left elbow flexor strain, Cortés received a platelet-rich plasma injection and was sidelined for about a month before being allowed to start his throwing program. The Brewers have not yet confirmed that Cortés has been approved for mound work, so he is likely still working on increasing his throwing distance on flat ground. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 21 and will not be eligible to return to Milwaukee until early June.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Raisel Iglesias took a blown save but wound up with a win Monday against the Nationals. Raisel Iglesias (3-3) blew the save but secured the win on Monday in a 4-3 triumph over the Nationals, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk in an inning of relief. He struck out one batter. The struggling closer faced another challenging night as he gave up a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, though Atlanta managed a walk-off win in the bottom of the inning. A Nick Allen error contributed to the situation, but Iglesias has allowed eight hits and five runs (four earned) in his last three outings, resulting in a concerning 6.06 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 16.1 innings, despite a 19:4 K:BB ratio. He has converted only six of nine save opportunities, and his average fastball velocity has decreased to 94.7 mph, his lowest since 2016. Randy Arozarena achieved a multi-hit game, matching the franchise's longest on-base streak since 2016. Randy Arozarena had a multihit performance in the Mariners' 11-5 defeat to the Yankees on Monday. Arozarena ended the game 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. He was the only Mariners player to achieve multiple hits, extending a personal best streak. Arozarena was walked in the bottom of the second inning, reaching base safely for the 34th consecutive game. This streak is the second-longest in the major leagues, following Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber (47 games). Arozarena's walk also matched him with multi-time All-Star and former Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano for the franchise's longest on-base streak since 2016. Arozarena's streak started on March 31 against the Detroit Tigers. During this period, Arozarena is hitting .262 with 10 doubles, four homers, and 19 RBIs. He's also scored 16 runs and is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts. Arozarena and Cano are tied for the third-longest on-base streak in the last 20 years of the franchise. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. delivered a multi-hit performance and made an impressive catch. The Arizona Diamondbacks narrowly defeated the San Francisco Giants with a thrilling 2-1 win at Oracle Park. During the game, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had an impressive performance, going 2-for-4 with both hits being doubles. Gurriel also made an unforgettable catch in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game 2-1, a moment that will be remembered for years. Heliot Ramos hit a line drive that appeared poised to change the outcome of the game. With a mix of agility and determination, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leaped through the air to make a catch that Diamondbacks fans will remember for years. This was more than just a catch; it was a declaration, maintaining a narrow lead that ultimately secured the game for Arizona. Adolis García with no hits. Adolis García went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Texas 2-1 win over Colorado on Monday. He appeared uncomfortable at the plate against right-hander Chase Dollander, who struck him out twice. Over his last 15 games, Adolis has shown more consistency, recording 11 RBIs in 54 at-bats, though he has also struck out 16 times. For the year, he has five home runs and 22 RBIs. Adrián Morejón was credited with a hold. Left-handed pitcher Adrián Morejón secured one out on Monday during the Padres' 9-5 loss to the Angels. He took over for reliever Jeremiah Estrada in the seventh inning with two outs, as the Angels posed a scoring threat with two runners on base. Morejón ended the threat by getting Nolan Schanuel to line out to center field. This marked Morejón's fifth hold of the year, reducing his ERA to 3.50 over 19 games and 18 innings. He holds a 1-1 record with one save and a 15:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Jorge Soler went hitless. In a 9-5 Angels victory over the Padres, Jorge Soler had a rough night, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. However, he managed to get on base twice through two walks. Soler is currently struggling, posting a slash line of .190/.370/.238 over his last seven games, with just four hits in 21 at-bats, no home runs, three RBIs, and six strikeouts. Yoán Moncada reached base three times on Monday. During the Angels' 9-5 victory over the Padres, Yoán Moncada reached base three times. He recorded a 1-for-3 performance, hitting his fourth double of the season. Additionally, Moncada drew two walks, scored twice, contributed one RBI, and struck out once. Over his last seven games, Moncada has been on the rise, recording a slash line of .292/.414/.708, with two home runs, six runs scored, and six RBIs. Yordan Álvarez practiced in the batting cage before Monday's game at Daikin Park. Yordan Álvarez is set to be removed from the injured list today, although this might be optimistic as he has only recently started hitting again. Astros general manager Dana Brown mentioned in a pregame radio interview over the weekend that Álvarez might return for Thursday's series opener against the Rangers. The 27-year-old power hitter is recovering from a muscle strain in his right hand. It seems likely that he will be back at some point this week.

