MLB roundup: Masahiro Tanaka’s elbow still sore, Starling Marte lands on 7-day DL

The Yankees aren’t getting any better news on their rookie ace.

Jul 24, 2014, 11:30 AM UTC

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Star rookie Masahiro Tanaka is still dealing with elbow discomfort more than two weeks after landing on the disabled list, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told ESPN New York's Wallace Matthews on Tuesday.

Tanaka received a platelet-rich plasma injection 10 days ago, but the elbow hasn’t reacted as well as the team hopes, according to Cashman.

“He’s improved, but he still feels it, although on a daily basis it decreases. So that’s good but it’s not good that he’s still feeling it at this stage. So it’s just day-by-day, week-by-week and we’ll adjust accordingly. It’s too early to call.”

The 25-year-old right-hander was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow shortly after being placed on the DL. Tanaka and the Yankees opted against Tommy John surgery, instead choosing the PRP injection and throwing program methods.

Cashman initially said Tanaka would miss at least six weeks, and things don’t appear to be any different for now.

Tanaka still leads the American League in victories with 12 despite making only 18 starts. The Japanese sensation posted a 2.51 ERA with 135 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 129⅓ innings prior to the injury.

Pittsburgh places Marte on 7-day DL

The Pirates placed outfielder Starling Marte on the seven-day concussion disabled list Wednesday, according to a team announcement.

Marte was hit in the head by a pitch from Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino on Friday. He remained in the game, but was held out of the lineup on Saturday.

The Pirates used Marte as a pinch hitter in their series finale against the Rockies on Sunday and reinserted him into the lineup the next day. Marte went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the Pirates' loss to the Dodgers and was back on the bench on Tuesday after his concussion reportedly got worse.

Marte is hitting .255/.328/.385 with 26 extra-base hits in 348 plate appearances.

Reddick changes walk-up music, A’s return to winning ways

The first-place Athletics entered Wednesday 4-5 since reeling off a five-game winning streak earlier this month, but all the team needed to get back on track was a change of tune from their right fielder:

No more "Careless Whisper" for Josh Reddick. Now it's "Wild Thing." #Athletics
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 23, 2014

That's highly unfortunate, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do to get your team back on track. Reddick and the A's did just that, easily dispatching of the Astros in Oakland.

The Yankees’ groundskeepers are bummed

The Yankees and Rangers went into a rain delay in the bottom of the fifth inning when torrential downpour hit Yankee Stadium. The stadium groundskeepers struggled to get the tarp on the field and wound up drawing the help of the Rangers' bat boy.