MAY 18, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
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Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Pirates prepare to face Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen Something has to give when the Pittsburgh Pirates and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks open a three-game series Friday.
Oakland A's final destination is unknown, but rookie Esteury Ruiz is getting somewhere in a hurry Esteury Ruiz is in a hurry to get somewhere, and we’re not talking about Oakland or Las Vegas.
MAY 18, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Braves Sean Murphy, Masataka Yoshida & Rangers headline MLB 1st quarter superlatives | Flippin' Bats
Shintaro Fujinami - Takes loss in relief Wednesday Fujinami (1-5) took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing two earned runs on a hit and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Impact Fujinami's nightmarish debut MLB campaign took another dark turn with Wednesday's performance, which saw him concede multiple earned runs for the second straight appearance and fifth time overall across nine relief outings. The former NPB hurler put three of the first four batters he faced to open the ninth on base -- one via intentional walk -- before exiting, and he then saw Adrian Martinez allow two of them to come across via a sacrifice fly and single, respectively. Fujinami's ERA and WHIP ballooned to 12.62 and 2.14, respectively, with Wednesday's outing, and it's certainly fair to wonder how much longer he can be kept around at the big-league level in any capacity, even on a non-contending team.
MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Alek Thomas - Work needed in minors The Diamondbacks will work on fixing Thomas' swing while he's in the minors, Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports. Thomas was demoted to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.
Impact Specifically, the organization is focused on excessive movement in the lower half of his body, which can lead to groundballs rolled over to the right side of the infield. There's also been an issue identifying strikes on outer half of the plate. "There's a lot of excessive movement with the lower half which is creating some force moving forward, I know to impact the baseball but I feel like it was changing his sightlines," manager Torey Lovullo said. In addition to work at the plate, Lovullo identified areas in the field that Thomas needs to address, like routes taken on batted balls and taking the proper angle. Dominic Fletcher will take over in the outfield while Thomas works at Reno.
MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dominic Fletcher - Replaces optioned Thomas Fletcher started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Impact Fletcher was prominent on both ends. After nailing Tony Kemp at home plate in the seventh inning to preserve a 3-3 tie, he scored Arizona's final run as part of a two-run ninth inning. Fletcher moved into the center field spot that was once held by Alek Thomas, whom the Diamondbacks optioned to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday. The former had usurped at-bats from Thomas since being called up at the end of April and now will become the primary center fielder.
MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Lucas Erceg - Traded to A's The Brewers traded Erceg to the Athletics on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Impact Erceg has struggled to begin the season in Triple-A Nashville, holding a 6.46 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 15.1 innings. Despite his below-average performance, Oakland's lack of talent at the major-league level makes it possible that Erceg debuts in the majors at some point this season, although he would have to be added to the 40-man roster before that could happen.
MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