Manager Eddy Cajigal was determined for his Santiago de Cuba Wasps to reach the postseason of the Third Cuban Elite Baseball League (III ELCB). With a powerful offensive display of 15 hits and two home runs, the team achieved a historic four-game sweep of the reigning two-time Cuban champions, the Las Tunas Leñadores, at the Guillermón Moncada Stadium on Monday. This victory propelled them into the decisive stage of the tournament, even moving the Industriales Blues out of third place. While the game was closely contested during the first four innings, with Santiago de Cuba leading 5-2, largely due to Rolando Veranes' three-run homer in the third inning, the Santiago de Cuba team accelerated their efforts in the sixth inning. They clinched the game by scoring seven runs, thereby securing their place in the playoffs. Until that inning, the Leñadores' starting pitcher, right-hander Rubén Rodríguez (2-3), had been enduring an attack of eight hits and five runs, attempting to match Santiago's starter Osvaldo Acuña, who conceded single runs in the second and third innings, which were the only runs Las Tunas scored in the game. After Veranes hit a home run in the bottom of the third inning, changing the score to give the Wasps a 4-2 advantage, Las Tunas managed to get a runner into scoring position in the fourth inning with two outs. Coach Cajigal decided not to wait any longer, pulling Acuña from the mound after 3 2/3 innings. Acuña was responsible for the runner on base, and also for five hits, and the two runs that Las Tunas had scored thus far. Right-hander Wilber Reyna led Santiago de Cuba to secure a spot in the III ELCB postseason with a one-hit relief performance. (Photo by Jit) However, bringing right-hander Wilber Reyna (2-6) out of the bullpen was essential for the Wasps' decisive victory. Reyna stopped any further scoring in the inning by inducing Yuniesky Larduet to ground out to third base, starting a streak of nine consecutive batters retired. As Santiago was already ahead on the scoreboard, 12-2 in the seventh inning with two outs, Reyna allowed Las Tunas' first batter, Larduet, to reach base after being hit by a pitch. Shortly after, he gave up the only hit of the afternoon, a left-field shot by Luis V. Mateo. During the most significant threat faced by the Santiago reliever in his 3 1/3 innings of work, he stayed calm, finishing the game by getting Yunier Rondón out with a line out to third baseman Andy Rodríguez. This play secured Santiago de Cuba's first-ever postseason qualification in an Elite League. Third baseman Andy Rodríguez played a key role in the pivotal seven-run sixth inning, hitting a two-run homer that forced starter Rubén Rodríguez out of the game and increased the Wasps' lead to 8-2. This inning included an RBI single by catcher Alexander Llánes, a two-run double by Rolando Veranes, a run-scoring double by Edilse Silva, and a single by Luis O. Veranes that drove in the final run of the inning, all against Las Tunas' first reliever, right-hander Anier Pérez. This marked the first occasion that Las Tunas was swept in a four-game series during a Elite League season. In the previous edition of these tournaments, in 2023-2024, Santiago nearly swept Las Tunas. Between December 12 and 14, 2023, they won the first three games of that series with scores of 12-1, 4-1, and 1-0. However, on December 15, Las Tunas scored two runs in the eighth inning against Monday's starter, right-hander Osvaldo Acuña, breaking a 4-4 tie and securing a 6-4 victory, thus avoiding a sweep they couldn't avoid on Monday. Santiago concluded the qualifying stage of the III ELCB strongly, securing victories in seven of its final 10 games. In the last series, the team scored 49 runs across four games, bolstered by an offense that hit 13 home runs and averaged 16 hits per game, totaling 65 hits. Las Tunas has much to consider, having lost seven of its last ten games. For the first time, the team was swept in an Elite League. Both its starting and relief pitchers were overwhelmed by Santiago's offense in this series, and they are likely to encounter the same opponent in the postseason. Both teams now have to wait for their opponent, which will be determined from Wednesday to Saturday when Las Tunas plays against Granma in a four-game series. The only alteration in the standings, affecting the matchup of opponents, would happen if Las Tunas manages to sweep Granma. If not, the semifinals of the III Elite League postseason will feature Ciego de Ávila (1st) against Industriales (4th) and Las Tunas (2nd) against Santiago de Cuba (3rd). Possible scenarios Las Tunas defeats Granma 4-0 in the series: With a 25-15 record, Las Tunas takes the lead, while Ciego de Ávila holds the second spot with a 24-16 record. Las Tunas defeats Granma in the series 3-1: Although both teams finish with identical records (24-16), Ciego de Ávila secures first place by winning the overall series between them, 5-3. Any other scenario, even if Granma sweeps, would result in Las Tunas finishing in second place.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a two-run lead, securing his sixth save on Sunday against the Royals. Aroldis Chapman secured the save in Sunday's 3-1 victory over the Royals by giving up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. Chapman was brought in to confront the core of the Royals' lineup and navigated through an error and a single to achieve his sixth save in as many opportunities. The save enabled Chapman to achieve 341 in Major League Baseball, equaling the legendary Rollie Fingers for the 15th position on the all-time saves list. The seasoned closer has been exceptional this season, recording a 1.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 20:5 K:BB ratio over 14.1 innings. Andy Pagés extends his hitting streak to eight games. Andy Pagés went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 8-1 victory over the Diamondbacks. This performance extended his hitting streak to eight games, during which he's hit 12-for-36 (.333) with six RBIs and two steals. Currently, Pagés is playing a full-time role in right field, filling in for the injured Teoscar Hernández. Although he had a slow start to the season, Pagés has improved to a .286/.342/.471 slash line, with six home runs, five steals, 20 RBIs, 20 runs scored, six doubles, and a triple over 38 games this season. He has recorded multiple hits in nine of his last 18 games and has only gone hitless twice in that stretch. Adolis García steals fifth base in victory. Adolis García had a performance of 2-for-5, including a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Tigers. He doubled and scored in the second inning, then scored again after a stolen base in the third. The 32-year-old had been in an 0-for-11 slump before Sunday, although he has recorded three multi-hit games in 10 appearances in May. For the season, he's batting .225 with five home runs, 22 RBIs, 13 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 157 plate appearances. Raisel Iglesias credited with the loss. Raisel Iglesias (2-3) suffered the loss in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning. The experienced closer came in during the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3 but couldn't push the game into extra innings. Iglesias appeared shaky from the outset, allowing two consecutive singles to start the inning, though neither was hit hard. The game concluded on a fielder's choice when the Atlanta infield failed to turn a Joey Bart groundball into an out. After achieving an impressive 1.95 ERA over 69.1 innings in 2024, Iglesias has struggled this season, posting a 5.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 15.1 innings, while already giving up six home runs. Jorge Soler was included in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles. Jorge Soler started at designated hitter and batted third in Sunday's game against the Orioles. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Soler was out of the lineup for the previous two games due to a groin injury, though the fact that he was deployed as a pinch hitter in Friday's 4-1 loss suggested that the Angels weren't too concerned about the issue. He took back his normal duties at DH in the series finale and should be in store for a full slate of starts during the Angels' upcoming six-game week. The 33-year-old veteran slugger is hitting .233 with six homers and 16 RBI through 37 games this season in his Angels debut. José Iglesias remains in a backup position. Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that José Iglesias was not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. In April, Iglesias was the Padres' main second baseman, but he returned to a backup position after Jake Cronenworth came off the injured list on Friday. Additionally, Iglesias is hitting just .050 (1-for-20) in May, which provides San Diego with little motivation to include him in the lineup in other positions. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went hitless Sunday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get any hits on Sunday in the 8-1 defeat against the Dodgers. He went 0-for-4 with one strikeout. Despite hitting a grand slam on Friday, he was unexpectedly benched on Saturday. Gurriel leads all Cuban players in the Majors with 7 home runs and 25 RBIs but has a low slash line of .207/.232/.407. Edgar Quero was taking a break again on Sunday. Edgar Quero was not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. He was given a rest after going 0-for-4 and catching all nine innings in Saturday's game. Miguel Vargas missed Sunday's lineup because of a problem with his right calf. Miguel Vargas was absent from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins due to a right calf injury, as reported by Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com. Although Vargas sat out for the second consecutive day, his injury is deemed minor, and he was available to play on Sunday if necessary. The 25-year-old has primarily maintained an everyday role this season, but the White Sox intend to rotate Tim Elko, Vargas, and Andrew Vaughn between first base and designated hitter when facing right-handed pitchers. Vargas is expected to continue playing regularly against left-handers while sharing third base duties with Josh Rojas in a platoon. Yordan Álvarez is anticipated to start hitting off a batting tee again on Monday. Astros general manager Dana Brown mentioned in a radio interview on Sunday that Yordan might return for Thursday’s series opener against the Rangers. He is recovering from a muscle strain in his right hand, and it’s promising that he is beginning to show progress. The 27-year-old managed to grip a bat on Sunday for the first time since being placed on the injured list earlier this week. The team is expected to announce a definitive return date once Yordan can face live pitching without any complications in the next few days. Luis Robert Jr. was not included in the lineup for Sunday's final game of the series against the Marlins. Luis Robert Jr was benched for the second game in a row due to soreness in his right knee. Although there isn't significant concern at the moment, it's a situation that requires ongoing monitoring. Additionally, Bob Nightengale reported yesterday that the Mets have shown interest in Luis Robert, and the White Sox are considering pitching prospect Blade Tidwell, who made his major-league debut last week in a spot start against the Cardinals, as part of a trade package involving Luis Robert Jr. There is no information on other teams that may have contacted Chicago about a potential deal. Robert, who leads the American League with 15 steals this season in 37 games, is expected to be one of the more influential hitters traded before this summer’s deadline.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove five runs on Friday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-5 with a grand slam and an additional RBI in Friday's 14-11 loss to the Dodgers. Gurriel contributed to a mid-game comeback effort for the Diamondbacks. He drove in a run with a groundout in the fourth inning before hitting a game-tying grand slam in the fifth. The outfielder is 11-for-36 (.306) in May, with three home runs, 10 RBI, and five runs scored over nine games this month. Overall, the 31-year-old is batting .213 with a .657 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 14 runs scored, eight doubles, and a stolen base through 36 games. His strikeout rate is a career-best 12.6 percent, but he's not capitalizing on that improvement with more contact. Jorge Soler removed from Friday's lineup. According to Sam Blum of The Athletic, Jorge Soler was removed from the Angels' lineup for their game against the Orioles on Friday because of tightness in his groin. The injury doesn't seem to be serious, as Soler entered the game as a pinch hitter and was walked. This season, he has a batting line of .231/.292/.431, with six home runs and 16 RBIs over 145 plate appearances. Adolis García hitless on Friday. Adolis García went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 2-1 loss to the Tigers on Friday. Despite this setback, he is still hitting a stronger .261/.296/.391 slash line over his last seven games, compared to his .226/.279/.391 for the season. In summary, while Friday's game against the Tigers may not have been a highlight for Adolis García, his recent performance indicates a positive trend. As he aims to build on his recent success, it will be interesting to observe how he adapts and evolves as the season progresses, potentially leading to a significant improvement in his overall statistics and contributions to the team's success. Aroldis Chapman returned to the mound to face the Royals. The Boston Red Sox suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat in 12 innings to the Royals on Friday. During the game, Aroldis Chapman returned to the mound, delivering a flawless 10th inning. He struck out two batters with just 16 pitches, 10 of which were strikes. This performance reduced his ERA to 2.03 for the season, with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 20:5 over 13 1/3 innings and five saves. Andy Pagés drove in three runs on Friday. In a thrilling 14-11 victory for the Dodgers over the D-backs on Friday, Andy Pagés contributed three RBIs. He achieved 2-for-5 at the plate, including his sixth double of the season, scored two runs, and had one strikeout. His double in the top of the ninth inning brought Freddy Freeman home, narrowing the score to 11-9 and effectively initiating the rally that enabled the Dodgers to stage a comeback by scoring six runs in that inning. Currently, he is batting a strong .282/.343/.481 for the season, with 13 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs, 20 runs scored, and three steals. Most importantly, he is showing consistency at the plate in nearly every game he plays, which is exactly what the Dodgers need from him. Miguel Vargas and Luis Robert Jr. both went hitless on Friday. In a 6-2 win over the Marlins on Friday, Miguel Vargas and Luis Robert Jr. went 0-for-7 collectively. Vargas drew one walk, while Luis Robert struck out once. Catcher Edgar Quero was given his second day off in the last three games. Randy Arozarena achieved a game with multiple hits. Randy Arozarena went 2-for-3 on Friday in a 6-3 defeat against the Blue Jays. He added an RBI and drew a walk. Arozarena's offensive performance is on the rise, boasting a .409/.536/.636 slash line with a home run and two RBIs over his last seven games. Yennier Cano secured his 8th hold of the season. Yennier Cano recorded one out on Friday during the Orioles' 4-1 win over the Angels. Cano came in for starter Tomoyuki Sugano in the eighth inning. Upon entering, he gave up a single to center by Jo Adell and then issued a walk to pinch hitter Jorge Soler. He managed to avert further issues by striking out Zach Neto in a 13 pitch at-bat, all before being swiftly replaced. This performance earned him his 8th hold of the season. Yandy Díaz went hitless against the Brewers. On Friday, the Rays defeated the Brewers 4-3, although Yandy Díaz had a tough game, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Despite this, he has been performing well lately, with a slash line of .305/.364/.525, including 3 home runs and 12 RBIs over his last 15 games. Orlando Ribalta is set to take part in a bullpen session. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Orlando Ribalta is set to have a bullpen session on Saturday, throwing 20 to 25 pitches. This session, consisting entirely of fastballs, will be Ribalta's first since he was placed on the 15-day injured list almost a month ago due to a right biceps strain. If everything proceeds smoothly, he will advance to facing hitters and eventually begin a rehab assignment. Andy Ibáñez hitless against the Rangers. During a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Friday, Andy Ibáñez started as the cleanup hitter and played third base. He recorded 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Despite a limited role this season, Ibáñez has recently improved, achieving a .400/.412/.467 slash line in his last seven games, scoring four runs, driving in four RBIs, and stealing a base. José Iglesias will return to the bench as the Padres have activated Jake Cronenworth from the 10-Day Injured List. The San Diego Padres announced on Friday that they reinstated infielder Jake Cronenworth from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfielder Oscar Gonzalez to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Cronenworth should be back at second base for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Cronenworth's return will push veteran José Iglesias back to a bench role. On Friday, during the 13-9 victory over the Rockies, Iglesias was limited to a pinch-hitting role. Cronenworth took on second base duties and batted sixth in the lineup, achieving a 1-for-3 performance with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI. Meanwhile, Iglesias went 0-for-1.

The Santiago de Cuba Wasps moved closer to securing a postseason spot in the Third Cuban Baseball Elite League (III ELCB) with a 14-8 win against Las Tunas this afternoon at Guillermón Moncada Park in Santiago de Cuba. The win allowed the Wasps to extend their lead to two games over their competitor for the last playoff position, the Granma Alazanes, and also narrowed the difference between second-place Ciego de Ávila and the leader Las Tunas to just half a game. Santiago trailed 7-3 at the bottom of the fifth inning when they began a comeback against Las Tunas starter Raidel Alfonso and first reliever Keniel Ferráz (2-1). They scored three runs in the fifth inning and added seven more in the seventh, maintaining the lead until the game concluded with a victory. In the fifth inning, starter Alfonso unraveled after giving up a leadoff single to José L. Gutiérrez and issuing a walk to Jeison Martínez. The pivotal moment came when Yoelquis Guibert hit his 11th home run of the season against Ferráz, a three-run shot that narrowed Santiago's deficit to 7-6. Two innings later, the crucial runs came in. Facing Ferráz once more, Gutiérrez and Martínez began the inning by getting on base with hits. They were then brought home by Eduardo García's double following Guibert's out. This hit changed the score, giving Santiago an 8-7 lead and bringing García's total RBIs in the game to four, solidifying his commanding lead in the category in the III ELCB, now totaling 47. Between Eduardo García (center) and Yoelkis Guibert (right), have contributed with 21 home runs and 78 RBIs to Santiago de Cuba in this Third Cuban Baseball Elite League. (Photo by Radio Bayamo) An intentional walk to Edilse Silva followed by a single from Luis Veranes added another run, prompting the Las Tunas reliever's exit. Right-hander Rodolfo Díaz then took the mound, and after the second out came from a fielder's choice grounder by catcher Alexander Llánes, shortstop Brayan Pérez delivered a crucial hit, smashing a three-run home run down the left field to push the lead to 12-7. Gutiérrez contributed the final run of the inning with a double to center after Maikol Poll's single. Ferráz pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs and five hits, and was ultimately credited with the loss. In the eighth inning, Santiago scored another run off the new reliever, veteran Yoelkis Cruz, when two hit-by-pitches were followed by a decisive RBI single from Veranes. After Santiago de Cuba took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by Eduardo García's 10th two-run home run of the season, Las Tunas made a strong comeback against Santiago de Cuba's starter Yosiel Serrano, forcing him out in the top of the fifth inning as they scored six runs. During that inning, the Leñadores amassed seven hits, including an RBI single by Yuniesky Larduet, a two-run triple by Yunier Rondón, a sacrifice fly by Leonel Moas that brought in another run, a single by Yordanys Alarcón for the fifth run, followed by a single from catcher Deismel Hurtado to finish the six-run rally. In the eighth inning, Larduet delivered an RBI double for the last run of the game for Las Tunas. The pair of Joel Tejeda (3-0) and Isdenis Núñez successfully halted Las Tunas' offense, pitching a combined 4 2/3 innings and allowing only two runs, with one strikeout and one walk, to clinch the crucial win. Tejeda, although giving up two runs, was effective over his 3 2/3 innings and earned the victory. Isdenis delivered a flawless performance in the ninth inning, despite it not being a save situation. The two teams are set to face off once more this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Guillermón Moncada stadium, for the second game in their four-game series. Las Tunas remains ahead in the overall series of this III ELCB, with a lead of 3 games to 2.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Yandy Díaz hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning on Thursday night, but the Rays suffered a tough loss to the Phillies. Yandy Díaz added crucial insurance for the Rays with his 362-foot (103.0 mph exit velocity) three-run homer off Tanner Banks, expanding their lead from 2-1 to 5-1. This was his only hit in five at-bats during the game. This season, the 33-year-old first baseman has a batting line of .255/.307/.430, with six home runs and 20 RBIs. Yandy currently boasts a .174 ISO over 163 plate appearances, which would be the second-highest of his career. Andy Ibáñez hit a single, a double, and brought in two runs on Thursday as the Tigers dominated the Rockies in the first game of their doubleheader. The 32-year-old player, known for his skill against left-handed pitchers, delivered by hitting a run-scoring double off Kyle Freeland to initiate the scoring in the first inning. He further contributed with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, increasing the Tigers' lead to 5-0. This season, his stats are .259/.339/.407, with two home runs and 12 RBIs. Yariel Rodríguez dazzles in relief Thursday. Yariel Rodríguez secured his fourth hold of the season during Thursday's victory over the Angels, conceding just one hit and striking out five across two scoreless innings. The 28-year-old right-hander efficiently used only 29 pitches (20 strikes) to achieve six outs, providing the Blue Jays' usual high-leverage pitchers some rest by covering the seventh and eighth innings. He might soon join that group himself, as Yariel has earned a hold in consecutive appearances, and in his last nine outings spanning 12.1 innings, he has maintained a 2.92 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 15:5 K:BB ratio. Yennier Cano took another loss. Yennier Cano suffered his second loss of the year following the Orioles' 5-2 defeat to the Twins on Thursday. Cano gave up two runs on two walks and struck out one in 1/3 of an inning. His walks were costly, allowing two of the three decisive runs in the 8th inning. Cano began the inning by walking Harrison Bader, who then stole second base. After striking out Christian Vázquez, Cano walked Byron Buxton. He was taken out afterward, but Gregory Soto allowed a double to center field by Brooks Lee, bringing both runners home. Cano's ERA is now 3.00, but over his last seven games, he has allowed 4 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, resulting in a 7.71 ERA during that period. Andy Pagés' hitting streak continues. In a 5-3 defeat against the D-backs on Thursday, Andy Pagés went 1-for-4, recording one RBI and two strikeouts. On April 5, Pagés was batting .100/.270/.133 and was in a 3-for-30 slump over his last 10 games. However, in recent weeks, he has turned things around and, prior to today's game, is hitting .397 with a .683 slugging percentage over his last 15 games. During this period, he has hit 4 home runs and has 11 RBIs, and with his hit on Thursday, he is on a 5-game hitting streak. Luis Robert Jr. had a single on Thursday. In a 10-0 defeat by the Royals on Thursday, Luis Robert Jr. managed a 1-for-4 performance with two strikeouts for the White Sox. Robert is facing challenges this season, posting a .192/.301/.336 slash line for a White Sox team that has started 10-28 following a historically poor 2024 season, where they ended 41-121. Despite this, Luis Robert is tied for the Major League lead in steals with 15, and trade rumors are persisting, expected to intensify as the July 31st deadline approaches. Adolis García hitless on Thursday. Adolis García went hitless in three at-bats, drawing one walk, during a 5-0 defeat against the Red Sox on Thursday. Recently, he has improved his performance at the plate, achieving six hits in 22 at-bats, including one home run and five RBIs over his last seven games. His OPS is currently .690 over 143 plate appearances. Edgar Quero recorded one hit. Edgar Quero had one hit in three at-bats and drew a walk during Thursday's 10-0 defeat against the Royals. In his rookie season, Quero has an OPS of .742, but the power he displayed in the Minor Leagues, where he hit 45 home runs and 79 doubles, is yet to be seen. Raisel Iglesias with tough outing on Thursday. Raisel Iglesias faced challenges during the Braves' 5-4 win in 11 innings against the Reds on Thursday. The veteran entered the game with the score tied and ended up surrendering another two-run homer, putting the Braves in a difficult position. Iglesias aimed to protect a one-run deficit but gave up three hits, including a two-run homer by Rece Hinds, which increased the Reds' lead to 4-2. He finished the inning with one strikeout. Concerns are growing about Iglesias on an Atlanta roster that requires improved performance and a dependable closer to compete against the Phillies and Mets in the NL East, especially since the Cuban closer has already allowed two more home runs this year than he did in the all 2024. Jorge Soler records one hit. Jorge Soler recorded one hit in four at-bats during the Angels' 8-5 defeat against the Blue Jays. In his previous game, Soler had driven in three runs, and he now has accumulated eight doubles, six home runs, and nine walks, with a batting line of .231/.292/.431 in 2025. Miguel Vargas had no hits on Thursday. On Thursday, Miguel Vargas went 0-for-3 in a 10-0 loss to the Royals, striking out once. Recently, Vargas has made adjustments and transformed his hitting, posting a .340/.426/.509 slash line with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs over his last 15 games. Additionally, he has reduced his strikeouts to just seven in that period. At least for now his strikeout rate of 13.1% is significantly lower than his career rate of 21.7%. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded one hit. In a 5-3 win over the Dodgers, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had one hit in four at-bats, striking out twice. The 31-year-old outfielder has now hit six home runs and is batting .213/.240/.404 with 20 RBIs over 146 plate appearances. Yoán Moncada struck out three times on Thursday. In a game against the Blue Jays on Thursday, which ended in an 8-5 defeat, Yoán Moncada had a tough outing, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. This marked the Cuban third baseman's poorest performance since rejoining the majors on June 6. Since his return, he has gone 3-for-11, hitting two home runs, driving in four runs, and striking out four times. Astros manager Joe Espada informed reporters that they "hope" to have Yordan Álvarez return within the next "week or so." Joe Espada mentioned that the muscle strain in Yordan's right hand is an issue he's encountered previously. It's beneficial that the Astros addressed it promptly. Allowing it to heal with some time off will help get the real Yordan back soon. Although Yordan is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday, a return later in the week appears to be a more realistic expectation. Ernesto Martínez Jr. resumed playing at Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, achieving 1-for-4 at bat. Ernesto Martínez Jr. was sidelined for 2 1/2 weeks due to a thumb injury he suffered during a slide last month. The 25-year-old currently has a batting line of .300/.383/.471 for Nashville and could potentially fill a role at first base or as a designated hitter for the Brewers if a spot becomes available.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Jorge Soler hits a game-winning double. Jorge Soler went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and three RBIs in a 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The pivotal moment was the bases-clearing double that transformed a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead against Jeff Hoffman. This hit brought the veteran slugger's season total to eight doubles and 16 RBIs. Soler hadn't been impressive with the bat in the first 35 games of the season and had only two hits in May before Wednesday's game. With these two hits, the veteran slugger ended a streak of 17 consecutive games without a multi-hit performance. During that period, Soler batted just .154 and was in a 1-for-15 slump before Wednesday. Yoán Moncada hits another home run on Wednesday. Yoán Moncada went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 victory over Toronto. Moncada has played two games since coming back from an almost month-long stay on the injured list, hitting a home run in each game and driving in four runs. The veteran third baseman's home run on Wednesday was a 386-foot shot to right field, marking his team's first run. Moncada has faced challenges with staying healthy in recent seasons, but he has the opportunity to regain significance as the Angels' main third baseman if he can overcome his injury problems. Aroldis Chapman earns his fifth save. Aroldis Chapman secured the save in Wednesday's 6-4 victory over the Rangers, conceding a solo home run and a walk while striking out one batter in the ninth inning. Chapman entered the game in the ninth with the Red Sox leading 6-3, but Boston's lead was quickly reduced to two when Josh Jung hit the first pitch deep to left-center field for a solo home run. Chapman later issued a walk in the inning, but the seasoned closer managed to conclude the game with an eight-pitch strikeout of Blaine Crim, with two of his sinkers reaching 103 mph. In this outing, he threw four pitches exceeding 102 mph, including a season-high 103.8 mph on his sinker. At times, he appears ageless and maintains a strong grip on the closer role in Boston. Chapman has successfully converted all five save opportunities this season, posting a 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and an 18:5 K:BB ratio over 12.1 innings. Adolis García brings in two runs on Wednesday. Adolis García went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in Wednesday's 6-4 defeat against the Rangers. Adolis put the Rangers ahead 2-0 in the fourth inning by hitting a solo homer off Tanner Houck to left field. He contributed another run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center field. Adolis has been performing well recently, hitting 6-for-10 with one home run and five RBIs over his last three games, and his OPS is now .706 in 138 plate appearances. Miguel Vargas hit two doubles during Wednesday's loss to the Royals. In the ninth inning, Miguel Vargas scored the sole run for the White Sox following his second double of the game, which was also his eighth of the season. The former top prospect has recorded hits in five of his last seven games, raising his slash line to .225/.320/.333. On Wednesday, Randy Arozarena reached base three times. Randy Arozarena reached base three times on Wednesday for the Mariners in their 6-5 win over the A's. He recorded a single, walked twice, and scored a run before being taken out of the game. Despite experiencing some discomfort, Arozarena was able to play in left field for this matchup. Yariel Rodríguez was credited with a hold. The Blue Jays were defeated 5-4 by the Angels on Wednesday. However, Yariel Rodríguez delivered a 1 1/3 scoreless inning and earned his third hold of the season. He gave up a single but struck out two batters. His ERA has decreased to 5.17 for the year, but he must continue delivering performances like this to remain at the MLB level. Yandy Díaz was included in the lineup as the designated hitter on Wednesday and contributed with a hit. Yandy Díaz's presence in the lineup was a good sign after he unexpectedly exited in the sixth inning of Tuesday's game because of right hip tightness caused by an awkward swing. He ended the game with one hit in four at-bats and a strikeout. On Wednesday, Luis Robert Jr. recorded a hit. In Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to the Royals, Luis Robert Jr. recorded a hit in four at-bats and drove in a run. Following a day of rest, he secured his 16th RBI of the season. Although the Cuban outfielder didn't steal any bases, he continues to lead MLB in steals, sharing the top spot with Oneil Cruz of the Pirates, both with 15. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get any hits on Wednesday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the 7-1 defeat against the Mets on Wednesday. This was disappointing following his impressive 3-for-4 showing on Tuesday, where he accumulated 7 total bases. Nevertheless, his bat is heating up this season, boasting a slash line of .333/.379/.667 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs over his last seven games. José Iglesias hitless again. José Iglesias is on the verge of being designated for assignment by the Padres. He went 0-for-4 in another close game against the Yankees on Wednesday. The Padres were defeated 4-3 in extra innings. Iglesias is now 3-for-32 in his last 10 games. Andy Pagés added two more hits. Andy Pagés had a performance of 2-for-5, driving in a run and scoring once in the Dodgers' 10-1 victory over the Marlins on Wednesday. He also recorded a strikeout. This is the kind of consistent performance the Dodgers expect from Pagés. Although he was placed in the cleanup spot, which isn't his usual position, it serves to support Freddy Freeman by having a strong hitter following him. Yordan Álvarez was diagnosed with a muscle strain on the top of his right hand. The injury was initially described as “inflammation,” but it has now been identified as a strain causing the inflammation. Astros manager Joe Espada referred to the diagnosis as “good news,” and the team remains hopeful that Yordan's time on the IL will be brief. However, he will need to allow the strained muscle or tendon to recover, which could take over a week depending on the strain's severity. Edgar Quero was not included in the lineup on Wednesday. Edgar Quero was not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Kansas City. He had started the previous three games and five of the last six, but he will take a break on Wednesday.